The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-23

]
heavens for this charge against Ohio Ohio
mover passed a law in violation Of tho Con-
stitution of the United States, and sho nov
| or has bCcn derelict TO her duty IT, this par.
ticuiar. Docs tho Senator suppose that any
sovereign state of this UciOn is going 10 re-
linquish all her rights over her citizens be-
cause thore is certain provision in tho
| Constitution by which n certain class may
DO taken out Of her limits? That would be
to abandon to any ruthless and unpfinc-
pied man whatever no then might choose to
claim. Cannot state prevent tho tidnsp.
| ping Of her citizens because you have . right
TO claim = slave? Tho Constitution bays
that any person owing service to any other
state shall DO gwen up, hut il does not state
the means by which this shall DO nscer.
tanned Iappeal to tho Senator from Goor.
gia II no believes that tho trainers Of tho
Constitution would havo consented TO Il pro.
vision that deprived tho States utturly Of
tho power to project their own citizens; M.
sir But il is frequently said that tho Con.
stituiiOn would not have been framed II this
had not boon provided for. But 80 FAR from
this beirg tho case. il was n nero after.
thought. The Constitution was formed in
all its important particulars before any man
thought of this provision, and il was placed
thoro With no idea that stato shnule sur
render any power TO protect her own citI.
znns. II that Convention was jealous Of any
one thing more than another, it was oi tho
rights OF tho States. and thoy bnttled inch
10y inch against every principle that looked
to tho surrender Of any state power They
ncvcr intended to gi'e any power TO any
porson 20 claim anybody they chose. 1t
was only 10 claim the fugitive from labor,
and whom that has been asccrtained. no
stato has resisted tho law. But tho Senator
SAYS that Ohio. among tho rest, has cnmmit-
ted a kind of perjury by passing personal
liberty bills. Mr.. Wade referred to tho law
of Ohio, to prevent slavoholding, and read
tho last section. as follows:
Nothing in the preceding section Of this
act shall apply to any act dono by any per-
son under tho authority of tho Constitution
ot tho United States. or Of my law Of the
United States made in pursuance thereof"
And, continued Mr.. Wade. now. l ask tho
senator, If he was upon the bench. aud IL IA
fugitive was brought before him under this
law. if he would have any difficulty in sur
rendering him Let me say TO you who
> hold tho doctrine of stato righ,s. YOU en-.
: danger tho liberty Of your own states when
you contend ngainst tho power Of tho states
To pass laws protecting their own citizens.
M asperity Of language, no frOwning coun
} tenance nor donunciation. shall ovor induce
Ohio o forget what is due to her sovereign
" and to the protection of her own citizens
) never. never. sir! And she takcs no
prouder stand on this subject than ! hope
in God every other state in this Union takes.
Then the senator was wrung and uncandid
to say our constituents were pcrjured when
they Rave taken every prccaution to protect
, a, o;s .,E etntn hol Of
property we utterly rcpudiate. Ohio is
never forgetful of her rights She sends no
, senators hero TO dcnounce tho sovcrGigDities
of other states. But when her rights are
assailed. hur ambassadors would be unfaith-
ful to their trust il ;hey did not hurl back
, any such imputation. The third count OF
, this Indictment was that wo intended to
r rrohibit and to limit slavery in the vast
territories of tho Unitct States. Sir. to
5 that charge confess it is true. We do in
+ tend it, sir. II understand the objects aud
I purposes of tho Republican party, il was
D brought into power on this very subject
Z Whom the general government had brokel
all the pledges TO freedom in our territories
y tho Republican party rose Ia oppose thi'
, unconstitutional aggression. Had thero beer
' TO violation of the Missouri Compromise
very probably there would have been NC
, Republican party here. We intend to de-
. fond tho territories ot this country against
tho pollution ut slavery. There We stand
, and there is our platform, and there We shal
} stand forever. But the senator claims tht
right TO carry slaves into the territories he
cause the decision of the courts gives nm
that tight. Now no man has moro respcc
t for tho decisions ct the courts, when wi'hi
. their proper judicial limits, than l nave
= aud no ono knows better how essential u II
+ that these should DO lived up TO- But Jus
3 rs much as revero an honest court, Keep
r ing within its jurisdiction and restraining
itself from any political connection, so. s'I
J. in exact proportion do l abhor and scou
{ ono from tho corrupt Judge VINO Tor an.
" purposes. will reach over the case bof"r'
. him aud endcavor to advance po''tica
I cause by any decisions ne may pretehu u
I make. The moment the court transcend
D its authority for tho purpose OF nneci'ni
J. any political cause. It's decision Is imper'i
). nent. and. with the courts OF georgia say
I hold II In bitter CONTEMPT ana II 'nrr'
D ever was a decision on Nnu ears" IVA
i would warrant any pr'a'o ""n o! oe"a,"'
saying. u h"'d IL IN c0n'enp', ~ w"
Dred scott decision "hat ~as tne , ease
An Old negro prosecntes 'or ms hoerty u
the ieGerS' courts, oid Dreu ocotl sueu Io
his freedom. ana 'he pea was P", P". u, ,'a ia
beng ihe nescenuan, o' A'''ca no cuuu u"
sue 10 that court lhe cour' uSc'ut" wa wa
man may 90 q" mons',1us ~" ."%' .,; no 'a ,h