The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-09-29
Garfield, Sept. II, 1852:
For the Democratic UAion Senti',
Platforms Compared.

Mr.. EpIToR The eandor Of yonr editoral re
marks concerning the late Convention at Pittsburgh
induces to ask the insertion in your paper of
few observation relating to the Convent ms, Plat
forms and Candidates of the three parties. You
say, in substance, that important subjects
were presented in the Convention at Pittsburgh,
which were very dear to portion of the members,
bus they were rejected by the body and excluded
from their platform. Ycu maintain that, that
Convention, as well as the others, could effect
union and nominate candidates only by concessions
andeompr, misses and as they are not necessarily
corrupt for that reason SO they cannot charge
ruption upon The Democratic party for having done
the same thing. At the least you claim, that the
concessions nlaGe to the South in the Democratic
Convsntion at Baltimore, do not prove that that
partnis entirely corrupt
-.3sNow to my appreson, the soundness or corrup-
ton Of party in such case depends the char
acter and importance of the principles and meas
ures, which are either adopted in their platform
excluded from it. And with due Difference sub
nit, that there il immense difference in the two
cases under review. You mention two subjects
which some delegates Introduced at Pittsburgh, but
The Convention did not put them into the plat
For the sake of harmony and gnining votes, they
were silent on both subjects.
As to Woman's Rights; however important the
subject may be, little reflection will convince you
that it is quite out of place in Presidential OF Con-
gressional canvass, inasmuch as it pertains to The
States to settle all such matters. No party will
! claim that Congress OF the President should have
any direct control over the subject in Gduan"e If
the States. The same must be said of matters per-
taining to Temperance and intemperance. The
national government has never legislated concern
ing spurious liquors, except TO impose duties or eX
else upont their lnanuf4cture and impoitatian Leg
islation respecting The manufacture and sale OF
them, whether to license aud regulate, or to pro-
hbit has been and will be done by the States alone
The advocates of 7 emperance and Woman's rights
have conceded nothing by leaving them out OF a
national platform, and reserving Them for discussion
and action where they appropriately belong.
But what are the questions embraced in the
Baltimore platform, which are grievous TO multi
4 tudes of Democratic voters, and on which Others
base the change of corruption? Are the subjects
of a national character! Are they Of paramount
importance? Does the platform say of them tha
which is right, OF that which is acrongl
1 answer, and shall not be contradicted, tina
the great essential points of both the Baltimore plat
forms relate TO priticdi morality; not to politica
economy, or mere matters Of interest, eithor sec
tional OF national. They relate to slurefy and III
riolation of human righ's; to the action of the na
tion through the federal government, an support Q
injustice ard oppression. The two platforms, tn
parties and their candidaes, scarcely meu'io
other great interests such as have claimed su
preme attention at elections Tor many years.
These are now laid aside by buth parties, or de
clared TO be comparatively of no Importance; whll
: they pledge all their influence and all their adhe
rents to sustain the compromise of 1885, the fl
citive slave law included.7 ~
Let me briefly specify. The adjustment mea:
ures Of 1850 included the nationul consent to th
i extension of slavery into immense entories the
free the national assent to the future ndmssio
of an indefinite number of slaveh6ldng states mi
: tho Union the continuance of the domestic slay
9 trade between the States. and of slaveholding
Q District of Columbia land the enactment Of q
s. unconstitutional unjust and inhumau, law, chile
the fugitive slave law. These CONCESSIONS wei
! then made at the impeious demands OF the s!av'
o holding power, without the shadow OF flsh'i
claim on their part, or ofobHgation on ours. NO
d it is demanded,--botl- tl-tho Baltimore platform
l. demand ihat this adjustment shall be fnal, thes
h measures perpetual, these euactments enforcee
the fullest extent with aacrity and utmost rigo
|, Nor is this all. The Wings have pledged then
9 selves to Z" dscountenance all future discussion
that question which all parties declare to be
d question of the country aud of the age, that swa
70 loNvs up un oti,-.a. And the Democratic par