The Liberator

SENATOR MORRIS OF OHIO.

There are few political men who can give so good an account of themselves as does Senator Morris, in the following extract from his reply to the Ohio Whig Convention.

'To the people I feel a high responsibility, and will answer to them at a future day. My business now is with the whig convention; and in answering the charges which they have made, I most willingly appear on trial before the people of the state. I should not fear a verdict from the great body of whigs themselves. I have advocated, and voted for, the liberty of speech and the freedom of the press, as the undeniable right of every citizen. The whig convention must have been of an entirely different opinion, if sincere in the broad assertion they have made.

'I have contended for the right of petition, as belonging to every reasonable being, subject to the laws of the country. The whig convention must be considered as denying this right. They, no doubt, would confine it to a selected few, who should be judges, both of the form and matter, for which the many should petition.

'I have opposed, and voted against, the further extension of slavery in every case in which I was permitted to do so by the constitution.' The whig convention must undoubtedly have viewed slavery with a very favorable eye, and felt willing for its extension into every state in the union. As they paid a very high compliment to the Hon. William C. Preston, of South Carolina, the presumption is strong, that they were in favor of admitting Texas into the union, and of hanging Abolitionists: the opinion of the last general assembly of the state to the contrary notwithstanding.

I have opposed the slave trade between the different states, and with the republic of Texas. The whig convention probably thought this trade an honest mode of turning a penny, and have set me down a political heretic in this matter also.

I have voted against subjecting the papers and packages carried in the mail, to inspection and detention by the different postmasters. For this, also, I am condemned by the whig convention, as having not sustained the opinion of a 'large majority of the people of the state.'

I have contended that all men are born equally free and independent, and have an indisputable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In this particular, I have no doubt, I am entirely antipode to the whig convention. This, with them, was probably deemed my worst heresy, as I have never been able to discover that it formed any part of the faith of true whigs.'