Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-02-25

forum and the Senate-ours for the intriguea
of the caucus and the management Of the ward
meeting. They know by the Webster theory
which prevails among nearly all parties at the
/ North, that as the minority section, when par
. ties have assumed permanent sectional char
acter, they would have to submit to what
ever the fanaticism or avarice of the dominant
> section might dictate. They correctly main
tain that free constitution al governments, 80
} far as their protecting power is concerned, are
made for minorities, and that majorities have
: no absolute right to rule. The South fear this
power which remains behind, which may speak
to crush her, ifit does not do 80 now. It's the
principle they fear, not its manifestations. She
knows full well that there is no party now at
. the North powerful enough, which sincerely de
sires abolition and the equality Of the races.
She knows, as we do, that there are few such
in the Republican party, but she knows too that
the leaders have used the "negro'-the "tariff
and free homes" according to the locality, as
ra)ying cries to raise themselves to the seats Of
power and the avenues of public plumber.
Sir, Are not her fears well foanded2 When
the dominant'party now at the North shall have
got control of all the departments Of the Gov
ernment what will 1t be but the majority sec.
tion acting through the forms Of government,
intended for common protection, ito aggrandize
itself at the expense Of the weaker section7 It
makes no difference what shape it assumes, or
what object it has in view, the principle is the
same. . rts-. .-r.r.l. ..-.a
But how has the crisis been metz Absolute.
| ly nothing has been done. If Convention of
the States had been called in time, the lost bal
ances of the system might have been re.adjust-
ed, and its original harmony restored; or II not,
a peaoeable separation might have been deter
mined. The arm Of Congress has been para.
lyzed by selfshness and imbecility. But it can,
and fear will, do much to aggravate the diff
Guilty. The first thing it should have done was
to repeal the 25th section Of the Judiciary act of
1883, and the Infamous Force Bill of 1888, and
all other laws which tend to centraliz the sys-
tenn. The two form er are fetters which have
been forged and hung up for future use, to bind
the limbs OF State Sovereignty-they should
have been cast aside as so many badges Of Tyr.
amy. -Fa,- E--F
And in this connection must be permitted to
remark, in due Difference to the opposite opin-
ion of large majority Of my fellow members
on this floor, as has seemed to me manifest,
from what has occurred, that Ohio has now q
deep interest in recognizing the truth of these
principles in all their fuLlaess. do not say this
in mere reference to that question which seems
so much to exercise my Republican friends
the manner of the rendition of fugitive slaves,
and the protection Of our omn citizens-but
rather in that larger sense which looks to the
ultimate interest and safety of our people as
whole. If dissolution take place--if dis
integration 60 on-Ohio must determine
where she shall 60, and where she will re
main. Her population are producers and
consumers. They demand thelhighest prices for
their productions, and the cheapest for their
consumptons. As a part of the great Missis-
sippi Valley, her destiny is linked to that of the
whole. Temporary infatuation- may blind us
to this great truth, but time will dissolve the
spell, and lead US to the alliance ofhomegeneity
and common interest. five act wisely, our
, future civilization and grandeur may even sur
, pass the old, but if we suffer ourselves to bs
bound with the withes Of Eastern Tariffs and
eastern power, We may soon witness our own
queen city, which glasses herself in the beauti-
ful Ohio, sit in Widows weeds to mourn over
| her vanished glory and departed prosperity.
!. But instead Of this, we find Congress engaged in
devising Tariffs still more oppressive, and con-
I triving Force Bills still more odious. And what
{ have We, the representatives. Of the great State
OF Ohio, been doing in the midst of alcrisissuch
: as has never been known-and big with events
|, whose results no mortal wisdom can foretell2 Oul
{ Committee on Federal Relations, now tho most
q important in the House, has had one meeting
. and gravely considered q petition from some
clustering militia colonel, praying that we
might provide special mode for giving his SER
vices to the country! The House has discussed
the question whether our prison convicts would
make good soldiers in the war 10 saue The Union
whether the Legislature or the Governor
should appoint Commissioners to the Peace Con.
} ference-And how to receive the President elect
And suppose the General Assembly supposed
it's "great duty" performed when it t"tendered
A. - 20 20 kho tdap
the belief that they would be employed to plip
South Carolina! ,,r ,- .-.-.s ..lr. .i ,- -.,-.
4 But / have .digressed already too far, AND
asking pardon Of the House for this DEPRESSION,
return to the discussion Of the bill under con
sideration. / think L have shown, Mr.. Speaker,
that in any view of the constitutional question
! involved, we possess the power and have the
right to legslate on this subject, even II IL In
tended to aid the execution Of the fugitive slave
law. Why shall we not do i'll There are GER
tainly reasons strong and numerous why the
{ legislature should act. The complaints Of the
citizens of other States come to us daily of the
/ loss Of their property, and the misconduct of
our citizens. Justice TO them, and respect for
| the rights OF property of all kinds, urge upon
us the enactment of this law. Reasons derived
from the political aspect of the country urge us
to act promptly. II the Union with the border
States s to be preserved, this act of justice and
good neghborhood, on our part, will 20 far to
ensure it, and perpetuate IL. And IL total dis
solution 10 to occur, let me remind members
that the reason is still greater why we should
remove the cause of complaint. Acts of wrong
on one side will lead to retaliation on the other.
Our Southern border will be exposed to preda-
tory attacks-our cities and villages will be de-
Ilivered over to conAagraton, and our inhabi-
tants to outrage and murder.
. For many years, Mr.. Speaker, q certain class
of our citizens, prompted by motives of false
philanthropy, have been In the habit of going
into the slave States,t tamper with the slaves,
TO entice them away and assist in their escape,
/; whilst, within those States, such persons are
| made punishable by the laws of such States.
But they have confederates, aiders and abettors,
this side of the river, who can not be punished
{ at all unless we punish them. This is the oh
iect Of the Bill Think 1t is high time the busl-
/. ness of the u, CIR R. should be taken away
: and its charter revoked or suspended, at least
until other commerce 10 put on httle better foot
inc! l suppose all are familiar with the exist.
0 ence Of this "ipstitution." II is phrase pop.
q ularly used to designate the secret means Of
conveyance by which our Abolitionists transport
: slaves from the South to different destinations
q Il is said TO have received its name from blum
/. Kentuckian, who, having lost the track Of bi
{ runaway slave this side The river, exclaimed
Q with an oath: "the Abolitionists must have q
{ railway under the ground, by which they run Of
!, nipgers.n This road is not traced on maps AM
8 hung up in public places, but il exists in al
J. the multiplied accompaniments and system, o
: any railroad II has It's "msin trunkv an
q sbranches''-its 'terminin----its depots an
: "statious" principal "track" and "switch