Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-01-05
The Black Republican Party in 1850


coyery that not few of the hitherto staupcb
Black Republican papers of the Union are
now in favor of abando ming the distinctive
features Of that organization, and merging
with the odds and ends of all factions under
the name of the ''Opposition" or '.People's
Party" The same journal sharply rebuke.
! the New York Tribune for proposing a sur.
render of all the principles of the Republican
party, in order TO accommodate the mixed
crowd that is invited upon the new and lati.
tudinarian platform of opposition to the De-
mocracy, and states that such a movement
can have but one effect, ard that is to Blot
out of existence the Republican party, and
substitute III IS place new organization, Leg
| by new and controlled by different and
antagopistic principles. The Era thus er.
presses the ultra Black Republican sentiment
upon this question
"A few Republican newspapers affect the
use of the term Opposition" properly
designating the Party arrayed against tbs
| Administration. This is one way of shut
fling :he Republican party out of sight
| There is a great power in right words. The
| Party which is arrayed against the Admins
tration, which has overwhelmed it with de-
! feat, which intends to enter the canvass Of
/ 1860 for the Presidency, is the Republican,
party. A respectable name, and potent
thing Let US sail under our own colors -
This position of the Era is strongly SUP.
ported by the Ohio State Journal, but L
does not meet the appreciation of the Cincin-
natl Commercial, which paper talks boldly of
the mistakes and errors committed by the
Republican party in forming lis platform and
enuncating its principles The Commercial
says:
The Republican party was in the minor
ity in 1856 In spite OF some local success.
| growing out of temporary disaffeciion N the
ranks of the other party, there is reason to
suppose that it is still so far in the minority
that if the same question was to be tried again
upon the same terms, there would be the
same result. There is no counting with any
certainty upon victory. If the Republicans,
standing they do now, are not beaten in
1860. their salvation from that catastrophe
will depend upon the divisions, weakness
bad policy of their opponents, not upon any
intrinsic strength of their own-it vii be AZ
escape, not triumph
The Republican party has errors in its
platform-things that are not true-things
that are inconsistent with Just ideas of the
nature and powers Of government in general.
and of Gus constitutional policy in particular.
There is DO disputing it,
The Republican party made mistake in
the construction of its creed. That mistake
should be rectifed even at the expense of
loss of its idcntity-of its merger in the gen.
eral Opposition. The correction should be
, made not upon the basis of the antecedents Of
some predetermined candidate, but upon that
of the doctrinal right. Make the platform
true, and let the candidate see that he stands
-. l.. - L.
repeal it altogether and take the candidate
because he is known to be sound, able and
patriotic Then the people will be free 70
. act under the influence of natural afFinities !;
! aggreg gations-not coalitions take place;
and nomination will be, in some sense. the
- equivalent OF an election"
If we read the article from the Commercial
E Alright, it means two things. First, that the
= Republican party is not in position to cora
! niand aud secondly, that Senator Seward
! must take his chances on platform which
will suit the majority of the Opposition. and
! not expect to force the whole congregation oi
fActionists upon his r chester platform. This
aluson to the condition of the Black Repub-
lican party III 1856, is a strong point WHEN
> viewed in the light in which it is presented
i by the Commercial Then they dictated the
policy of the Opposition, nominated Fremont,
: Senator Seward, who is the embodiment OF
the Anti Slavery party of the North. has pu
a new plank in the platform, and still more
u intensely srcton.!ized the party Then i
! was opposition and anita gonism to slavery IL
u the Territories Now it is proposed to carry
l. the war iuto the States, and thus give force
effect anl vitality to the idea that the UnioI
must cithes be all slave States or all fire,
States This idea underlies the Black Re
l. publican party. it is the one which actuate
l. the Era, and hence the eagerGess with whicE
Is that journal attacks and combats all attempt
S to weaken dilute the fountain of Anti
h Slavery prejudices from which the opposition
to the Democracy is irrigated and made fruit
ct full. The Era is for forcing the slavery queS
at ton upon the opposition, aud coutendiug 70
g victory on Northern soil, and by the votes
rs Northern States alone. The Commercial
ut not willing to try the sectional experiment
he second time, to suit either the Era or Senate
m Seward, but inclines to on amalgamation
D. the Opposition the basis of sound, abl
r. and patriotic" candidate, without reference
his principles. This would be duplicatin
at the campaigns of 1910 and 1S4S: but tn
he only difficulty is the men to suit the time:
ms Gen. Ssott suits the Herald but not the Or
an position to the Democracy Bell and Came
is ron and Crittenden, and the host of o;heI
n who are spoken of, do not come up to ii
standard of the Commercial nor will the
be supported by the Era.
IN But the attack upon Senator Seward
ds the last quoted paragraph from the Com me
I'M cial significant. 1t shows that the attempt
re- the Era and the Ohio State Jou7trI to for
the doctrines of the Rochester manefesto
the Opposition of the Ohio will not be tame
submitted to. The Commercial is for rect
lie, flying the errors into which the Republical