Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-10

Mr.. Ceilings has given notice that he will
| introduce into the House bill to give to
slave owners the right of transit of their
slaves through Ohio, with the right of domi-
Gil for a limited season. 1t is difficult to
see how it can hurt our citizens to have
slaves pass through the State, and stay here
for temporary purposes. 1t will not make
another slave. On the contrary, it increases
their chances of escape. On that ground it
should please the Abolitionists. Whether it
| is an Abolition device we are unable to soy,
as we do not know the members of the Legis-
lature personally. We notice that Mr..
| Ceilings is announced as a Conservative Re-
publican. This would mystify the matter
| if it were ever so clear before. After con-
sulting Webster's Unabridged and Worcester,
we conclude that Conservative Republican
is one who conserves, or adheres rigidly to
the peculiar Republican dogmas; who comes
out strong on the Republican Platform, and
nails his party colors to the mast, and talks
about "the party Of freedom" and all that
sort of thing, that is so potent at the nomi-
mating Conventions and elections. If this
|
Collings's measure is either an Abolition
device, or it may be taken as evidence of the
| softening of the heads and hearts of the ir-
repressibles, and of a disposition to concili-
ate the South by fulfilling frsternal obliga-
| tions.
We assume it to be free from guile, in spite
ofthe incorporating term, conservative"
What harm can it do the soil Of Ohio, or the
people, to have master carry his slave
through the State Henry Clay often passed
through.the State with his body y-servant. In
this country the opinion or example of Henry
Clay, or any other dead man, is the end of
all strife. In that great fraternsl visit of the
Kentucky and Tennessee Legislatures and
Governors to Ohio, which has had go striking
an effect in fraternizing the two sections,
some of them brought their slaves with them,
into the very State House. Did this offend
any body2 On the contrary, every member
| of the Ohio Legislature, without distinction
Of party or sex, felt his bosom heave with
loftier emotion when he contemplated this
sable msrk Of ths friendly relations of the
!
Speaker Newman, of Tennessee, was partic-
ularly strong on that pOint-that although
| Congress could not organize, we would show
them that the people of Ohio, Indiana, Ten
nessee and Kentucky could meet as brethren.
But we digress. Our Governor declares
in his message that "the frank, conciliatory
and magnanimous temper displayed" by the
representatives from Kentucky and Tennes-
see, at that visit, "would justify the Legis-
lature Of Ohio in invoking the free States to
| repeal all laws, if such there be, contraven-
ing the rights which their fellow citizens of
the South claim under the Constitution"
Certainly And if their visit to Ohio justi-
fes Ohio in calling SO freely on the other
free States, does it not also require her to
recognize constitutional rights which she
| then allowed to be exercised Must our
laws destroy what our hospitality comedies
The duty is clear, and it should be pleas
ure. There may be some practical difficult
ties in the details, but these Mr.. Ceilings has
ofcourse anticipatedsn provided for. There
is the abolition feature of the State Constitu-
ton, slightly in the way. But this is a
standing insult to the South, and should be
abolished. Then, after providing that slaves
may be held in transit and for temporary
residence, and may be bought and sold-for
that follows of course--by citizens of other
States, in Ohio, the provision Of the Constitu-
ton of the United States, that the citizens of
each State shall be entitled to the privileges
and immunities of the citizen of the several
States, will make it imperative that the same
privileges shall be provided for our own citi-
zeDs.
Perhaps the profit of holding slaves in Ohio
may not be great. Neither will tEe right OF
transit net any large profit. But principles
must be maintained, regardless of profits
And besides, in the way ofbuying and selling,
good business might be done, especially il
Mr.. Woods's bill, permitting every body the
inallenable right to seize negro without
law, becomes law.
II will also be necessary TO provide so that
the owner may hold his slave in such con-
fnement as his safety requires, without any
legal question, or any sOf the nonsense Of
habeds corpus, or the fraternal right will be
nothing but snare to him. The habsal
corpus might as well be abolished at once
for our institutions have outgrOwn that relic
of an imperfect civilization.
There are some other slight impediments
but none that conservative legislative wisdom
is not equal to, and the promptness will
which Mr.. Ceilings has proposed this frater
nal measure shows that he has provided fo
them all.