Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-03-13
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
NEGRO AGITATION IN THE OHIO
LEGISLATURE.

1t is pleasing to see the Cincinnati Gc
J SeIte, rebuking the Legislature for spend
ing their time on negro questions. An
in reply to the statement that this agita
tion is forced on them by the Democrat,
the Gazette remarks with charming sin
plicity:
"But there is no reason in the worl
why Republicans, who are in a maiorit
in both branches of the General Assembly
should suffer themselves to be 'coerced' al
ter this Democratic fashion. The domin
ant party will be held responsible for tn
actions of the Legislature-for its sins o
omission as well as eOmmission-and i
should see to it that prevalent discussion.
do not delay or prevent action on regular
and important business. Depend upon it
should the remainder of the session be frit
terLdd away, as the two months which have
passed, the people will bring in a verdict
next Fall which will be any thing but a.
greeahle to those now in power"
We suspect that is an uncOmmonly
fOrcibly statement, for the Gazette.
BUTTS very gueer-we Laye an idea
that no Journal has furnished so mCeh aid
and comfort to this very negro agitaticau
as thesCincinnati Gazette. Furthermore,
we expect 10 make the Gazette see it in
that light We believe that every meas
ure which has forced this negro agitation
upon the Legislature, has been brought up
by the Democrats and the sO-called
Conservatives. BY this conservative de-
lection, the "Republican majority in both
branches of the Legislature" has been "co-
creed after this Democratic fashion" By
this the dominant party" has been ''held
responsible for the action of the Legisla-
ture" which by this conservative Secession
it was pcwerless to control; for which it
IS very likely, as the Gazette says, "the
people will bring in verdict next Fall
which will be anything but agreeable to |
hose now in power"
But this conservative Secession the Ga
Iette took under its especiil patronage;
Ind all tho while that it, in afiliation with
he Democrats, was forcing the negro upon
he Legislature the Gazette allowed its Co
umbus Correspondent to use it to insti-
,atc the Conservatives, and to assail the
najOrityand State Journal, which was op-
'esing tbs very course, which the Gazette
low says has thrown responsibility upon
he Republicau majority, for which the
people will bring in a verdict next FAN
which will be anything but agreeable.
Probably the meanest piece of legislation
at any dcliberatiye body ever passed
he visible-admixture amalgamatiOn bill
bill which in principle, is virtually
legal license of white fornication; and
'hich, in the visible admixture matrimon-
ll penalty exposes every marriage to the
candal Of malicious crones, and makes
gal offense of that of that which is utter
Y indefinite ia its character, and which,
it exists, is the sin of parents, if "a sin at Z
ll-this piece of legislation for the exclu-
i've benefit of scandal-mongers, was advo-
lted by the Gaztete's conservative prOte-
es in the Legislature, while the Gazette
as instigating them, and attacking the |
tate Journal and the Radicals for oppos- !
lg such legislation.
Another negro measure advocated by {
ne GaZette'S faction was to request the ,
ederal Government to legislate for the Z
elivery of fugitives from justice in the
tates. This was to repair some falsely
lleged delinqucncies of Ohio in that res
ect; and the legislation requested was,
nat the law of the State from which the
lgitive escaped, should be the only ques-
on to govern his delivery. If an Ohio !
ian of color sets foot in Kentucky, he be-
'mes liable to the Penitentiary. Should
e set foot there and return, he might be !
emandcd of Ohio as fugitive from Jus
&c; and if this conservative measure were
lrried out, Ohio would have to deliver
i'm up
So, also, in regard to these States in
hich negroes who enter them are con- ,
em2ed to slavery. Besides, it would give
lie slave States an opportunity to vint =
leir spite upon our citizens in a thousand !
ays, by malignant LEGISLATION which we =
ould be compelled to carry out. This :
ropositiOn was too much even for the :
stomach, and that defeated it. !
So in regard to tie personal liberty laws, ;
conservative Senator whom the Gazette /,
rs especially been used to back, distin- /;
lishcd himself by discovering a personal :;
ebrty clause which violated our obliga- (;
ons to the South where no Democrat had i,
negro scent keen enough to perceive it. {
AS it has been the fashion for Ohio ;
emocratic orators. here and at Washing :
n, to help on the Secession rebellion, by /,
larging their own State with having null :
fed the Constitution by its personal lib :
ty laws, we invite the attention of the
eople of Cincinnati to this the only yes !
ge of multiplying law which could be
und. after dilligent search, even by one
no had nose keen enough to scent this I
1t. The Senate Judiciary Committee, on l
Otion, We think, of Senator Harrison, one C
the Committee was instructed to search I
Ie statutes, to see if there were any that /
inflicted with our constitutional obliga- q
Ons. C
The Democrats of the committee could i
It find any; but Mr.. Harrison. Conserva- Il
Te, found clause in law to prevent kid U
lpping, which required that the claim 20
gitive slaves should be established before $
e Commissioners, according to the Fugi- a
Ve-slave Law. Certainly, our readers L
i'll say, that law is summary enough; it
Ily requires an affidavit made in another
ate, which a thief can make as well as an 4
nest man. But Mr.. Harrison said that :
cOnAicted with the decision in the Prigg :