Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-07-03

ments? We know full we'll the force of
party attachments, and have no denun-
citations for any Of our fellow-c citizens
who still honestly cling to the party Of
their former choice But we do sin
cerely believe, that if such would calmly
look into the opening future, by the
strongly reflected light Of the past, they
would see a pathway of duty, to them
selves, their fcllow-citizens, and their
country, leading them away from a
party whose association with, and sub
servency to, a mere sectional, class inter-
est is bringing blight and ruin upon the
material progress Of the country, as
we'll as dark blot upon its character at
home, and among the nations of the
earth.
VIII our Democratic readers reflect
THE POLLY NEGROES.
We see that Governor Dennison has
appointed Hon. Ralph Leete, of Ironton,
agent on the part of Ohio, to make
another effort, in conjunction with coun-
sci in Virginia, to bring to termina-
ton this long contested suit.
The history Of the matter is briefly
this: Ten years ago, in 1850, family
Of free negroes, consisting of nine per-
sons living in Lawrence County, in this
State, were seized in the night by band
Of kidnappers, and carried by force into
Kentucky, and sold as slaves. As soon
as their neighbors knew of their absence
the necessarya inquiries were made, and
the facts asceftained. The Democratic
Legislature of Ohio, to their honor be it
recorded, passed an act appropriating
several thousand dollars to defray the
expense of a suit in the Courts Of Ken
lucky, to recover their freedom, and au-
thorized Governor MediH to posecute
such suits by the appointment Of such
agents and attorneys as he should judge
expedient Governor Medlll acted
promptly, and in good faith in the prem
ises. He appointed able counsel and
had suit brought Immediately. But be-
fore service could be had the family
were separated, and five of them sold
into Virginia. Governor Medill sent
his agents to Virginia and commenced
proceedings there, likewise.
After four years of litigation, passing
all the courts, the court of ap-
peals, ia Kentucky, finally, in 1854 or
1855, affirmed the judgments of the
courts below and restored that branch Of
the family to their freedom. The
of Kentucky got four years un-
paid labor out of these four free persons,
and several thousand dollars out of the
Treasury Of Ohio, in the shape Of tees,
out to the credit of the courts of Ken
lucky, the kidnapped negroes were
inally released from the clutches of the
nen thieves,
But the Virginia branch of the family
we're not so fortunate. The county
court of that State also adjudged the
negroes free. But to give up their grasp
mon a victim is not in the creed of the
Of that State, and by ''writs Of
,rror,'' ''appeals," "new trials, and
,ther technicalities, final decision has
,een STAYED of, and these free persons,
lotoriously kidnapped from Ohio, have
,een driven as slaves for ten long gears
he highest courts always finding some
9retense for deferring final decision.
Last winter, on the petition Of Ralph
4eete-who was the late Democratic
Representative from Lawrence County,
nd others, the Legislature, believing
hat the agents appointed by Ohio to
prosecute the case were actingas the ac-
of the kidnappers, OF other
wise unfaithful, unanimously passed a
authorising Governor Den
rison, at the expense of the State, to ap-
5oint other, or additional counsel in the
'ase. Under this resolution, the Cover
lor has appointed Hon. Ralph Leete-
Who, being a good Democrat, will proba-
oly be allowed to visit Virginia-as
gent Of Ohio to bring the case to ter
nination. Whether these persons will
,ver be got out of the clutches Of their |
lidnappers is uncertain. We hope they
nay. But if such transaction should
'ccur in any other country in the world,
t would be pointed to as evidence of
'arbaric despotism, that ought to place
is actors outside of the pale of eiviliza-
ion, and exclude the government which
olerated it from the courtesy and comfy
# all enlightened States and people
ct we profess to be the freest and most |
people in the world.
)em ocratic Argument.
We believe we have not seen Demo
ratio paper for the last two weeks
which had not in it the following article
n reference to Hamlin, the Republican
andidate for Vice President One pa