The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-09-25
The Republlcan Platform,

One OF the greatest CuTlOSlSeS oI the Qey
is the Republican Platform of 1858, and the
energy of the press and the orators Of tho
party, to convince the people what it is
Ask the question, "What are the principles
of the Republican Party," and the answer
is, "Dred Scott, the niger, and Abe Lin
coin his worshipper." They tell. you Mr..
Douglas is not the man to re-elect to the ..
S. Senate-they back up and recommend
old Abe as the first, last and only choice, in
fact, the perfect embodiment of the party.
Well, then, if such specimen is fair rep
resentation and exponent of the principles
we must look to him for a solution Of our
question. We must 60 back little and find
the foundation of his house he has said SO
much about lately. During tho canvass of
1854, the four northern Congressional Dis
tricts of this state, by Republic conventions
assembled, established the only platform The
party ever had. Its supporters in the re-
naming portion of the State were 80 entirely
defunct, that they could not raise enough to
organize the party and make show. Owen
Lovejoy, tho ''prince of Darkness" clinched
the action in the Legislature of the State
Just before.ths election Of U. S. Senator, to
fll the place Of the gallant Shields. These
conventions spoken Of, adopted the same
resolutions, Gf not in letter, in spirit) and
oil had the same pledge, to Support ne man
fer office under the General or State Gov.
srnmsnt who is not positively committed
to the support of these principles, and whose
personal character and conduct il not q
guarantee that he is reliable, and shall abjure
all party allegiance and ties"
Now, We affirm that the record bears
out the assertion that so far as the regular
organization of the Republican Party in the
State Of Illinois, for the year 1854, had an
existence, they did adopt q platform for their
party. black as it may appear and in order
to make it doubly sure, Lovejoy clinched
it in the Legislature before they balloted for
U. S. Senator, thereby fastening old "Abe"
and his eompeer, the lying renegade, Ly-
man Trumbull, upon that platform-they
can't dodge it. They are SO firmly station
cd there that all the theological ability and
wire pulling Of that old sanity apostle Of
darkness, Owen Lovejoy, can't release them.
No one can object to their having platform,
but why don't they acknowledge this posi-
ton in 1858, They have never established
any other platform than that of 1854, and
by referring TO the resolutions of those con.
ventions it will be seen that the party re-
CURED
1st The repeal, and the entire abrogation
Of the fugitive slave law.
I'd. To restrict slavery to those States in
which it exists.
3D. To prohibit the admission of any more
slave states into the Union.
4th. To exclude slavery from all the ter
ritoriss over which the general government
has exclusive jurisdiction, and to resist the
acquisition Of any more territories unless
the introduction Of slavery therein, forever
shall have been prohibited; and
6th-Ths pledge heretofore mentioned,
was the condition upon which all the appli-
eants for favor shall be considered AZ the
faithful.
This was the very depth and breadth Of
Codding and Lovejoy abolitionism, and these
were the very principles of the platform up
on which those two worthy applicants for the
United States Senate stood, squarely.a and un-
equivocally. This platform las never been
changed Then why do they repudiate it
if they have got another' What is it p
| Where il it They know they can't pro-
duce any other. Then old "Abc Lincoln
stands on the same Abolition platform that
Owen Lovejoy does in 1868, with tho same
pledges, and all his windings, sophistry and
literary attainments, can't release him.
Why does he not then answer questions
without equivocation and lodging? Let rs
refer to his position. Judge Douglas in the
discussion at Ottawa, asked him questions
referring directly to his pledge and the rsso-
lutions passed by these congressional con.
ventions. He would not answer them, but
aeas as silent as the Craze. In his Freeport
discussion "Abe' consents to notice them,
and insisting, At the time, that he had an
swered Judge Douglas, and arrogating to
himself, more satisfaction in the delivery Of
his abortion, than was given to his hearers
or the public Who have read his speeches.
We'll, how did he answer Judge Douglas ,
Lot us see.
Douglas. II desire to know whether he
Uincoln) stands pledged to prohibit slavery
in all the territories Of the United States,
north as we'll a. south of the Missouri COM
promise line
Lineoln.-I answer-I am IxpLIEDLr il
not expressly PLEDGED to the BELIEF in the
right and duty Of Congress, to prohibit sla-
very in all the United States Territories.
Old Abe was satisfied with the answer
and SO were all yelping editors Of the Re-
publican party; and SO much in exstaciss
about it were they, that they claimed to.
tai humiliation Of Douglas; and with this
assurance the poor chop fallen, uithered Re
publieans of the place breathed frser than
they did At the Ottawa discussion. Lincoln
was not questioned IS to his belief, his at
tention was drawn to the pledge and to the
principles Of his party {; and yet, after q
| weeks tims or more, he has relieved the
suspense of his friends by giving them an
, implied if not an expressed belief. What
profeuSd logic Te what unbelievable
depths must lis mind run to produce such
. rssults How suiI.,ine and beautiful the
thought! And still more beautiful, richer
and easily satisfied Editors and Us'nagogues
who show themselves mules in attempting
to lie the people into tie support ofold Abe's
implied 5esissSf
Would the demaIogues Of an age sr party
other than that Of the presen. monsrsl black
Republican, Abolition party, have the sffon-
terry to stand up before an intelligent com.
munity, and palm off such stuff as common