Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-15
character: and Il Is scarcely more than a

y.ai sin tie entire free colored population
of two of the cotton States was thrown, by
acts Of their several Legislatures-presentihg
TO them the alternative of expatriation or
sale into slavery-at mid-winter, and many
of them in state of pitiable destitution,
upon the shores Of Ohio, and the neighbor-
ing Northern States-ruthlessly driven from
their native homes and their possessions, not
because they were unwholesome or danger
Gus citizens, but because their coming here
would be cause of irritation and annoy
ance. Looking at these facts, and the ques-
,tion arises: Which side has the best reason
to complain of unfriendly legislation? Upon
which rests the obligation to begin the work
of frepesl2
They who seek justice should do justice.
The South demands-so tbs said-additional
Northern guarantees, for the protection of
what? Its property; which some times
makes use of its native powers of locomo-
ton to escape into, or through the Northern
States. Have we nothing to offset for these
accidents--no additional guarantees to ask ?
A Southern man may travel from the Ohio
TO the borders Of Canada, without risk even
of annoyance; while in more than half the
States of the South, the life of man be-
lieved TO be from the North, is every mo-
ment in danger. To be suspected of having
voted for Mr.. Lincoln, is good cause to sub
ject wayfarer through Southern territory
TO the violence of a mob, to murder or to
expose him to tortures in comparison to
which death would be infinitely preferable.
We of the North have high sense of ma
tional honor A Prussian or an Austrian
comes to the United States, and declares his
intention to become a citizen Of that great
and rising Republic, whose glorious stars
and stripes are so noble q theme Of inspired
poetry and eloquent eulogium. He goes on
a visit to his native land, and is there sum-
moned to the performance of some obliga-
tion from which he had never been released
by the government under which he was
born. The news reaches the United States,
and straightway the whole nation is in a
fever Of patriotism and philanthropy.
Threats of exterminating war are freely in
dulged in-the public press is in flame.
The Administration is besieged with exhorta-
tions to put on its feriest aspect Of demand
and defiance. The diplomatic corps is set in
motion; and every application of remon-
STRANGE and intimidation is put at work to
rescue our fellow-citizeH from the thraldom
into which he entered with full view of the
consequences. These violent performances
usually suggest contrasts that are instruct
i've. A peaceful man of Northern State is
drawn by the exigencies of business, and in
the belief that he is protected by the benign
provisions of common Constitution, into
Southern State: he is beset by men who find
in the fact that he came from the North sufii-
cient gronnd-under the pretense that he is
an Abolitionist-for making him the victim
of the direst cruelties and indignities. Tar
and feathers are the mildest regimen; i'm
prisonment, privation, confscation of prop
erty and 500 lashes are moderate: naked
and mutilated, he is either finished off at
once by the halter, or bound hand and foot
is put into canoe upon some river to sail
away, and, if he survives, fall into the hands.
of new horde of tormentors.
Is there any justice in store for these muir
derers2 Not that was ever heard of. They
are esteemed as useful and praiseworthy cit
izens at home; and as yet no Northern State
has seen fit officially to signify its disap-
proval of the practice. For this omission
for the absence of effectual measures to put
an end to these inhuman decisive of the
North stand disgraced in the eyes of the
world. We have not even protested. These
details of the worst crimes that ever dis
graced humanity, furnish for the day an item
for our newspapers; and we hasten to forget
the iDdignity and our own shame as soon as
| possible. We even coolly, and in a most
lamb-like spirit, propose to give additional
guarantees for our own good behavior. In
| Heavens name, when is this imbecile trifling
to come to an end.
Secessionis so says the organ Of in
surrectionists-"sus all Northern debts,
and war extinguishes them" So tender are
we required to be of Southern property, and
so liberal are they with ours. Millions of
dollars in Northern property are virtually
confscated already; for even those who
would vote against Secession do not hesitate
to take advantage of this summary bank
rupt law, and repudiate their obligations.
The North owes the South nothing; the
latter always being the debtor party. 1t is
! thus that the South holds the Northern soul
in its grasp, and squeezes from it the cries
that break from our great commercial marts
for new guarantees. Guarantees for what ?
That we will submit and compromise and con-
cede and cOnciliate, until, having parted with
our sense of right, our moral force and our
claims to protection under the Constitution,
we become fixed as subjects of Southern
oligarchy, and our boasted free and inde-
pendent States humble provinces ofa South
ern empire The cry is ever for more
When we have once embarked in concession
the only natural end is in perfect submis.
sion-the only remedy in rebellion. 1t il
time for the North also to begin to think o
rebellion. Our Constitution-we are told
was made for freemen-for citizens that /
will not answer for subjects-for slaves. lie
US look to it. 1t may be conserved upoI
such terms that it will not only be useless II
us, but will serve as a testimonial that W,
were unworthy of it. Broken and subverted
and yet permitted to stand, it may becom
even an instrument for our enslavement a
| we'll az an enduring monument to our dis