The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-01-21
The ONLY True Basis of Union.

Much has recently been said IN regard to
tho desirahcness and practicabllty Of n
union Of all tho elements of opposition to
tho pro slavery Democracy, for tho Prcsi-
dental campaign Of 1860 and several plans
hnyo been proposed for ctiecting such Il
union We presume that no one who is
honestly opposed to Slavery. will question
tho drsirnbcncss of such union, 1t It can
DO effected without any sacrifice of principle.
and in n manner to promote the ultimate
good Of the cause of Freedom; but. in re.
gard to tho plans Of union proposed there
is ground for wide. aud it seems to US, If.
rccoucihlo differences of opinion.
In considering This subject, wo meet with
an mpassihic barrier to such union rs has
been proposed. at tho vory outset: the eo.
monts to DO united are hostile to each other,
aud would have no common bond of ubion.
bur the defeat Of tho Dumocratic party
Indeed. Mr. Greeley. who. with impotic
haste, has como forward with his plan of
union. proposes nothing moro favorable to
the friends of Freedom, than this ; whlo tho
LoujsriHe JOwadi, with tho coolest impu.
drncc, wishes to unite with us on u basis
which would require Il sacrifice, both OF our
principles and our mcE. Ono need not
possess great deal of political sagac;y
to sec that such Il union as contemplated in
tho proposition cthcr Of Mr.. Greeley or
tho Lgs,sriHs Jomadt, wnud bo destitute
of principle, and therefore exclude all anti
slavery mon who vAluo their principles
above tho tpoils of Office 1t would be
u union without q b3nner or platform,
and. liko "a house divided against itself" it
could not stand the storm of Presidential
contest. 1t would meet and mort u most
T inglorious defeat,
But suppose that such union could be
u successful; that the fricnIs Of Freedom
could 30 far succeed in stiillng their con.
. sciences. and disregarding their highest
g convictions Of duty. and beIying all their
Al former professions. as to join heartily in
this crusade for the spoiIs of office what
r. We ask in all seriousness. would they gain,
d worthy Of SO great sacrifice Absolutely
- nothing; but. on tho contrary. thoy would
"a lose all. Though they might have the poor
: consolation Of assisting in tho temporary do
feat of tho Democratic party, thoy woul!
come out of tho contest hopelcssly crippled
70 in powpr and bankrupt in character. WhC
could Justly claim ;hc honor or benefit d
such triumph Better openly ronouncC
d our principles than iritter them away 81
l. shnmeiuIly.
Is A moments reflection must convince any
e man that those who arc the most clamorous
n Tor such u union as tho ono proposed, are
l. The least devoted to the principles of the
& Republican party, ana therefore hnvn the
r poorest claim to dictate its policy. 1t this
=, i. not the csso. and if such union would
- truly represent tho anti.slaYery sentiment
Of tho country, why may not all who desir,
d it. unto at once upon tho Platform OF the
l. Republican party; What necessity for u
At new organization. il tho Opposition is al,
n ready united in principle And, il the Op.
!, position 30 not unitcd in principle. how can
"a II DO united IN fact. without base abandon
=, mcnt of principle From this conclusion
there i, no escape. Tho itepub,can party
is asked to surrerdor its Organization aud us
~ distinctive principles, in order to concatc
- the favor, and secure tho CO operation. of 4
ic comparatively small faction, who have lit
or no sympathy with the object for whicl
G. that party WAS organized, and whose highcs
,e ambition is to succeed tho pro slavery De
ii mocracy in powor.
h. What has rendered tho dominant part,
: 40 odious, but its uniform obedience to til,
- bohcsts of Slavery And, if the Cause o
- Freedom has ltlo or nothing to hope iron
change of Administration, why need anti
!" slavery men DO anxious for such change
re- For QUO, if our Government is to bu dis
y graced by any furthor concessions 10 slavery
wu would rather let the Democratic party
take to itself tho entire guilt, than share it
S any portion o! ii.
10 We hopo net to be misunderstood. w
" are not opposed to union of all that ar
" friendly to the principles of tho Republican
,, party, to free our Government from III
II, curse of Slavery. On the contrary, W
n, most ardcntly dosirc such union, and be
IN liove, if that party will but firmly adhere t
i'll its organization and policy, it may not onl
he ho effected. but crowned with succGss.-
be Tho Republican party is hut tho ouigrowt
IT, of tho auti-sIavcry sentiment Of tho coun
TO try. 1t owes itd present position an
'e strength, and must dopoud for its uitimat
triumph, upon firm adhnronco to its prr
eu cplcs. IL is now gradually absorbing u
ng mlnor elomonts of opposition to tho Damo
ur cratic party, and, if true to its mission, wi
he inevitably drive that party from power.
mi II is not tho Democratic party nor ii
A, Nebraska Bill nor ho Fugitive Slave Law
.r,. merely, that the Republican patty was o
~. ganzud TO oppose; but tho groat aud Owe
-! shadowing influence of tho Slave PUwo
We which has corrupted our Government in Il
81 it's departments, aud which, if not mot al
by repeIled, must ultimately provo it's owe
ch throw
10. While tho Republican Platform is bros
nat aud national, il contains no planks that at
so anti-slavory man would discard. Thoy a