Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-11-25

] Hon. Gerrit' Smith. Dear Sir. /
yorr address at Rochester. YOU too
oceasion to say. the party TO Which
belong docs no, seek the abolition c
slavery. Nor does il even go for moi
extension. Il once said no more Slav
States. Now it says no more Slav
States unless the people wish il.
Kansas, or Utah wish to come in q
Slave States the Republicans as
party would admit them" In saying
that. thought the charge unmcrited
| do not intend to impugn yonr sin
cerity. But / felt it due TO you am
myself. that yon should explain the
ground on which yon founded it. J
therefore asked you specially to stat,
VIXEN the Republican party abandoned
its svowed faith? BY whom was this
apostacy proclaimel?" then sup
posed. and still believe your impres-
sions had been drawn from the
declaration of individuals protesting &
to belong to the Republican party. bat
denying tn, fundamental doctrines
which constitute the party. on which
it has been founded. organized. and on
which it has risen to its present proud
position. In your answer you certain
ly have failed to show when or where
the Republicans abandoned their
pledged faith: Nor have you pointed
me to the men who have proclaimed
such apostary.
Bnt you rcitcratc the charge in
general terms. You say "you (mean-
ing myself, act with the Republican
party and surely it is not work TO
abolish any Slavery. Your free soil
party Of lS43 declared its purpose to
abolish Slavery in the District Of
Columbia: But l never heard that
this is one of the purposes Of the
Republican party"
Had you consulted our platform,
you would have found that We were
plcilgel to abolish Slavery, not merely
in the District Of Columbia, and in all
our forts. arSensal, magazines. dock
yards and territories, where Congress
has power to lcgislate, but throughout
the world. Our doctrines are. that
"all men (without regard to color or
conlition) are endowed 10y their
creator with the insliensble right to
life. to that liberty which is so
essential TO cherish and protect life.
attain knowledge. and enjoy happiness.
This doctrine is held and proclaimed
wherever Republicans exist. Their
moral influence is felt throughout this
and other nations. it is operating not
merely in New York and Ohio, but is
arousing the popular minds in all the
free and slave States. 1t has recently
manifested its strength in Maine,
Vermont. Pennsylvania. Ohio and
Indiana. While this moral influence
is extending and strengthening over
the whole nation, and in other nations,
Republicans are solcmnly pledged to
sustain these rights in all our terri
tories. and to prevent by positive
legislation the establishments of slavery
therein. By the moral force of these
truths, the Administration has been
defeated in the States named. and
every indication now gives promise OF
glorious triumph in 1860. Nothing
can prevent such triumph but division
in our ranks. But you ask me.
whatever yonr party may say against |
the extension of slavery; dose it go
against it?" / answer most emphat-
ically. yes: In every shape and form
in which that subject is, or can be !
nor do we stop there. We
hold and declare that the primary
object and ultcrior design of our
Federal Governmet, was to secure all |
persons under its exclusive jurisdiction. |
in the enjoyment of life. liberty and |
That its constitutional
powers shall be exerted in favor OF
liberty and justice: That acting on
this policy at our last session. every !
member of Congress. |
voted to reject the Lecompton bill, I
that being the highest degree OF con-
tempt Tor the measure which Is allowed |
by Parliamentary Law. l point you
to that record: Nor 10 / stop there:
| point you to the subsequent defeat !
of that executive plan for extending
slavery by Republicans acting upon
their avowei doctrines. although they I
bnt nincty-two, out of two /
and thirty four members
But this vote which saved Kansas
from civil war and slavery, you cite .
as an evidence. that Republican /
OF Congress had abandoned I
their doctrines. OF this misreprescn-
tation [ surely not intended as snch) ] /
In past time il has been !