Year: 1859

The following are the remarks of Governor


Chase. made u. the Republican Mass Meeting at
d Cleveland last week as reported for the Herald
Fellow CrrIzENs-A few hours ago l was sit


ting ia my Office in Columbus, not expecting to


meet you here to-day. But having received a


summons to attend this meeting, felt that it was
nay duty to DO here, and have therefore come.
[ have not come to speak to you words Of excite


ment. nor to urge you to anything that you may


hereafter have occasion to regret. In every juno


ture there are two courses open for adoption the


right and the wrong


The American people have the power in their
own hauds through the balot-box, to PRO-
e ceed in lawful manner to repeal a bad law, and
IL necessars to reform law breakers. You can dol


IL ALL and therefore it s not necessary to resort to
INV course of action that We cannot at all times
carrv out in a proper manner. What is the state
of this case, Men whom We all know and honor,
are inearcerated ia yonder Jail for doing what they


believed to be right. and wha. not one man in ten
thousand can place his hand on his heart and say
. il no. morally right. This is great wrong, but
4 what is the true method of redress We must
Z look at our own Government in the proper light
til, sovereign State. Of sevcra! States form


a
Fsderal Government and under State Govern
ment. Now the Federal Court may do wrong, as
oven a State Government may do wrong, Out it is
a Government that we ourselves have made. If it'll
does wrong, we must turn out the members of
shat Government, and put in men who will con-
form 70 the wishes Of the people who elect them
So with our State Government. If State officers
fail to do their duty, let them be dismissed and
proper men put in their places.


The federal Court, in prosecuting and punish


ing our iucarcerated friends, is acting under the


brovisions of the Fugitive Slave act. What is our
redress In the first place it is to defend them. as


thew have been defended, ably and eloquently be-
fore the Court where they are indicted. Some
nersons claim that the law itself is demonstrations
AL If lmprop pery made as claimed, it is no law,


md every step taken under it is a nullity. The
proper course under this impression is to apply to


our own tribunals for relief
ID. will not argue the constitutionaity Of that


Law. was present at its passage and believed
than. as I believe now, that act to be more sym
Dol Of piraticai sovereignty of the Slave States
over the Free States, than means of reclamation
of fugitive slaves.
,. The case of our incarcerated friends has been
brought before the Courts of the State these
Courts have perfect right to carry their DEGREES


into action.
do not wish to say, nor is it proper for you to
saw, what the decision OF our Court should be in
the case. That is left for the members of the
Court themselves to determine. 1t is matter be-
tween them, the people, and their God. l will
; only say. what have frequently said BEFORE that


as long as the Stale Of Ohio remains sovereignty,


and as long as am her chief Erecutce, the pro-


cess of her Courts shall be executed. The process
of the United States Courts must not be slighted
or resisted but as long as | represent the sove-


reignty Of our State, ioN see that the process Of
our Stale Courts shall not be iaterfered ,cM re-
sisted. but shall be fully enforced. Cheering


p IF the process of the United States Court is OBJ


noxious to US. let it be remembered that before
long we shall have q chance to appoint some one
else to use the power of appointing United States


officials. We can reform the Judiciary, the Presi-


dency and the Congress. The process may possi-


bly, be TOO slow to suit some of our more ardent
friends here, but it will be accomplished in due
time Thus much have said to you because,


standing here governor of Ohio, l claim the
sights Of a man to speak just what think. When
q / am called on to act will act. Immense ap-I
plause na


Governor Chase here signifed his intention of
closing. but the entire crowd unanimously begged
j. him to 60 on- He thereupon continued.
sH will say a few words about the Fugitive Slave
Act, and, the manner in which it is enforced


With regard to the Act itself, believe the people


are just as competent to discuss its features is


Judge Tansy himself. With regard to it's oper
alton, let us look into the present case.