The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-12-01
Democratic Misrepresentation,

OF the Democratic press of the whole
country to throw the onus of this wild
act upon the Republican party. they al
Lodging that it was the necessary and log
ical result of Republican doctrine-an
indispensable concomitant of slavery ag-
itation. 1t has been hardly possible to
pick up a democratic sheet for the last
month in which such charges are moi
iterated and reiterated, and even our usu-
ally candid neighbor of the Civilian has
not hesitated to ind ulge in the like silly
twaddle. In an otherwise very fair arti-
Gle in his paper last week. relative to this
subject, Mr.. HEDGES could not refrain
from asserting that the language and
spirit of Republication has tended to
violence, and he very kindly expresses
the hope that a state of things which
he now imagines to exist, may hereafter
temper Republican speech and lead TO
something different from sectional ami
~mosity-thus clearly, though in milder
language than his brother-democrats are
wont to use, charging Republican prin-
ciples and Republican doctrines with in
citing TO sectional animosity, violence and
treason. With all due respect for our
neighbours opinions, and acknowledging
his general candor and sincerity, we
must say that we regard this as mere
bosh-political claptrap-unworthy him,
as it would be unworthy any man pro-
Tossing honesty and candor.
We should like Mr.. HEDGES to inform
us in what platform, through what organ,
when, or where, the Republican party
ever advised, or foreshadowed, a resort
to anything but constitutional, legitimate
or peaceable means, in order to carry for.
ward their principles. We should like
him to tell us what there is in those prin-
ciples morally wrong, or how, in the dis
cussion of them, Republican speech has
melted to violence. We should like to
hear from him his reasons for charging
that such crimes as BRowN's are the nat
ural fruits of Republican doctrine. We
want him to tell us how it is. that in en-
deavoring to make the Union subserve
the purposes of freedom, as was origi-
nally intended, the Republican party be-
comes SO grossly sectional and fanatical,
as he and his co.adjutors constantly as
sert. We beg of him to show wherein
Republicans propose to turn aside from
the policy of the best and wisest of the
founders Of the Republic, and in what
declaration of their principles, or in what
speech from any Of their acknowledged
leaders, is language used that the counter
part cannot be found in the writings and
speeches acknowledged patriots. When
the editor has shown all or either of these
things he will have a right to make such
deductions TO the discredit of Republi-
canism as he and his political friends are
prone to draw. Until then, in making
such deductions, he violates all his pro-
LESSONS of candor.
Slavery was placed by the men most
venerated by the people of the country
the men who helped to frame the con
stitution, and hoped and believed that
they were thereby subscribing the cause
of freedom-slavery was placed by these
men in a position where it was thought
to be in the course of ultimate ~extinc-
ton, and SO long as it remained as they
placed it, SO long all was peace. These
men also dedicated every foot Of the ter
ritory belonging to the Union, where
slavery was not guaranteed by compact,
to freedom. and pertinaciously refused to
allow slavery to enter there, and yet their
their principles, their arguments,
are now denounced as reasonable, as Sec
%tional, as productive Of violence and
wrong. Were the fathers right? Was
their policy Of dedicating the common
domain of the united States to freedom a
Just one? How, then, is the Republican
wrong? The cardinal principle
Of that policy is opposition to the extern
sion OF slavery. Was not that the policy
of WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON and MADI-
Republicans would prohibit slav-
cry from our territories by Congressional
enactment. Was not that the JEFFER-
soNIAN plan? Has it not been regarded
by the greatest and best men OF
the country as a constitutional plan
Republicans d%enounce the institution of
as a great wrong, an incubus up
on the country. and express the hope and
belief that it must eventually fall. Did
not the authors of the government speak
similar sentiments? Why is it fanati-
IL. lorlJ =, oxa,,n eoot.Nnol 80 4