Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-25
Our National Platform

Our National Platform
We cannot believe the Cincinnati Gazette Sc
riously to suggest the policy Oflaying aside our
nlatforn altogether. and going into the next
Presidential election without any common Prin-
ciple of action. We think the Editor must have
rnisapprehended the views Of Senator Wade on
that subject. Aside from its declared doctrines
the Republican party has no existence. Let
them repudiate their principles and we do not
believe that five hundred of the five thou
sand Republicans in Senator Wade's county
would 90 to the polls indeed we should
expect Ashtabula to become LOcofoco county.
Some Editors speak as though they were
unconeious that our party is based upon the
fundamental doctrines, the seminal truths
which lie at the very foundation Of or reli-
giOn upon the doctrines which give tone, and
character to the moral conduct Of mankind
These doctrines are deeply imbedded in the hu-
man heart and from them the rejecting and
conscientious portion Of our community will not
depart
When the Gazette speaks Of " abolition" it
ought to define the term, in order thSt its read
ers may know what it means. The term Is gen
orally used as 4 vague, meaningless ePithet, not
adapted to the description of those great truths
which exist in all time, and are recognized by
all Christian people. Neither the " Gazette, -
nor the a Commercial states the specific mod
ification of our platform which they demand !;
We therefore place it before our readers and re-
spectfulIy ask those Editors to inform US partic-
ulaEly, what amendment they desire
On examining the instrument it will be seen
that it is entirely based upon the right of every
human being to live-to that liberty which is
necessary to cherish and protect the existence
which God has given-to attain knowledge and
enjoy happiness We do not say that every
person shall vote, or hold Office but we do say
he shall be permitted to Iirs, to procure food
raiment and habitation, 10 protect his life and
defend his person against murderers, pirates,
robbers, and those who would beat and fog
him that the natural right of selfdeiense
shall not be taken from him that as moral ele-
walton and preparation for Heaven, constitutes
the object of human existence, he shall be per
miited to improve his intellectual aud moral
nature, and bring himselfintO harmony with the
laws of his Creator.
This constitutes the substance of our plat
form The other parts of it are merely deduc-
tiOnsfrom these primal doctrines.
The Democratic party, speaking through the
Supreme Court, assert that black men hare no
rights ,rhieh uhite men are bound to respect
The issue is thus made up and entered upon
the record Men have taken positions on one
side or the other indeed there is no neutral
ground Our contemporaries certainly hold
with the Democratic party, that white men ere
not bound to respect the right of black men to
lve-that the white man may mmder or rob
the black man without incuring moral guilt !
or they hold that all men are endowed by their
Creator with the inaIienabe right to life, liberty
and happiness.
The Locofocos stand before God and mankind,
insisting that white men may murder, rob, beat,
and fog, colorei men, without incurring moral
Orlegal guilt. The Republicans deny those hea-
thenish doctrines and adhere to those of Jeffsr-
son, of Hancock, of the Adams and their asso-
ciates. These are the doctrines put forth in the
State Journal, as well as in the Republican
platform. We understand the Gazette to char
aeterize them as " abolition doctrines" We
hope to see them maintained, and made perpet-
ual, by whatever name they may be called. In
saying this, ths Republican party merely insists
that the constitutional powers of Government
shall be exerted for freedom, for justice, and not
for slavery and crime. That in our territory, up
on the high seas, and wherever Congress holds ex-
elusive jurisdiction, its powers shall be put
forth to protect all men, without distinction of
color or condition, against userPer, tyrants,
pirates, and murdeTers. The historian will in
future speak in plain and unmistakable Ian
guage on this subject. The Democrats of the
present day will be regarded as advocating the
right to murder black men, TO rob them, and to
degrade them. We think they should be so
spoken Of at this time We therefore would DO
them justice, and frankly assign them their real
position with the same frankness that we main
tain our own.