The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-29
The nis.oIurion Of one UNION.

suses of the war would result dlsastTously
o the political party then controlling the
,overnment. Since the cessation of hos
ilisiss, these men have had much to say
bout the encroachments of the North up-
N the institutions of the South, arguing
hat the people of the Socth we're impelled
take up arms in maintenance Of their
constitutional rights. Let us examine this
in the light of history, that we may
what the people Of the slave
States have been in the habit of regarding
as sufficient cause for q dissolution of the
Union.
In 1898, the Quskers IF the United
States, ct their annual meeting, adopted q
memorable Congress, praying that body
ito take into consideration the circum-
stances of one hundred and thirty-four per-
sons, and many others whose cases had not
been made public, recently emsncipsted
in North Carolina by members of their
church and again enslaved under suthori-
ty of retrospective laws of that Slate"
When this memorial was presented to the
house of Representatives, Southern mem
bers justified the action of North Carolina,
charged the Quskers with an attempt to
stir up the slaves of the South" and
threatened that the South would dissolve
the Union off Congress pers sted in dis
cussing the subject of slavery" This In
face of the fact that Congress had never
claimed jurisdiction over slavery in the
States until Southern members introduced
and secured the passage Of q fugitive slave
law in 1913.
In 1920 Missouri applied for admission
IS one of the States of the Union. Objec-
ton was made to receiving another State
with the institution of African slavery.
Southern members again threatened to
dissolve the Union "if Northern members
pHrsisted in their efforts to inhibit slavery
in the Territories"
In 1887, Hon. VIM. Slsde, of Vermont,
presented in Congress resolutions adopted
BY the Legislature of Vermont, and me.
morials of citizens of that State, asking
the abolition of slavery in the District of
Columbia, which he moved to refer to q
select committee with instructions to report
q bill to carry out the object of the petit
TONERS, and proceeded to speak upon the
motion. At this juncture Mr.. Legsre, OF
South Carolins, warned Mr.. Slsde ito re-
feet on the consequences of his course"
Mr.. 6lade continued, when, in response to
the suggestion Of Mr.. Wise, of Virginia
nesrly all the Southern members left the
hall This was the first instance of prac,
teal accession. They then dictated upon
what terms they would return. Thai
evening they met in caucus and drafted &
resolution, the adoption Of which by the
House was made the condition of theil
return. On the following day this resolu
ton wal introduced, the return of South
ern members being spoken of SIS q "con'
cession" that would "save the Union
The resolution, which was adopted BY
| Democratic votes, read as follows:
"ResoLved, That all petitions, memorials
snd papers touching the abolition Of
slavery, or the buying, selling or transfer
ring slaves in sny State, or District, o.
Territory of the United States, be laid OF
the table without being debated, printed
or referred. and that no action hA tAkAr
thereon"
Hon. R. Bsrnwell Rhett, of South Caro-
Inns, in a published letter to his constitu
ents, characterized the withdrawal o
Southern members from the hall as e.
memorable secession of Southern members,
and stated that he had prepared tw
amendments to Mr.. Shades motion first
that it is "expedient that the Union shout
be dissolved; " and, second, to sppoint
committee to report upon the best mean
for peaceAbly dissOlving it"
Soon after this, John G. Calhoun intrC
duced into the Senate FIVE resolutions, a
calculated to make slavery national. w
copy the fifth:
"Thst the intermeddling of any Stat
or Ststes, or their citizens, with slavery i
the District of Columbia, or in the Teri.
tories of the United States, on the groun
that it is immoral or sinful, would be a d
rect and dangerous attack upon the inst
tutions of all the slave States"
The resolutions we're adopted by th
votes of Democratic Senators, and II
Democratic party of Ohio seem to believ
in their truth st the present time.
In Is49, at the commencement of th
81st Congress, much difficulty was e1
perienced in electing a Speaker. The ant
slavery Wings refused to sustain any car
didate who was not pledged to so form th
COMMITTEES of the House as to ecu th
right of petition. During the discussion
evoked, Mr.. Meade, of Virginia, declare,
his willingness to vote with any n to d,
feat the parties Hseeking the abolition {
slavery in the District of Columbis and i
our Territories; but if these measures wei
to be adopted, he trusted in God that he ha
looked upon the last Speaker of the Hour
of Representatives" Toombs of George
said:
AT do not hesitate TO svow before thi
House and the country, and In the pre-
ence Of the living God, that if you seek (
drive US from the Territories Of Californi
and New Mexico by excluding SLAYER
therefrom, and abolish slavery in the Di
trlct of ColumbiA, 1 an for dissolution"
Stephens, of Georgia, followed with tn
the declaration that q whenever Souther
institutions were invaded outside of slav
States, either in the Territories or in tn
District of COlumbis the Union would /
dissolved" ColeOck, of South Carolini
said, /" the Union would be dissolved whe1
ever slavery should be excluded from OF
Territories or from the District of Coluu
Bis" af a.-
During The contest for Speaker in 1876
Hon. J.R Giddings took occasion to sa
to those who threatened secession, that II
Republican party would soon be in poWe
when dit would not permit Southern men
bers 70 dissolve the Union" Mr. MENU
len, of Virginia, replied That q whenever
Northern President should be elected, tn
South would dissolve the Union" Brook
Of South Carolina, said that sunless sla1
cry was extended he desiredt to see the On
ion slide"
We might 90 on indefinitely in ouotin