Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-03-08
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SPEECH OF HON. MANNING STEERS, OF
HOOKING COUNTY
Hon. Mr.. STIERs-Dear Sir:The undersign.
ed, Democratic Members Of the General Assem-.
bly,, request copy Of your able remarks on
House Bill No. $50, for publication.
G. W. ANDREWS, B,W. 0ARLIsLE,
| CHARLES POWERS, q. HUGHES,
A. P. DEV0RE, DENNIS OGLE,
| "A. PIERCE, iLib ~ ]. L. WINNER.
MOSES J. PATTERSON, BENZ. L. REEs.
March /, 1861. fj61 jltT
REMARKs OF Mr. STEERS, IN THE OHIO HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, FEB. 9TH, 1851, UPON THE
| AMENDMENT OF Mn. HUTCHINSON, OF MADISON,
TO H. B. No. $50, BY Mn. SHAw-A BILL TO
PREVENT GIyrNa AID TO FUGITIVE SLAVES.
Mn. SpEAKER:-Inasmuch as wide range
has been given to the subject now under con-
sderation, hope the House will indulge me for
| the brief space Of time shall consume. When
this bill was first brought up, concluded to say
not word upon II; but, sir, 1t seems that the
perilous condition of the country impera lively
demands that every man upon this floor and else
where should speak out boldly and let the country
know where he stands. This glorious Union Of
ours, cemented by the blood Of our fathers, is
threatened with disruption-it Is severed. This
Republic, which has been regarded as the model
government of the civilized world-this land OF
civil and religious freedom-this land of law
and order--this land of science and learning,
| is drifting to--God only knows where. What
brought about all this2 All, that's the ques.
ton. propose, Mr.. Speaker, to give some of
my views upon this subject
Fanaticism, wherever iIexists, produces evil,
and the evil is proportionate to the magnitude
Of the principle which produces it.. The evil
with which our country is at present threat
ened had its origin with the Abolitionists OF
the North. For some time that element had
but little influence, hence 1t did but little harm
but as it increased, our troubles increased, until
they have attained their present magnitude.
The Presidential campaign of 1852 witnessed
the last struggle and defeat Of the old Whig
party. That party was then dsbanded, and upon
its ruins was reared the present Republican par
ty, or the old Abolition party modified, and but
Of this party was, and has always been, to wage
q war of determination on slavery; to array one
portion of the country in deadly hate against
the interests and institutions of another; par
ty with so little soul in 1t as not to embrace the
interests OF the entire country, but only part
fI,;on .hon Soua tr;ad how tbav oo,id
s,.a.cb .haw 7, mns. ho evident ~ 80. SVuO ,a
sao,;na ,,;nd that ~bon s,,ch . nor,v oo,s a.
ascendency in the Government, 1t must bring
with it, as its own legitimate results, dscord
and disunion. That party has triumphed, and
this day the country is reaping its bitter fruits
From the very hour of it's success, disunior
began. Republican gentlemen on this floor dis
h sxjsts bv law. I am clad to hear sncb decls
rations' and more Glad to believe that tbev ar.
bonest and sincere They sneak the sentiment,
NJ large norton of their nartv.-tbs conservs
live wing. and / would that that norton wa,
mnoh stronper and more nowerful than II ia
but many of their leaders. the men who 10 n orea
ertent make their platforms and their l;teraturp
and control their actions. are of the Trreny,ssib
School. y --. - : =
To this large and patriotic class of Renubli-
cana. I would sav. II Won cannot 90 the fnl
Length of your radicaiieaders. Won had bette
abandon them, for you are found in rather ba,
company. John Brown raids and under qrount
rail roads are discarded and yehemeptIy de-
nounced, and yet the doctrine that the Unior
cannot exist part free and part slave, the IRE.
pressible Conflict, is endorsed and swallowed
down with greediness. They are perfectly will
l ing the South should have their Constitutions
rights, but it must be according to their own in
terpretation of them. The bill now before u
proposes to carry out more fully one of tn,
plainest provisions of the Constitution Of th,
United States. In that instrument I find tn,
following clause: "No person held to seryic,
or labor In one State, under the laws thereof
escaping into another, shall, in consequence o
4 any law or regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labor, but shall be deliy
cred up on claim of the party to whom suct
, service or labor may be DUE" Sir, we are al
much bound to support this clause of the Con
sti tuition as any other. The oath taken at tn,
stand imposes an obligation upon me and up
pon you that we cannot shake off And ever,
citizen of the United States ia lust "a much II
honor bound to support every provision of tha
instrument, irrespective of his own persona
views OF propriety and Justice, as we are.
Let no higher TAO principle intervene hetweer
ne and our observance of our country's laws
Right or wrong, good or bad, I stand firmly ,ip
on the Constitution made by our fathers. =
Il / believe that slavery in the main is wrong
! but, sir, never have seen, nor do ever ex
pect to see, any good resulting from the agita.
ltion of the subject, but, on the contrary / hay
seen---ah! and the country now feels to It's yer,
d, vitals--that the effect of this agitation ia evi
, and only evil, and that continually. Eas /
: loosed the fetters of a single slaye3 Except
perhaps, by underground railroads, Il has rul
him of to Canada, in that uncongenial climate
and in many cases left the Door wretch in
worse condition than before, Has Il in any wa
tended to ameliorate the condition Of the blaci
. mani It has not resulted In any good TO tn
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