Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-03-18
in which principle is forgotten and expedi-
ency is made the guide.

in which principle is forgotten and expedi-
ency is made the guide.
Again: the concentration of power in the
hands of Convention like that of Le-
compton, is not an American idea. 1t is
borrowed from those republics of Europe
which were not capable Of existing long,
for the very reason that power was so con-
centrated. 1t is derived from the worst
examples of the worst periods of revolution
airy France, when minorities usurped pow
er over nation by terror and reckless dar-
ing. If the rule of the minority Conven-
tion is now formally sanctioned by Con-
gress, it will be most dangerous prece-
dent; an instrument of wrath. treasured up
for day of wrath. We appeal against
this system to the whole Democracy of the
country; we appeal to all the people who
love order, and justice, and freedom.
This city, for its numbers, is the wealth.
est in the world. ] call on the men of
wealth in this great city, to take to heart
the danger of establishing as principle
that a majority of a single body, elected to
Convention perhaps in times of high ex-
element, filed, as will sometimes happen,
with men desperately daring and corrupt,
animated, as men under such circumstan-
ces are apt to be, BY personal and party
passions, should assume the absolute right
to change the fundamental law of the coun-
try, without reference to the people. If
they are not alarmed on account of their
own fortunes, ask them to consider what
disposition, under such an absolute conyen-
tion, might be made of corporate property
what changes in the management of trust
funds, set apart for purposes of charity, or
education, or the support of religious wor-
ship. Especially, speaking in sober ear
nestness to rejecting men; remind the
Catholics of what might happen, calling to
their recollection the grievance to which
they were exposed in an Eastern State, and
from which they only escaped by herefer-
ence of the Constitution to the people,
We call on, our naturalized citizens to re-
fleet on their danger from the principle in
volved in accepting the decision of Con-
vention as final, and without appeal. Our
country is subject to periodical excitements
on the franchise of naturalized citizens !;
and it may happen that Convention pos
sessed of this absolute power, may seek to
perpetrate themselves and their party in
office, by one sweeping disfranchisement
of the foreign born. We call on the poor,
and on the laboring men, to come up to the
rescue; for, in the division that prevails on
universal suffrage, sooner or later Con-
vention would be found ready to limit the
right to suffrage, and 10 maintain the lin
itation by force. We claim the aid of ev
cry Irishman to man, and every descend
ant of an Irishman; for Ireland, through
three centuries, shows the bitter fruits Of a
government imposed by the completely be-
tween shameless minority aud the CEN
trail power.
We will not make an appeal to the South
as such; but if any part Of the Union has
cause for alarm at an increase of the power
of a convention suddenly called together,
we should say it is the South; and were
Jefferson ali ye, we should at this time have
a protest from his pen. The guiding prin
ciple of his craftsmanship was to consult
the people and to revere the people. But
what do say9 A voice comes to us from
one of Jeferson's successors in the chair of
state in the Old Dominion, and in clear
and distinct terms he rejects the Lecomp-
ton Constitution as not the act and deed Of
the people of Kansas, and he rightly con-
demns the Lecompton schedule as not re-
publican. New York will respond to Vir-
ginia, and the great North West will swell
the echo.
The policy of enforcing the Lecompton
Constitution or an unwilling people is nei-
ther wise nor expedient nor possible. Prin-
ciple is the true OWNERS wand by which
the President of free people sways the
millions, and secures majorities for his
measures in Congress. The neglect of prin-
ciple for temporizing expediency always
loses the respect of majorities in Congress
and out of it. The ship of state is water
logged; throw the fraudulent Lecompton
Constitution overheard; let principle take
the helm, and the bark will spring forward
on its way as in the best years of our re-
public. Ours is the cause Of peace, of Or
der, of true democracy, Of union, of free
dom. All good omens are with us. For
our part we are resolved to walk in the CEN
trail path of humanity, stunning sectional
ism and fanaticism on the one side, and
subserviency to dlctation on the other
True democracy inscIibes on its banners the
rights of the States and the sovereignty of
the people; it upholds freedom to the indi-
vidual in the State, freedom to. the State
in the Union, and the indefeasible right of
the majority, whether in State or in a
Territory, calmly, deliberately, and undis-
turbed to form and accept, or reject Con-