Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-12-19
70 THE FRIENDS OF FREEDOM IN
I OHIO.

/ By the advice of judiciOus and prom
inent Anti Slavery men. it has been de-
termined once more to petition CongrOss
for the immediate repeal of the Fugitive
Slave Act, and for the extinction of Slave
ry fron all places under the exclusive ju-
risdictiOn of the General Government.
Forms of petition viii be Immediately
sent to all parts of the State. and We trust
they will receive earnest and prompt atten-
ton.
We are aware that many Of our friends
have become discouraged on the subject of
petitions, having forgotten, we presume.
the story of the widow and the unjust
Judge. For their consideration especially
We offer the following suggestions:
l. There are in Congress a few of the
most earnest and reliable friends of Free
dom that the country affords. Their in
fuence will be greatly increased. if when
ever they speak for Freedom. they can ap-
pend to their speeches the names Of ten
thousand voters. lslaH
?. If there arc in Congress men swho
care more for place than for principle. they
are the last men to be unaffected by the
expressed sentiments and wishes Of the 70
ters who give them place. lr 1sr5o
8. Vigorous and uneeasing efforts. viii
be made in many ways and in many pla-
ces, to demoralize ard corrupt the Repub-
Gcan Party. To counteraet these efforts,
we must show that there arc many thou
sands of men connected with that party,
who are consci yntiously and religiOusly Op-
posed to Slavery as sin; and that their
principles on this subject cannot safely be
tirAed with. There are very many we'll IN
formed men who believe that vigorous ef-
fort made by the leaders of that party to
give efficiency to the Fugitive Act, even
though it were to save the Union from dis
solution, would certainly and speedily work
the destruction of the party. If it is i'm
portant for TIE interests of Freedom that
Pro-Slavcry Party should never again come
into power, it is essential that the Repub-
lican party should not only be preserved
from Generalization, but should advance
with the advancing opposition to Slavery.
To secure this object nothing can be bet
ter adaped than frequent expression sof
the sentiment of the people by means Of
resolutions and petitions.
4. The circulation Of petitions is one Of
the best and most efficient means Of keep
ing the truth before the public mind It
leads to vast amount of discussion Which
otherwise would not exist and Ia kes
thorough workers Of many men whOsesin-
huence is greatly needed and is exceeding
" wholesome. 1t tends also to increase
the circulation Of Anti-SlaYery Republican
papers.
D. Finally. it secures that the advanced
ranks of tile host of Freedom should be
duly represented in the councils Of the ma
ton. And whenever a conflict takes place
between them and the opposing party,
Freedom, though often voted down, always
has the advantage.
We know that maay depreeate the sgi-
tation. and think that in tie present dis
-ractsd state of the country, tits best for
is to be quiet To such we answer;
The present exeitment is slight conpar-
cd with what must exist before the men
;ter Slavery dies; and We know there eanbe
no peace to our country till it becomes man
Tested that this terrible curse is ID a sure
md rapid decline.
Then let US circulate the peti,ious inev-
.ry township iu the State. A hundred
thousand names should be sent from Ohio
he ensuing winter, and could be if one et-
icilnt man could lie obtained in every
township to pass the petitions round
With little effort last winter We secured
bout ten thousand names. Let the effort
md the success be much greater this8ih-
erl
We will see that every county IS sup
lied with forms Of petition; win not those
o whom they are sent. see that they are
thoroughly circulated? Last winter we ask
d only the names Of legal voters. We do
he same this winter. Such names have
most weight with men in Office. noa
E. H. FAIRCHILD,
Ohio Christian Anti Slavery
.