The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-09-21
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Mr.. Giddipgs ard Mr.. erwin.

Mr.. Corwin made a speech at Ironton, a
short time since, in which he is reported to
! have said
Some people on the other side of the rip-
er say, that they have an inherent right TO &C
and take man of my color and whip him.-
But | should think they would get into a
scrape in doing it, if thev could not show that
he was born slave. We hnue no inherent
rights. Some people on my side of the riv
er say that no man shall take a fugitive
slave back from here, because he las al
inherent right to freedom There is l tell
you, no such thing as an inherent right Al
our rights are gwen US by the compact of Il {
Constitution We see there what rights eve
ry citizen shall have. and what rights every
man liz the States shall have
Mr. Giddihgs is a member of the Republi
can State Committee Mr.. Plumb of Ober
lin wrote to MIR. Giddings. asking him, if as
member of the State Committee, he has SEN
Mr. CorWin out to disseminate such doctrines
Mr.. Giddings replies
/ | understand Mr.. Corwin to have .signifet
his willingness to speak at varions places
The Committee understood he was 10 speal
Republican doctrines. l do not think sin
gle member of the Committee expected hin
to proclaim the principles referred TO If any
concurs in those views it is due to his fellow
members and the public that he should say SO
Secondly, you ask whether the doctrines art
the doctrines of the republican party. | an
lswer, the doctrines of that party are on rec
ord they speek for themselves. The frs
principle enunciated in their confession O
faith, is the self evident truth that all mer
are endowed by their Creator with the mali
enable right to life liberty, and the pursuit o
You enquire whether our Candidates fol
State officers hold to the position assumed BY
Mr.. Corwin !?
l answer so far as am informed, they d,
not. ] speak however, from satisfact or,
knowledge, so far as our candidate for Gov
ernor, for Auditor and for Treasurer ave con
cerned. Nor can l say that have any seri
Gus doubts as 10 the others. l should no
have entertained any, except from Il e bold
ness with which Ms Cormin asserts his views
and the approval of those doctrines by por
tiun If the so called Republican Press. 1t j
certain, how ever that suspicious are entertain
ed; that the moral influences of the party ha
in degree been paraly yzed by the promulga
ton of principles more despotic even tia
those of the democratic party. ] do no
may defeat some of our candidates.
You eaquire if any considerahl
number of public men in the UAi,ed States
hold the doctrines avowed by Mr.. Corwin P
l know of none, at least. none who have oper
ly declared them.
l would ask no man 10 vote 70
our candidate who denies the inherent righ;
of man. can have no POLITICAL no mora
no religious fellowship with snch doctrines =
1t were less injurious TO our cause for sue
men to oppose us, than to profess to be wit
us. Had this denial been avowed by th
Ohio Statesman. it would have injured tn
Democratic party and increased the infiuenc
cf the Republican organization. But for
Republican to avow such principles mus
strengthen the Democratic party, while it pa
- alyzes the iofnence of our own ] regrt
that any Republican should attempt to il
crease our numbers by misrepresenting OF
doctrines. Trrth and honesty forbid it, pol
cy and craftsmanship forbid if, aud all exp'
rience teaches US that it must fail
Yours, j. r. GIDDINGs.