The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-05-16
The Fusion candiaate for Gov

Ohio Colums5ian, published al Colum-
bus, and the Free Soil 70rganof Ohio.
It speaks plainly, and on this account
we give tia notice. in order that the
Free Soilers5of Ashland County may
see what is going ON behind the curtain.
The Editor of the Times, last Fall, CO.
operated, heart and-not soul, for he
has none-body, with the Free Sellers.
Does he sustain the same views which
the leading organ of the Free Soil par
ty entertains? Docs he approve o. dis-
approve of the following article from
the Columbian. We ask this question
at the request of a few OF his FusiOn
friends. Dare he express himself?-
/" Under which King, B~ENzTNIAN ? Speak
or die :"
ssmr. Brinkerhoff and the Govern
Can the Independent Democracy con-
sistently support a State ticket at the
next election with Mr.. Brinkerhof at
its head? The signs of the times indi-
cate that this is tie question to be met.
Let us look at it in the light of some of
our settled and we'll established princi-
pies.
It is said that-Mr. B. is one of our
own number. Undoubtedly he was SO
once, but is he now? The papers say
he is a member of the Order of Know
Nothings- This is not denied by his
friends, and therefore may be assumed
as true. 1t il said, also, that he is to
be the particular candidate of the Or
der, and this is not denied by his friends
that the Order have resolved not to
nominate him, or any other person, but
to wait the action of the Republican
Convention. 1t is replied to this that
the Councils are everywhere balloting
for him privately, and making arrange
ments to pack the Peoples Convention
in such a way as to secure his nomina-
ton. This is not denied. What would
be the difference between a nomination
brought about in this manner, and one
made at a regular convention of the Or
der? Plainly none. He is, therefore,
to come before US as their candidate.
The next thing to examine is the re-
~lation in which the Order stands to free
dom. We see the statement constant
ly made in the public prints that it is
IN itself neither pro-slavery nor anti
slavery-that it may strike one way at
the North, and the other way It the
South. This may have been true in
the first days of its glory. We will ad-
- Ill - -, 49,, a-1 NIak -@4 ~
ti-slavery men, like Senator Wilson,
could then take Office from its hands, un-
der such circumstances as to be able to
maintain their integrity. But how is
it now? The charge has been long be-
fore the public, and remains ~uucontra-
dicted, that new degree has been es-
tablished to r1tle the Order, which crush
es anti slavery cut from its heart. 1t
can now exist only in the extremities,
where it can be kept in subsection.
With this brief summary of the facts
before us, let US approach the question
Can we support a ticket which is ruled
and led by this Order? Let US apply
our principles. Why did we sever our
connection withthe old Wing and Demo
cratic parties at the first? It was not
because there was no freemen in them
for they always had anti slavery wings
in parts of the North. It was be-
cause, when they held their National
Conventions, or had National action,
they deprecated the agitation of the
great question of Liberty, for fear it
might endanger the glorious Union. And
when those parties nominated men who
professed to have anti-slavery feelings,
aud called on us to support them on that
account, Jul answer was that they wore
bound by party Obligations CO represent
their parties, while their parties ignored
our principles. They bowed to the
Power that bowed to Slavery.
Now the Know Nothings have had
their National Convention, and on the
heel of discussion of Slavery,haye form
ed a lew degree, as q higher potoer, to
put its foot upon tho agitation of all ques=
tions that tend to disturb the reign of
Despotism in the glorious Uniou.-
The thing done is precisely that which
was done by old political parties, on &C
count of which we left them, and came
out as the Independent Democracy.
If Mr.. Brinkcrhoff is nominated by
this New Order party, as now organized
he will stand in the same relation to us
as those individually sympathising can
didates whom we formerly rejected, be-
cause they bowed down to the parties
which cast their homage at the feet Of
our great enemy the Slave Power. He
stands in the same relation indeed, but
he stands in rather a more Objectionable
position. They were simply pledged by
their party ties-he is pledged by his,
and confirmed them with a great oath.
Who cannot but sec that we must repu-
diate this gentleman, or any other mem
Der of this now slavery-worshipping par
ty from the leadership of our ticket, OF
step from the platform upon which we
have stood as the Independent Democ-
racy, and acknowledge ourselves as
" sold and gone?" g ss
We entered into the Peoples Move
ment last year in good faith; because,
although it stood but a little way, it
stood boldly against the common enemy.
But now, if hat which was to be its
second gathering, is to have its action
diverted and controlled by men who are
packed in by the opponents of the new
party which has now fallen before the
Slave Power, we may we'll say it is not
the feast to which we were invited. 1t
is a kind of fare of which we are not dis
posed to partake. In plain terms, we
cannot support such a nomination.
We may expect to be denounced for
taking a position, which if it should be
extensively taken by our friends, may
result in the defeat of the ticket to be
constructed next July. But how can we