Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-04-26

claimed her proportion, leaving that Of Ma
rylond still ample for every purpose but
that Of a defense against a Shareholders
Rebellion. This Offset from Msryland
containing some sixty square smiles, has for
more than sixty years been the exclusive
possession Of the American Republic, and as
such has been blighted and stunned by Hu.
man Slavery. Thirty years ago, slovc.pens
existed here; slaves were regularly adver
Used for and purchased for Louisianns
plantations as mules are for those of the
West Indies; and large cof1es Of them,
manacled and fastened together have been
seen from the steps Of the Capitol vending
their way 10 the shambles of the Cotton
planting States At length, the Slave
Trade gradually covered under the indg.
nant gaze of freedom loving men from The
North, aud skunk away to the Virginia side
OF The Potomac, where Notwithstanding the
abolition Of the Slave Trade in 1850, it
continued active under State protection
down to 1850 When Alexnndria was
recovered to the Unlon at the cost of but
one precious life--that Of young ELLSWORTH
her slave-trOde suddenly collapsed-nev
er, Col graull to be re established.
1t wus essential to the quiet and security
of Slavery 10 the Union that conscientious
Northern men should regard it as purely a
local, sectional, State institution; but, while
1t lorded over the National Metropolis, how
could theyH No State law has any force
here as such; the legislative power over
that Metropolis is expressly and exclusively
vested In Congress; the laws under which
men and women are sold and whipped there
are Federal laws, whether by adoption or
express enactment No foreigner could
visit our Capital, and go away believing
this to be other than slaveholding coun-
try. All the casuistry and hair splitting on
earth could not make it otherwise.
That the Nation, when grappled in
deadly strife with a Slaveholding Rebellion
should resolutely SEEK to clear itself of all
guilty completely with the cause of this
Dreason, would seem a matter Of course -
That the Shareholders of the Federal Dis.
trict, like the Shareholders everywhere else
are, as body, hostile to the Government
and Sympat hizers with the Rebellion, is a
fact which may easily be verified, did not
this intrinsic probability suffice. That the
Vallandnghams aud Steeles who msrepre.
sent the Free States at Washington should
consider this Tie ,0rOag time to abolish Sla
very in the District, is q matter of course !;
who does not know that, to such rs they
all times are unpropilious for transforming
slaves into freemen? Those who declaim
against doing it now would have resisted
any step looking TO Emancipation as deter.
| minedly ten, twenty, or thirty years ago.
1 . 10 1mp hut ho n hot
their fierce antagouism.
That the Shareholders as o class, with
the great body of the less excusable cham
pions of Slavery object to District Emanci
patton, there can be no doubt. They al
ways did and always will oppose it: VIII,
not now? The practical question is-Sha
that which ought to be done be uttempte
when ii can be or when it caunol? Thos
who wish it defeated, will, of course, prefe
the latter : why should not those who wis
it carried, by the same token, choose th
the former
ln the debate on this measure of instic
and true peace, many things were forcibl,
said on both sides, but nothing more to th
poiut than brief speech in The House
the close of the debate by Mr.. Riddle
yonng member of Northern Ohio Hea kel
to its noble and inspiring exordium:
"Mr. Chairman, great truth is weaken
ed by what men call calculation. Ilustra
| tion obScures it; logic 8nd argument com
promise it; and demonstration brings it to
doubt. He who permits himself to be put
on its defensive, is q weak man or O COW.
ard
"a great truth is never SO strong as
when left to stand on its own assertion
The thing right, for ever remains right an.
der all possible circumstances and condi.
tionS; in all times, places, and seasons. Nor
can it be changed at all. Not all power,
nor the combination of all power, no matter
how employed or applied, can change it the
least. 1t matters not at all how men call
Iit-thOugh the unanimous world conspre tC
call it i'll, and tag it out with all vile epi
the's; though all obscene mouths make il
common, and lewd tongues toss it into sew
ers, aud delicate aud reiued ears may not
hear tit is nOwise changed. No matter
what i'll happens TO il; though cast out, e1
lied, banished, and out lawed, MAJ ked aud
forever banned, made leprous with conlume
ly and reproacb; though prison tried, con
|
carTioD. cast TO vultures, it still lives, is still
right; holds its old place aud old scepter.-
Nor can any mau, by any power, under any
circumstances, Tor anything, be absolVed
from the allegiance he owes it.
80, too, its great opposite wrong, INNS
for ever be wrong, aud not right n,
matter, though taken from its native hl
aud enthroned crowned king, though
universe bow TO it, and cry, 'Al hail!
though constitutions be written TO sustain
it; though laws be enacted in its name, ant
ermined judges wrench the maxims of wis
dom's gray fathers for its support; though
Jurors be sworn by il, and all magistrate
bound to enforce its DEGREES; though il
name be written in all holy places, and
engraved on all shriues, aud its maximl
mingled in the rites of holy miuistration
and it's sanctiied hands only can bless and
curse, join aud put assunder; though II
reign ill hoary prescription grows up ano
surrounds it with wall Of custom anc
habit aud use, that existed time whereof
Ia 6 nj ~ q