The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-11-30

N
as State admnistration-for the safeguard of
Ill their material interests, the people must,
therefore, in my Judgment, for years 10 come,
at least look to the Republican organization.
ID not doubt that this organization now de-
SERVES popular confidence, nor do doubt that
it will he retained as long as it is deserved.
Permit me now and in this connection, TO
say few words to you about matters in this
county connected with the organization aud
action of parties. I shall speak frankly, and
shall trnstito your kindness and generosity for
candid hearing. i5a AZ 55 a s'-
In 1854, Immediately after the repeal of
the Missouri Prohibition, ne all united, native
and naturalized, in common determination to
redress that wrong. We knew no such dis
tinctions as American or Republican. We
trusted each other frankly and generously, and
the result was complete and signal victory.
The next year, while the great mass OF the
Americans of the State gave q liberal AMI
unhesiiating support 10 all the nominees of the,
anti-Nebraska State Convention, the major
ity of the Americans of this County refused
their support to me as nominee for Governor.
1t is useless to discuss the reasons for this re-
fusal. II is a qualification to me to know that
far the greater number to whom those reasons
then seemed sufficient, have since seen cause
to change their opinions, aud permit me now
to count them among my friends. In that
year, however, notwithstanding the disagree
ment as TO Governor an union was attempted
upon county and legislative ticket. A tick
ct was nominated. The nominees were almost
all opponents of mine but nv friends had
united in their nomination. and | permitted no
personal feeling TO influence my action. L
voted for them all, without exception. Since
that time. whenever the Republicans and
Americans have seen fit to organize in this
county an united opposition to the pre-slavery
Democracy. have given to the Opposition
my earnest support. You all remember. how
cordial and how effective was that union
year ago. / then saw with ineXpressible
qualification, native born and foreign born ri-
valing each other in earnest exertions for the
commou cause. 1t gives me pleasure now. as
it gave me pleasure:then, to acknowledge the
activity, the generous zealand the great eff
cheney of the Americans who contributed so
largely to the triumph then achieved by the
Opposition; and the Americans themselves, /
am sure, would be the last 10 refuse deserved
praise TO the equal zeal. activity and efficiency
of our naturalized fellow citizens.
1t was my hope, confess that like union
might be effected this fall. OF course it was
not for me. being for the present a resident of
another county,to interpose in political move
ments here did not interpose in any form,
nor in the most Insignificant degree-nnless
inform endeavors, by manifesi ations OF sim
cere good will and just appreciation of mo-
tives and action, to conciliate and unite all
the opponents of the present national admin
istration ir this county as well as elsewhere,
may be called interpositioD..
When the union was formed I rejoiced in it.
When called to this city to advocate the elec.
ton OF its nominees, / promptly responded to
the call. When the canvass terminated in
defeat, NJ one regretted the result more deeply
or sincerely than did.
But in this defeat there is lesson. 1t now
seems evident that while the great majority of
the Americans cordially united in support of
the common ticket, minority. comparatively
nconsiderable. not only refused to support it,
but joined the selEstyled Democracy to defeat
i it. The union of the Opposition has thus
failed of its object; nor docs there appear 10
be much probability of success with similar
organized. hereafter. Herceforth, therefore,
it is likely that all parties will act under their
own banners. TCheers. Nor is it probable
that there can be no more than two parties.
No candid American denies that the Ameri-
can party has become too weak iu numbers to
effect BY ITSELF any important practical results.
Its organization. in fact, has been almost ev-
erywhere abandoned by the Americans them
selves. Is it not plain, then, that there can
he no effective union of the Opposition to the
/ Democratic party and the federal administra-
ton except under the old banner of Freedom
aud Reform still displayed by the Republicans?
Why should we rot unite under that banner
now as we did in l854f Thy should not sin
cere and liberal Americans here, follow the
example of their brethren elsewhere and Join
now as they did then, in achieving a glorious
victory for the right? They will be welcomed
as brothers in the common cause. They will
share an honorable struggle, and partake, I
doubt not. in a glorious triumph. Is not this
the best as we'll as the most effective union of
| the opposition? -.' t
| 1t is time that in such union none but
1 friends of Freedom and Reform can be inclu-
ded. There are few, doubtless, to whom
this fact will make it unacceptable. There
are some Americans. as have already said,
as well as some old Whigsand some renegade
Free Soilers, who have no heart for all earnest
struggle for freedom and reform. They are
pro-slavery in their sympathies. They natu-
rally belong to the so-ealled Democratic par
ty.s Let them go to it if they will Let US
ask no man to go with us who has not those
!. two essential elements of q man, head and
heart;-a head TO understand our principles
and heart to cherish them. Cheers. l.
|, While men of proscriptive, intolerant and
lpro-slauery spirits-and these qualities are
oftenest found together-join our opponents
troops of good and true men, native and nat
uralized, Democrats, Americans and Wings
will unite with US. sr siJ I l..g. sa -,',al
Let US organize, then, for the great struggle
The hearts, the judgments the consciences OF
, the peopla are with us. Go into your streets
observe your noble architecture. contemplate
your prosperous industry, consider the schools
where gour children receive the blessings oil
education, and the churches where yor wor-
, ship the common Father of US all;-behold
these monuments of free labor, and refuse, il
you can, to join in the defence of the great
principle which works out these splendid re-
, sults-the principle Of the inalenable right OF
every man to liberty.-to the freest exercise
of all the powers and faculties which God has
, given him for his own good aud the good ot
his fellow-men.
} Let US not be told that in thus maintaining
, the rights and interests Of free labor, we act
an uufriendly part to our fellow-citizens of the
slave States. 1t is not SO. We propose no
+, interference with them or with their slavery
So far as we are concerned, they and their
! States shall have every right which the Con-
stitution gives them. have always said so
5 | never refused to measuresfor the promotion
], of the interests of citizens of slave States as
r cordial support as have given to like meas
ures for the benefit of the citizens of my own
? We wage no war with any section of our
J, common country. We insist only that the
? few shall not be permitted 10 contrel the many
e that the government of the people shall be