Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-04-20
John Sherman on the Crisis.

rev 1orks rriuay evening, was an eA-
ceedingly able presentation of the records
Of the two great political parties during
the last five years, and of the issues
which now divide them. We copy his
closing remarks, in which, afier sketching
a striking difference between the North
and the South, he enforces the duties
which press upon the Republicans at the
present time
In the North opinion is free; and
wherever opinion is free, the right is more
than a match for the wrong. Here
any one may extol the beauties Of
slavery, polygamy, Mahommedanism-
of anything and everything. He may
write about if, talk about it, preach about
il. Here we are not afraid of tract, a
book, or speech. Freedom of discussion
always begets difference of opinion. In
the South, opinion upon the slavery
I e .tta s4srs IS y
question is not free; the most moderate
opinions against slavery cannot there be
uttered safely. The mails are opened
and robbed; Northern men are watched
as enemies; books are burned, as Bibles
have been in times past. There is no
open channel through which the South
ern mind can be reached on the subject
of slavery. 1t was considered remark
able fact that Cassius M. Clay, native
of Kentucky, should deliver a Republi-
can speech in the Capitol of his native
State.
How, then, can the Republican party
establish foothold in any Southern
State? Only, when having possession
of the powers of the government, it
may, by wise and moderate policy,
give the lie to the ISLANDERS of its adj
versaries; and when it can dispel the
fears of the timid, conquer the pejudices
of the ignorant and convince the reason
of the intelligent. Sir, there is no mid
die ground we must either yield to the
intense sectionalism of the Democratic
party, or we must crush it out through
the agency and by the triumph of the
Republican party.
The Republican party is prepared for
the contest. 1t but awaits the action OF
the Chicago Convention to designate its
leaders. Let it name any one of the
great men who are identified with its
principles, with or without a platform
be its name and its history its true plat
form-and then let it, as the representa-.
tive Of freemen, appeal TO the intelligence
of the people.
Let US not be diverted by the third
party, scarcely heard of since 1856, now
Trst"5 uuuUE tiIU urrII VI weII-paId ser.
geants of the Democratic party. The
times are too earnest for such move.
mentS. | have before me the address Of
the National Union Committee, in Wash.
ington, to the people of the United
States. 1t is signed by many gentlemen
for whom l have high respect, and with
whom | have acted often. I can pledge
them that every Republican is as earnest
!. in his devotion to the Union and the
!, Constitution as they are; and as this is
the staple of their party cry, hope they
will share 1t with US, as we are willing tc
share it with them, against the only mer
who threaten the Union, or to seek tc
f subvert the Constitution. In acting to-
, gether, no surrender of the principle il
required of US or of them. So far, a
least, as Republicans are concerned,
know of no reason why they cannot CO
operate with those who aided them in de
; feating the Lecompton Constitution, ant
, who are willing to stand upon the prin
ciples avowed by Henry Clay, who de
, clared that, coming as he did from slav,
{ State, it was his solemn, deliberate, ant
c well matured determination, that n,
, power, no earthly power, should compe
: him to vote for the introduction o
e slavery either north or south of the Mis-
souri, line.
: In great contest, like that now wa
s ging, it is idle to stand aloof upon thir,
o party organization. Those who are in
e clined to do SO, can scarcely ask grea
e party, on the tide of success, to yield u
s its flag and its organization. We canno
s and we will not do it /; and trust fellow
e citizens of New York, your own expe
o Renee has taught you that it is far bette
Is that the Democratic party should eleC
t, our open adversaries, rather than the
r you should elect men from whom yo
e have to ask pledges and guarantees. A
!? open defeat is far preferable to humilis
10 ton by treachery after the victory ha
Is been nominally achieved. You hav
n found, as your fellow Republicans did i