The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-01-12
THE OHIO sENAToRsuIP.

U.
question now at Columbus, and, indeed,
with the entire press of the State, is--Who
shall be his successor ? The most promi.
nent names that havo been mentioned in
connection with tho position are those Of
RoBERT g. ScnESrK, JouN A. BINOHAN, VII
hrAM DESEIsoN and JonN SHERMAN. The
contest, however, has narrowed down be-
tween Messrs. ScHENcK Nnd SHERMAN, and
from present indications one OF the other of
these will be our next Senator, with the
chances largely in favor Of the former gen
tlcman.
Our preferences, and those Of largo ma
jSrity Of tho Onion men or this section of
the State, are for Hon. RoBEnr c. ScnrNcK,
now the abio Representative in Congress
from the lid District of Ohio, We say it
with regret, that our present Senator, now
30 olumorous for re election, has been
weighedIin the balance aud found wanting
Ryhis record let his constituency judge
him, If that has been straightforward,
consistent, answering and in accordance
with the dictates Of humanity, our public
servants at Columbus should give an uue-
quivooal Endorsement of the man and his
official acts by returning him TO the Senate
another term. II not, it is as clearly their
duty, to mako another choice,
Let us briefly look at his Senatorial re.
cord, for by his course in Congress, the
people Of the State he represents have a
Nsr1,N 10. H., ,,t II Il
censure In July, Of 1862, in his capacity as
Wnited States Senator, Mr.. SHERMAN made
an earnest speech in favor of employing
slaves in the military service, to carry the
war to successful issue. lIo maintained
also tho right of the Government to the
service Of tho slaves of both loyal aud dis
loyal masters but, after tho slave of the
loyal man had assisted to preserve the ma
ton and maintain it's supremacy, he nivo-
Gated his re-enslavement! 1t IS indeed a
painful reflection that the advocacy of such
an not should mar the record Of Senator
from tho free State Of Ohio. The very
thought of such an act of porfdy on the
part of u Government and that free Coz
erment--is revolving to every principle of
humanity to the crudest ideas
ofjustioe. Nor was this all lie as ear
nesily opposed the emancipation of tho wife
and children Of the slave soldier whether
they belonged TO loyal or dsloyal masters
Nor is this all. After slavery had been
abolished in the rebel States by tho proola.
nation oil LINcuLN, Senator SuERMAN voted
against the repeal Of all laws for the rondi.
ton Of fugitive slaves,
In 1861, however, the Honorable Senator
seems to have utterly rcpudiated the views
he held two yeaes previous, and to have
taken stand directly antagonistic to his
former position, A few illustrations may
suffice.
In 1862 he insisted tl'nt twas perfectly
right and proper to use the slave Us u sol.
der TO rescue our imperlled country, and
when our triumph was complete, again fet.
ter him with the bonds of slavery. lie
said;
lte ia no more slave than he was betoro F; he is
made no worse on the contrary, he receives an in-
cdentai benefit which must arise from the en,in-
lie receives the incidental benefit of that employ
mont in rendering loyal service to the country. He
Is not Injured al all. When he renders service he
Is none the less slave.
As 10 the repugnance of such view to
every principle of justice aud humanity, is
best told by SHERMAN himself in 1864;
The soldier who has worn our uniform and
served under our flag must nnt hereafter labor as
slave. - IL you have not the power, and
do not msan to emancipate him, aud those with
whom he Is connected by domestic ties, then in the
name OF God and humanity do not employ him as a
soldier. Let him in his servitude at least be free
frOm the danger incident to a freeman.
The idea Of getting tho poor, ignorant Africans into
our service, calling upon them to risk their lives
for us, 10 be slaughtered In our civil war, and then
not 20 secure them emancipation, would be tn,
hiyht OF injustice. Why, sir, il YOU put
him ia your ranks anil make him hght for YOU, and
then do not give him liberty, you treat MIN worse
than the meanest STAKEHOLDER that ever lived.
IN 1862 he declared himself opposed to
the policy Of emancipation, and said we hoo
gone far enough in minging the freedom o
the slave with the couduet OF the was. IL,
said
It's unjust, unfair and 1may say further that
Is uunAanly Ia avail yourself OF this condition ul AT
fairs broug about by rebels 60 seize the property
ef loyal people ehd deprive them of that property
u Will be UNJUST
We have gone far enough in mingling the ques
tion OF emancipation with the conduct oi this war
u Is nv deliberate Judgment thnt we can 81 no fur
ther aud aet wisely. The queston of eInaueipaIlo
is a very grave aud serious one, that ought no
b be mingled with the war. aare NJ
sympathy with the general policy Of emancipa
ting slaves, OF aRy interference win tue rights q
the southern people, aud especially VITA tue rlght
0f the 10y people Of the South.
Dat he wheels around in 1861, and eN
presses his belief that tho war had heeI
unnecessarily protraeted hy the consorva
tive policy Of the President on the slavery
question. lie said
believe the war has been ptotrl lred So long be
cause We hare feared, through prejudice aud prob
ably on account of old party relations, % ekete's
the great powers that are Invested IN Us; Orifet
that from the beginning when thn rshels assnme'
the position OF enemies, We should Lave arme'
against them the whole negro pspntion oi ih
country. say from the beginning ~
should have armed the slaves but before doing 50
in my Judgment, we ought TO secure mem by law
as great guaranty which you an3 l. ani AZ
branches OF the Government would unite in pledg
Ing the faith nf tho United States that ioreNe
thereahss they should hold their Freedom against
thslr Old mnsiers.
In what light arc we TO regard oourss
MI erTaiio and inconsistent in man will
the ability and siatesmanlike qualities o.
JoHN sHERNAs. 10 say that it was time
- al ltao ~ fas.