The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-02-17
Aaairs at the stntc Capital.
cor''poodsae' of'h' ciuclpuau Gazette,

Coftsspondsnos Of the Cincinnati Gazette,
CoLUNmus, Feb. 2. 1860.
Yesterday, several important bills were
considered by the General Assembly,
Mr.. Schleich's bill, to Let the repairs Of
the Public Works by contract, was de-
capitoted in the Senate. Mr.. s. fought
gullantly in defense ofhis offspring. 1t
was very large child-had lis growth,
in fact, when Il was born; or, more prop
erly, Il was so big il "died bornin'"-a
kind Of legislative CDsarean operation
having become necessary. Schleich is
'as well as could be expected"
The bill 10 prevent slaveholdinp and
kidnapping in Ohio, was taken up in
House Committee, and Mr.. Woods Tex
Speaker presented the Democratic view
upon the questions involved in u clear
and forcible manner.
Mr.. Voris replied in his customary fe-
licitous style, presenting the Republican
view. The Democrats wriggled delight
fully, interrupting Mr.. v. several times.
He besought them TO have some consid-
Grafton for his natural diflidence, and not
confuse him by such a miscellaneous
style Of cross-questioning. If he has a
fault, It is his extreme modesty. He was
about as much discomposed by the lively
demonstrations Of the Democratic side
as a statue of Adonis might be at hav-
ing Balmoral pettico hung before il.
Mr. Voris spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
He said that he was young and in
experienced member, and had not vet
learned that the House was the forum for
campaign party stump speeches, hut for
hiInselG if his verdnncy had led him to
suppose that the discussion should be con-
fined to the subject under controversy
and should follow that course, he hoped
those Of more extended experience would
pardon him.
Three objections are made to the bill
by the gentleman from Licking:
lst. That the bill was unnecessary.
Cd. Was opposed to that comfy that
should exist between sister States.
Sd. Was unconstitutional, because
in effect, it would operate to defeat the
execution of the Fugitive Slave Law.
lst IL is said this bill is unnecessary
because the Constitution had already
provided against slavery. Il is true that
the Constitution does provide that there
shall be no involuntary servitude in the
State unless for crime, but of what good
are the guarantees Of the Constitution
against those who would violate them,
when they see no provisions providing
for the punishment Of the violation Of
that instrument. The provisions Of the
Constitution, spoken Of by the gentle
man, are merely declaratory of our rights.
All experience tells us that mere dec
laration of a right is not sufficient to pro-
tect that right. Penal statutes ever have
been made, and must still be made and
enforced, to protect and punish.
II il were inexpedient to legislate be-
cause given right was provided for in
the constitution-and that is the argu-
ment,-your whole criminal code would
be useless legislation. The State fol-
lowing wise policy has seen fit to pro-
vide penal tatutes for the violation of
constitutional rights, yet the argument of
the gentleman, if legitimately carried ont
would sweep all our criminal laws from
the statute. For one, he was not willing
to turn adeaf ear to the teachings and ex-
perience Of all governments, human and
divine.
I'd, As to the second objection, he
said that he was willing to recognize the
obligations Of comfy between the differ
ent States-that he was willing 20 do a
great many things 70 meet the require
ments Of comity-but he never would do
a positive wrong out of mere courtesy TO
any man, nor would he permit the State
Of Ohio, by his vote, 10 do what he as an
individual would loathe 10 do. The right
for a citizen of another State to bring his
slave into Ohio is not recognized by the
claims Of inter State comfy. The as
sumption of such claim Is an indighity Of
terd to a free State. 1t is making the lea
eoHttGle superior to the local law of a
State-superior to the State Constitution
superior TO the God-given rights of
man--superior to that universal natural
adherence the people Of Ohio entertain
TO oppression.
Gentlemen should remember that sla-
very is so abhOrrent that nothing but pos-
tive local legislation can sanction it,
Yet the gentleman from Licking seeks
to make the law Of comfy carry the To-
cal law Of every other State or county
into Ohio, and that, too, against the ex-
press provisions Of the State Constitu-
ton, and is hostile to any penal legisla-
ton to vindieate the laws Of Ohio. If
that be democracy, the sooner we get rid
Of Il the better. II that be loyalty to the
Constitution and to the doctrine Of State
Rights, as announced in the national
Democratic platform, he was willing TO
be called traitor TO such doctrines.
Sd. The bill itself is a sufficient an
swer TO the charge that il is unconstitu-
tional in relation toits fugitive slave bear
ings, for il expressly provides in direct
and unequivocal words, that its proyis-
ions shall not be construed TO defeat any
requirement Of the federal constitution,
or any authority legally acting under the
fugitive slave law. Now al this long
talk about the unconstitutionality Of this
bill, because its intent Is TO defeat the ex-
eeution Of the fugitive slave law, is not
applicable TO his bill. The bill is is
own vindicntion. The gentleman in his
herceness 10 make a'party speech, has o.
veIlooked the merits and import Of the
bill.
A few words were addressed 10 the con
nideration Of the record alluded 10, by Mr..
Woods. Mr.. Voris thought that refer
ence TO the record Ohio las made against