The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-02
ANOTHER oLD-LINE DEMOCRAT FOR FIRE.


AT very large and enthusiastic Republican
meeting in Philadelphia, on Monday, Hon.
Charles Gibbons stated to the meeting that
Hon. Samuel d. Ingham, formerly a member
of General Jackson's Cabinet, who had been
invited to address them, had replied to that in
vitation in letter, repudiatng the false De-
mocracy of the day, and sustaining the principles
and candidates of the Republican party The
son of Mr.. Ingham read the letter, as follows
TRENTON, Sept. ~, 1856.
Charles Gibbons, Esq,
Chairman Republican State Committee:
DEAR SIR: l have duly received yours of the
18th instant inviting my attendance at Re-
publican meeting in Philadelphia on Monday
evening next, or, if cannot be present, to send
you few words of encouragement to those who
are laboring to promote the return of the Fed
eral Government to the principles of Washing.
ton and Jefferson. The infrmities of age will
prevent my compliance with the former part of
the request and no doubt weaken the force of
an attempt to comply with the latter.
Although | have long ceased to take any
active part in political affairs, yet, in the mo-
mentous issues now presented, should he I'M
faithful to the dictates of my judgment, and the
conscientious convictions of solemn duty, if
l withheld any aid that might be thought USE
full in the trial of the great cause now before
the American people. Our ancestors formed
and transmitted to us one of the best Govern
ments known to the world, and it has pleased
Almighty God to bless this nation apparently
more than any other we are therefore bound
by the most solemn obligations to preserve our
institutions as they have been handed down to
US, and resist on the threshold every attempt to
interpolate on the settled Constitution of our
political charter false or corrupting doctrines
and principles.
On one side of the great issue before us, the
right to hold slaves in all the Territories of the
United States is claimed by virtue of the Con-
stitution of the United States. This claim
suggests constructive power of a new order
it has no basis as an incidental power, nor in
the class of those necessary and proper for the
execution of the granted power; nor have its
advocates persisted in an attempt to dsriye it
from an expressed or implied term or meaning
of the Constitution. They saw clearly that this
would be impossible, and have now rested their
claim on higher law" endeavoring to prove
that Slavery is the natural and normal condi-
ton of the la6oring man, whether white or
black" and as a necessary corollsry from this
problem, they deduce I" that the great evil of
Northern free society is, that it is burdened
with servle set of mechanics and laborers,
unfit for selfgovernment master and slave is
their relation in society, as necessary as that
of parent and child, and the Northern States
will yet have to produce it; their theory of self
government is a delusion." Such are the doc.
trines and principles now at work, undermining
the very foundation of a political system devised
by some of the best and wisest men the world
has ever seen, to promote and secure the hap
piness of all within its dominion.
will not insult your understanding by i'm
itating the other side of the argument in this
great cause it is familiar to all. The whole
doctrine of Freedom, as defined in the political
institutions of free States, is founded on a sen.
timent that requires no argument to support it I;
but there are other incidental issues which are
of not less practical Importance than the alb
stract doctrine above referred to. Before the
election of President Pierce, the great ques-
ton which had so often threatened to disturb
the harmony Of the American people was set
| tied satisfactorily to large majority of them,
North and South. National Conventions of
both the great political divisions, convened be-
fore that election, had solemnly pledged their
constituency against all future agitation of the
Slavery question. The Presidential election of
| 1852 was placed on this foundation by both
parties; and the present Chief Magistrate was
specially chosen under the influence of this
imposing compact, and in accordance there
with; when about to make his appeal to God as
witness to the sincerity of this oath of fidelity
| to his trust, he pledged himself to the whole
American people that his power would be ex-
erted to prevent all further agitation of this
distractisg and dangerous question. Can any