Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-13

cry men will not, by any vote give another
turn to the screw thas tortures them.
4. fnd another objection to this bill, in
the peculiar circumstances in which we are at
present placed in our relations to the South
ern States, The past year has been remarka-
bic for the aegressions pf slavery upon the
rights OF people Of Ohio and other free States.
a few months since several of our most
peaeeabe and intelligent citizens, guilty Of the
violation Of no law, State or national were
taken from their homes, shut up in prison du~
ring the most unhealthy season Of the year
and finally discharged without trial upon a
nOLLe of their indictments During the wear
Peaceabe inhabitants Of our State have been
decOyed by falsehood from the scenes Iof their
useful industry into the hands of violent and
armed men, who scarcely giving time for
even the mockely Of an investigation, have
hurried them into perpetual slavery. Within
few days, thirty-six citizens Of Kentucky
part Of them natives Of that and other slave
States-a part natives and, until recently, resi-
dents Of Ohio-persons whom some Of US
knew and esteemed-weTe driven from their
little property, and compelled to q se for their
lives within our borders They were charged
with no offence but that Of holding anti-sIave>
ry,Views. The amplest testimony is borne to
their good conduct IN Kentucky by sIaVehoId-
eTd themselves. They inteTfssed IN no case
with the relation Of master or slave. They
everywhere inculcated submission to law
Wisely, kindly, nOby, were they labonng to
promote the common prosperity. The value
of real estate had gu; drupled in tie neighbor-
hood where they had settled. They built saw
mills, schools houses, churches, established
Sunday school and preached the Gospel. And
yet, the men who had done this excellent
work, with their frail wives and tender little
ones, were ordered from their homes in the
midst of one of the bleakest DEFENDERS that
Kentucky ever saw-by sixty-fVe armed and
mounted men, who informed them that if they
did not leave the State in ten days they should
receive another visit which should be one of
war and not of peace. Applying to Governor
Magofin for protection for their properly and
their lives, they were told with most refined
iroRy. that he could do nothing for them but
they must seek redress in the Courts of JUS
tice! Citizens from the Northern States re
siding at the South mechanics merchants,
artists, teachers, clergymen-men who are
contributing in various ways to the material
and intellectual development Of the South,
are now daily driven from their adopted
homes with the grOssest indignites aud fire.
quentIy with cruel bodily tortures.
These,suhereTs are not generally abolitionists.
They are for the most part persons who have
been in the habit, when visiting US at the North,
Of G?Ologizing for slavery as Patriarchal insti-
tuition attended with many comforts and bless
ings. What effect their recent experiences may
have had upon their views of this subject I
cannot say. The last New York Independent,
one of the most solid and reliable of the relig.
ious newspapers, contains the story of an Irish
man who had been at work upon the State
House 1t Columbia, s. G. He was conserva-
tive N, q, and it was his boast that he had
alwoys voted the Democratic ticket. But hap
pening to say, one day, that he thought slavery
rather unfaVOrable to the prosperity of the
poor white man, he was seized, insulted,
dragged through the mud, imprisoned, tarred
and feathered, tarred and cOttoned, and whip
ped by a negro, thirtyNnins lashes upon the
bare back, every one drawing blood. He admits
that his experiences have somewhat modified
his political views
Such are some of the courtesies and ameni-
ties to which citizens of the North and especi-
ally of Ohio have been treated during the past
year. They have not produced in us a good
frame of mind for apology and explanation
With the mold of the prison still on cur limbs,
with the cries Of our neigbbors who have been
dragged into slavery even now wringing in oul
backs, we feel much more inclined to do some
thing to protect our invaded Liberties and insul.
ted honor than to pass laws to punish our per
secuted fellow citizens for offences which they
have never thought Of committing. Self res
Pect fOrbids that We should select this time, the
most unsuitable of all, to extend to our
Southern neighbors Assurances of regard
which they do not need, and which
under the circumstances, | fear will secure
US nothing but contempt When the Leg.
islatures OF Kentucky and Virginia shall
manifest the slightest disposition to repair the
wrongs which they are daily inficting upon
natives Of Ohio, in injury to their persons and
the destruction Of their property, there will he
time enough for US to pass laws to protect them
from our peaceable and industrious citizens
If man kicks me violently on the street, for
something which his folly or his madness leads
him to suppose l have done, shall not take
the moment when am smarting with the blow,
to express my regard and my regrets. Our
Southern neighbors have msny noble qualities
They have energy, devotion to an idea, though
bad one, and courage We shall stand the
higher in their esteem, and shall the sooner
come to good understanding with them, by
exhibiting somewhat of these qualities our
selves.
We have thus seen that the bill under con
sijeratiOn is In all respects unnecessary that its
passage would produce an erroneous and inju
rious impression, that it would be used as a
means OF prosecuting innocent men, and that
under existing circumstances it would be ineon
sistsnt with proper self respect. l therefore
recommend that the bill be not passed.
JAMES MONROE.