Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-07-25
sEOTIoNAr or NATIONALS

The Buehaniers in "stress of politics" are
driven to every false and shallow shift that
may for time answer their purpose
Hence their charges that Col. Fremont is
Catholic and STAKEHOLDER. Of the same
sort is the oft repeated claim that they are
the national party, and the republicans the
sectional one. Let us briefly look at this
matter. Is the republican party sectional ?
To decide this question we shall naturally
look first at the principles of the party and
then at the party itself.
The principles of the republican party are
those of the Declaration of independence,
of the Constitution, and of the Fathers who
framed these immortal documents. In strict
accordance with them, we hold that 'aH
men are endowed with certain unalienable
rights, among which are life. liberty and
the pursuit of happiness" that no man can
be deprived of these rights "without due
process of law" hence that slavery cannot
be extended under the constitution, and that
no body Of men acting under that consttu-
ton, whether the congress of the United
States, or territorial Legislature, or horde
of Missouri bsnditti led on by the president
can rightfully establish slavery among the
domestic institutions of any of our terrific
ries, We deny this power because slavery
takes away and utterly destroys those rights
which the Declaration asserts to be 'unal-
ienable," and which the constitution says
shall not be taken away "without due pro-
cess of law,"-that is, on conviction of a
criminal offence.
If the Declaration of Independence is
sectional we are sectional; if the constitu-
ton of the U. s. is sectional, we arc section
al. If they are national, we are national.
Next we look at the party. 1t is formed,
so far as a visible organization is concerned,
wholly in the northern states. On this ma
ked fact the Buchaniers hang all their hopes
of convieting us of being sectional. Sup
pose that the principles of republican lber-
tv have been fatly denied in one half of the
| Union, is the other half sectional, because
it still adheres to those principles? Or rath-
er, does not the stigma of sectional belong
to that half which would turn aside our re-
publican government from the great end for
which it was established, viz: the spread Of
liberty in the earth, and make it mighty
instrument for extending human bondage
These are the naked facts, the slave states
of this Union have cast off the principles
and the spirit of republicanism. These
have taken refuge in the north. Are we
then sectional because we still abide by the
principles of freedom? Must we, in order
to escape the charge of sectionality, cast
overheard the doctrines in which we have
been educated, and adopt the faith of slave
breeders, who are seeking rev markets for
the bodies and souls of men in which they
trade? This charge of sectionality is utter
terly dishonest, and none know it to be Sc
better than those who make it. They know
that the slavery extending policy to which
they have assented at the demand of 347,-
600 shareholders, has driven the people oi
the north to the formation Of party op-
posed to such an abominable doctrine
They know that in point of fact, the charge
of sectionalism fastens itself on the party
that by its base servility to the shareholders
, has thus divided the nation. They know
!, that their sole reliance for the election o.
their candidate, is based on the fact that
the entire south will 60 for him.
In truth, however, we have multitudes o.
wel-wishcrs at the SOUTH They dare moi
organizn, for there is a reign of terror in the
|. southern states. Democracy there permit.
no man openly to advocate the principles ot
the Declaration and the Constitution. Il
that southern democracy obtains power we
may expect in due time to see the Same
liberty enjoyed at the north-the liberty to
, think and act as $4,000 slavehoiders shall
permit. If the principles of the democratic
and republican platforms could be separated
from party names, and submitted to the
people on their own merits, the republican
platform would find more supporters in the
south, than that of the democrats in the
north The republican party is national in
its principles, if the Declaration and the
Constitution are SO. If it is not viSibly na-
tional in its organization, it ought to be, and
in due time will be.
/ The First Step.
The great Philadelphia Republican con-