Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-02-23
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIVEs. 4
II A SAyyRpAs, February %.


- sAyyapas, February %.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Clover.
The House having taken a recess yesterday
evening, pending the consideration Of H. b.
$50 Relating to fugitive slaves, --
Y eMr. BLAKESLEE offered the following
1'lSndDis, 1%end By striking out the WORD amsster
wherever Il occurs in the Bill, and insert In
place thereof the word "owner."
fr Add after the word ''slave" wherever it 90.
ours In the bill tho words "horse, ass, or
! Add after the word ~siaves, in the slh. line.
In section /, the words "hofses, asses or mules"
Mr.. WOODS said he had not examined the bill
with much care, and did not like oil its particu.
lars, but to the object sought to beaccomplished
by,it he cordially yielded his support. He would
assist In breaking up. the whole sysjem of the
Underground Railroad, ,by which our Southern
byethren are robbed of their property, the
right to which is secured to them under the
Constitution. He said the gentleman who pre-.
ceded him bad spoken fof the agency ofthe
pemocratic,party. in bringing about. .as they
charged, the troubles of the country. To that
be replied by pointing to the case Of John Brown,
whom he characterized as murderer and horse
| thief, and the couhtenance given him by many
are responsible for the complaints Of the Southof
the invasion Of their rights. The very fact that
the day Lincoln was known to be elected,
the march Of secession began, is proof
that the Republicans A are responsible for
much of this state Of things. The 'Repub-
lican Convention of Ohio, aud the resolution for
Recommending the repeal Of the fugitive slave
act, and the letter OF Gov, Dennison to the
Cleveland Convention of 1853, he quoted as
proving that the Republican party is opposed to
the fugitive slave law and its execution He
defended the fugitive slave law as far from be-
ing 30 severe as the clamor against IL represents.
ID reference to the fact that the fee of the Com
missioner is double In cases of rendition, he cit
ed our Justices code as containing similar
feature. But, said he, there s no niger in that
iswood pile. OF trial by jurys he said we did not
require it in cases Of fugitiyes from justice;
aud we return, under treaty, fpgitiyes from, Aus.
tria, where there Is no trial BY jury. The gen
tleman from Meigs says nothing about that;
but the difference ID, In one osseit IL this ever
] lasting niger; In the other, It 10 only poor
IDntchman. Mr.. Plants corrected Mr.. w . that
he had not argued the merits Of the fugitive
slave Jaw. He only spohe about the bill under
The gentleman has de epreoated the Institution
of slavery, and spoke of its evils, as terrible
above all things. He was, doubtless sincere,
But the people of many Of our States hold that
it is just and right, and,sanctioned by, God and
his holy word-educated IN that belief from
their infancy. Still the gentleman and bis Re
publican friends insist they are right, and will
yield no compromise, gbut would force those
seeding, States into submission, These men
are breaking up; the fabric Of this Government
on mere abstraction; for there Is NO. another
L ~ In tho
eS1' osn go 2, 's'r,sOry Y 'ne ns91 sHoe slavery
50 They say wait till the fourth Of March; end
then We shall determine whether We will resort
to powder, shot or shell. Against this he pro-
tested in the name Of all the heroes and martyrs
of the Rsvolution,J But we must wait till Lin
coin is sinaugursted. He had once thought Mr..
Lincoln man Of ability; but he had changed
that opinion, endnoH- he could dbutregard bis as.
cension to the chair once flied by Washington
as grieyous burlesque. But from this decision
these men, who will listel to no compromise
or concession, will take an appeal to tribunal
before which they may well trembls--ihc dread
tribunal ofithe American people, ~ y iA'i-