Private.
Cincinnati, Nov. 17, 1850.
My Dear Sir, Your
letter, like the “royal Charlie” of the Cannie Scots “was long in coming.” It
was dated Nov. 7 and I only recd. it yesterday.
I am much obliged to you for it; and like your general
views. I do not believe that the Free Democrats, if they act prudently, will be
put to the necessity of voting for any man such as Wade or any counterpart in
the Old Line Democracy for Senator for the full term. I should dislike greatly
to see them descend so far from the position which Morse, Townshend, Smart
& Swift maintained under worse circumstances in 1848-9. I would almost say
that I would prefer a Coalition between the Hunkers of both sides, to such a
descent. But our friends in the Legislature must judge for themselves The
responsibility is upon them. I am assured by Capt Radter, who was one of the
Chief Engineers of the “Peoples Line” last winter that he went into it with
great reluctance, and that if he & his fellow democrats had been met with
the liberality and openness, which Townshend & Morse displayed the winter
before it would never have been organized. Cooperation between Free Democrats
& Old Line Democrats is more natural than Cooperation between either &
Whigs because there is more agreement of principle; and I have so great
confidence in the power of principles, that I do not doubt that a union, on
right ground & honorable terms for both sides, can be had, if our friends
go to work in the right spirit, and in a liberal temper, maintaining their
principles firmly, & letting it be seen distinctly that their action
is governed by a paramount regard to them.
I suppose the most important first step will be to determine
who shall compose the Free Democratic Caucus. The rule, proposed by Dr.
Townshend, two years ago is I think the true one: that all who claim to
participate in its proceedings shall subscribe a declaration that they hold, as
of paramount importance, the political principles of the Buffalo & Columbus
Platforms, and will support no candidates for the Presidency or Vice Presidency
who are not able & avowed opponents of the Extension of Slavery into New
Mexico & Utah, but will act with the Party which holds these
principles and whose Candidates occupy that position, namely the Free
Democracy; and that they will act together as members of the Legislature so far
as they conscientiously can after mutual consultation. This seems to me now and
seemed to me then as far as honest men can go, and no farther than any sincere
free democrat would cheerfully go.
I suppose that the Senate Caucus constituted on this
principle will embrace yourself, Pardee, Randall & I suppose Lyman: and
that the House Caucus will embrace Morse, Plumb, Pore, Bradley, Kent Johnson,
of Medina, Thompson of Lorain & Williamson. You will find Pardee I suppose
agreeing fully with you, and Randall will probably agree with you generally. I
hope Mr. Lyman may also do so, but I do not know him & have heard that he
may feel himself under obligation to the Whigs. I wish you could see Randall,
and converse with him. A great deal will depend on his course. He has done much
mischief heretofore, I fear, by his action under bad advice & influence.
But I trust Beaver & Blake being out he may do well, follow in the
convictions of his own judgment, which, if he will trust it fully & boldly
will, I believe, guide him safely. In the House the Free Democrats of radical
sympathies will have a clear majority in Caucus. They will only need to act
cautiously but firmly, looking before them carefully and not fearfully.
The French say “it is the first step that costs.” This is
true. The beginning is full brother to the end generally.
If the session begins right, in mutual good will &
cooperation between the Free Democrats & Old Line, I shall hope the best
results. One side having the Speaker and the other the Clerk in each House,
& the subordinate officers of the organization being fairly distributed,
and the Committees fairly arranged every thing will, I trust, go well.
I have no personal interest in the result; but a very deep
concern in the ascendancy of free democratic principles. May God grant that
truth and reason and justice may govern: and that if 1 am mistaken I may be
overruled.
I enclose some resolutions which it seems to me the Free
Dems & Old Liners can agree on. Without the use of any violence of language
they cover the entire ground.
I expect to be in Cleveland by noon Thursday & stay till
Friday morn I wish I could meet you and some other friends there.
Resolved, That it is the duty of Congress to repeal all acts by which any person
is deprived of liberty without due process of law and especially all acts by
which any person is held in Slavery in any place subject to exclusive national
jurisdiction.
[Enclosure.]
Resolved That the Constitution of the United States
established a General Government of limited powers, expressly reserving all
powers, not thereby delegated, to the States and to the People.
Resolved, That
among the powers delegated to the General Government by the Constitution, that
of legislating upon the subject of fugitives from service is not to be found;
while that of depriving any person of life, liberty or property without due
process of law is expressly denied.
Resolved That
in the judgment of this General Assembly, the Act of Congress in relation to
fugitives from service, approved Septr. 18, 1850 is unconstitutional not merely
for want of power to Congress to legislate on the subject, but because the
provisions of the act are in several important particulars repugnant to the
express provision of the Constitution.
Resolved That
it is the duty of the Judges of the Several Courts of this State to allow the
Writ of Habeas Corpus to all persons applying for the same in conformity with
the laws of this State, and to [sic] conform in all respects to subsequent
proceedings to the provisions of the same.
Resolved, That
while the Constitution of the United States confers on Congress no power to
interfere with the internal legislation of the Several States and consequently
no power to act within State limits on the subject of slavery it does require
that Congress, whenever, beyond the limits of any State, it has exclusive
legislative power, [sic] shall provide, efficient securities for the personal
liberty of every person unconvicted of Crime.
_______________
* Lent by Mr. Homer E. Stewart, Warren, Ohio.
SOURCES: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 220-3; Journal of the Senate
of the State of Ohio, Volume 49, For the First Session of the Forty-ninth
General Assembly, Commencing on Monday December 2, 1850, p. 47.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The recipient of this letter is not stated, however, Ohio Senator Milton Sutliff introduced to above resolutions in the Ohio Senate on December 11, 1850, making it highly likely this letter was addressed to Mr. Sutliff,
EDITOR'S NOTE: The recipient of this letter is not stated, however, Ohio Senator Milton Sutliff introduced to above resolutions in the Ohio Senate on December 11, 1850, making it highly likely this letter was addressed to Mr. Sutliff,
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