Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-17
For What Purpossi

For What Purposei
The editors of the Ohio State Journal have
erhumed the Abolition speech OF JOHN VulHcY
ADAMS, delivered in Congress, April l4sh ana
18th, l642, and supplied their readers In yes
terday's issue with copious extracts therefrom.
This speech made reference to the incendiary
resolutions introduced into Congress by Mr..
Grpprsos and for which he was censured. lnt
Mr.. ADAMS goes even further than GIDDINos had
gone, and not only denies that there is any OBJ
legation on the part Of the United States to sup
press a seryile insurrection, If one should occur
among the slaves in the South, but that such
an event being war, the States where slavery
exists would cease to have the exclusive man
apement of the subject, and "not only the Pres'-
dent of the United States, but the commander Of
the army fin that case has the pOt0sr to order The
universal emancipation Of the slaves."
For whatpu does the Ohio State Journal
now rummage the debates in Congress in le42,
and reproduce these incendiary remarksf What
motive can 1t haye7 The President OF the Uni
Of the country, in his Proclamation OF April 10,
calling for seventy five thousand men To put
down rebellion, and retake and possess the pub
lie property, that in the contest the rights OF
persons and property shall be protected. In
that Proclamation the President uses the follow
ing language:
"I deem tproper to say that the frat service assigned
to the forces hereby called forth will probably be 70 re
the FORTS places and property, which nave been
seized from the Union and in every event. the utmost
care will be observed, consistently with the objects aore
said to avoid any devastation, any destruction Of or
interference with private property, or any disturbance
Of peaceful citizens in any part Of the country"
More recently, Mr.. SEWARD has spoken very
Significantly in relation to slave property in
Florida, one Of the States that has sece-
ded. On the 7th of May, the State De-
partment had under consideration the COM
plants of certain slave-owners at Key West,
whose negroes are now in the employ Of
the Government, under contract OF some
years' standing; the masters claiming that the
negroes were hired to labor OF specific place,
and the Government agents claiming that, under
the contract, they can be employed any place
in the State of Florida. The following extracts
from Secretary SEwARD's memorandum will
give the points in controversy, and the views OF
the Administration about slave property:
It appears from the information thus obtained, that
certain shareholders at Key West In the State Of For-
da long time ago. hired the public agents OF the Gov
number Of slaves at remuneratve prices
20 be employed the fortncatons Of the
United States for term OF twelve years yet unexpired
or these, certain number not its believed, exceed
Quad In
gas when Col Brown arrived there, and having need OF
their help in reinforcing and supplying Fort Pickens he
took them TO Pensacola, and employed them there IN
landing stores from the Atlantic and the Illinois a Fort
Pickens.
IL is not complained In the papers before me that the
masters are not paid or be paid for the labor OF the
slaves and on the contrary Capt Megs distinctly
drands that the Master 10 to pay the wages 70
the masters Of the slaves at Key West as
II pretended that the Quarter master has violated
intends to violate the contract Of hire In any way
IL must be entirely mmaterial TO the master whether
the slaves the Tortugas, whether they work
at Fort PckeDs both the places are situated In the state
OF Plorda they are alike safe under the government In
both and should the contract be broken BY the pub
lie agents. the President will take care to see that due re-
dress is afforded am not able TO understand that there
is anything wrong or censurable In this matter.
We again ask, why does the Ohio State Jour
nat produce and publish the remarks Of JOHN
QUINcY ADAMS, made in Congress more than
nineteen years ago7 They have no binding
force. They are merely the opinions and views
of man who was full of hatred toward the
South, because of bis defeat for reelection to
the Presidency in 1923, by the vote of the South.
ern States, which carried JACKSON triumphant
ly into the White House, and expelled ADAMS.
From that time forward Mr.. ADAMS became the
most mad and fanatical Abolitionist, and to the
day of his death used his power and great intel
lect to create an estrangement between the
North and South on the slavery question.
No patriotic, law-abiding or Union-loving
impulses induce the Journal to publish such
incendiary matter at this time. Its chief de-
sire is for seryile insurrection in the South,
aud il would rejoice with fendish joy, II Ii could
see the white population Of that section exter'
minated by the negroes. The editors of the
Journal are the ft representatives Of JOHN
BRowN, except that they lack his courage
They are as malignant and fendish as BRowN
himself, but they are eopards, and will never
be found exposing their persons, either in an
honorable and patriotic defence OF their coun-
try, or leading gang Of desperadoes to incite
insurrection.
The law.abiding and Union.loviDg people Of
Ohio should require the Journal to cease its
incendiary course. That paper is without infu-
ence for good, but yet may do, and does do
much harm; and 1t should be required to keer
Its fiendish and disunion sentiments from the
public view, or be abated as nuisance-by the
withdrawal Of the countenance and patronage
Of every loyal citizen now contributing to it
support. .a
All such abolition articles as the Journal is in
the habit of publishing can have but one effect
and that is to consolidate the entire South
in this rebellion, and hence it must be viewed at
an enemy to the prompt and speedy settlement
OF our present national troubles; and those who
have gone into the field to serve in the war
should regard it, and all other journals like Il,
as their worst enemy.
DWe learn from the Ohio State Journal Of
...4..d., that fha annoi rnont of Ioauu. n