Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-09-17

WHO enuDc,ntcs sucn deula', 10 moral ana pol1tcal
disfavor The Constitution Processes to confer no
right whatever. The objects and purposes of its
adoption are clearly set forth by It's framers.-
These objects were ITO form moro perfect Tn
ion" to establish, not create justice to insure
not to grant domestic tranquility to promote, not
to cause the general welfare and to secure no; to
grant the blessings of liberty.
! Hence the important assertions in the Constitu-
tion that Congress shall make no law prohibiting
the exercise of religion or abrtdging the freedom
of speech. That instrument regards the exercise
of religion and the freedom of speech rs nathral
rights, and it declares that Congress shall not pro
hib1 one, abrtdge the other. 1t provides THAT
no person shall be deprired Of life, liberty prop.
erty without due process of law"-that is without
conviction of crime. 1t does not profess to 9ice OF
grant these rights. 1t pre-supposes that every
man holds them from the Creator and it provides
that he shall not be deprired of them. For two
hundred years Christian writer's and commentators
upon the laws of nature and of nations have re-
garded these inherent rights of mankind as the
only true basis of human governments. Ours was
clearly founded upon them; and the Republican
party certainly recognized them the basis of its
is no less opposed to the vital principles Of our
Government than It is to those of the Republican
party. lie denies the first, the fundamental doc
trne asserted in the Declaration of Independence,
which is also the first and fundamental truth put
forth in the Philadelphia Platform.
Secondly, you enquire whether our candidates
for State Offices hold to the position assumed by
Mr. Corwn' .rr. ,r3-. a..J rer
answer, SO far as am informed, they do not
speak, however, from satisfactory knowledge,
so far as our candidate for Governor, for Auditor
and for Treasurer are concerned Nor can / say
that have any serious doubt as TO the others. /
should not have entertained any, except from the
boldness with which Mr.. Corwin asserts his views,
and the approval Of those doctrines by portion of
the so-called Republican Press. 1t is certain,
however, that suspicious are entertained that the
moral influence of the party has in degree been
paralyzed Ivy the promulgation Of PRINCIPLES more
despotic even than those Of the Democratic party.
do not think it has endangered the election
but it may defeat some of our candidates. ''s.
| Thirdly, you enquire If any considerable nuni-
ber of public men in the Tinted States hold the
doctrines avowed by Mr.. Corwin? 1 know of
none, at least, none who have openly declared
them. Yet to do Mr.. Corwin justice, we must ad-
nit that every stakeholder, aud every supporter of
slavery and of the fugitive slave law, does practi-
cally deny the inherent rights of mankind. For
no man acknowledging their existence will deny
the right of fugitive slave to liberty nor will he
contend that the master or members Of Congress
hold any just power to rob such slave of his inher-
ent right. Judge Taney, in the bred Scott case,
admitted the existence OF these rights but he in
sisted tha. under our form of government white
men alone are entitled to enjoy them. Indeed he
seems to admit that even black men in their ma
tive land, are endowed with these prerogatives;
but that in this country white men are not bound
to respect the inherent rights of colored people.
Mr.. Corwia however denies their existence in the
human soul, whether the complexion be black or
white; and makes, apparently. broader and deep
er issue with Republicans than Judge Taney or
the Democratic party. We should, however, be
careful to do no injustice to Mr.. Corwin. He de-
sires to sustain the Fugitive Slave Law. That can
only be done by presupposing that the fugitive
does not hold an inherent right to liberty. This
was seen and felt by Mr. Corwin. l wish it were
as fully appreciated by every elector. He felt the
indefensible position of Judge Taney, and would
not occupy it. He therefore struck boldly and
fearlessly for more palpable, more unlimited
despotism, by denying the existence of inherent
rights, either in white or black men.
have no regrets that Mr.. Corwin has taken
this position 1t will serve to develop the real is
sue now pending before the people of our nation
Neither you nor myself are laborng for party
Our rcpublicansm is Hased upon prncipleI would
be as willing to see S. A, Douglass elected Presi-
dent as any other man who maintains his dec
trines. Indeed, if the inherent rights of man are
denied by our Government. prefer it should be
done by men elected against my will rather than
by those for whose elevation l have toiled. But
we are all aware that some politicians think it bet
ter for men Of conflicting views to unite in cleo
ton, and when the officers are obtained, permit
the party to dsband, than to attempt to carry an
election by the power of moral truth. / un-
willing to encourage any such policy. l regard
truth and justice as attributes of Deity. Like
their Author they are Onnipotent; and the high
est craftsmanship, the highest policy consists in
clear, distinct and unyieldng avowal of truth.
Our principles should be constantly expressed in
the columns of every paper, inscribed upon every
banner, proclaimed at every Convention, carried
home 10 the understanding of every individual.
would ask no man to vote for our candidates who
denies the inherent rights of man. l can have
no political. moral, religious fellowship with
such doctrines. 1t were less injurious to our
cause for such men to oppose US, than to profess
to be with u.s. Had this denial been avowed by
the Ohio Statesman it would have injured the
Democratic party and increased the influence Of
the Republican organization. But for Republi-
can to avow such principles must strengthen the
Democratic party, while it paralyzes the Influence
of our own. regret that any Republican should
attempt to increase our numbers by misrepresen
ting our doctrines. Truth and honesty forbid it.
policy and craftsmanship forbid it, and all expe-
rience teaches US that it mus. fall t--,
4 @ -4 Yours, J. Il. GIDDlNGS.