Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-10


worse off after serving the Government
. than he would be if he served his master
and that emancipation under such circum-
stances would be unjust to the loyal
master. In 1864 he declared it to be the
duty of all branches of the Government
to sunite in pledging" to 'the whole Ne
'.gro population of the country" ''the faith
"of the United States that forever thereaf-
'ter they should hold their freedom against
Htheir old masters" The same moral prin-
ciples governed the case in 1862 as in 1864.
The same financial considerations pre-
vailed in 1864 as in 1862. The only diff
ference was that in 1864 the public debt
was more than double what it was in 1862.
Having been set right on this question by
the teachings of three years of war we
doubt not Mr.. Sherman will always be
right on this topic-which is now thing
of the past; but we want Senator to rep
resent Ohio who does not require three
years of such education to enable him to
see the right.
But there are some things which even
three years of war did not teach John
Sherman. Three years of wars school
ing did not teach him that it was the duty
of the Government to wash its hands of all
support of slavery. Declaring, as he did,
in 1864, that the whole slave population
ought to have been armed, and that the
Government ought to secure freedom to
all who bore arms in its defence, he still
voted against the repeal of the fugitive
slave law of 1893. There is nothing in his
official record to show that he has changed
in opinion. since he cast that vote. We
know Of no more efficient mode of exhibit |
ing fogyism than that adopted by |
Senator Sherman in voting to retain |
upon the statute book of the nation a Eal0
authorizing the e'ssLaUenae'ut of men l0itholft
a trial By jury. Let 1t be remembered that
this vote ,i0as not cast early in the iOdr, but
on the 18th day Of april, 1854, three gears
after the inauguration of t0ar against the
Government By the sLdUe Po,0er. This
shameful vOts lOas giUen during the last
year of the Shareholders rebellion; and
there is not on record single act or rote to
shol0 that John Sherman regrets the per-
tfdions act. Suppose he has repented-
suppose he is now opposed to the re-enact-
ment of a fugitive slave law, which he
might well be, since there is no longer any
slavery in the land-what inducement is
this to the people of Ohio to re-elect him
to the place he SO long disgraced by mis-
his constituents? 1t is i'm
possible to foresee and provide in advance
for all the contingencies liable to arise
1uring Senatorial term of six years. 1t
would not be possible to send to Washing
'on Legislators pledged to a definite line of
action throughout the term for which they
we're elected. Therefore, it is essential
hat men should be chosen who are imbued
With free principles and the spirit of prog
of liberal views and sagacious
tatesmanship-men Yho have the wisdom
o recognize and the courage to do the
light at any time and at all times. The
conservative course of Senator '
Sherman proves him to be no such man.
Better take an untried man than one tOto
'oted to uphold sLaoery during the last gear
# TIE Shareholders ro5eSSiOJ., us rfirs John
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