The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-06-04
From Tie Ne,g Iork Dag Book
The POsiGiOn of MI. Lincoln.

We give in another column an extract
from a speech of Mr.. Lincoln, delivered at
the joint debate between himself and Seua-
tor Douglas, at Freeport, ILL.,, during the
celebrated campaign OF 1858. 1t comprises
answers to certain questions propounded TO
him by his opponent, and his answers there
to. Almost every one will be surprised at the
moderate anti-slavery views he processes to
hold, Mr.. Lincoln seems to be one of those
old fashioned anti-slavery men who think it
is very small matter to pen up the South
| within existing limits, or, as they term it,
prevent the extension of slavery We
see in his opinions none of the tanatical and
sentimental opposition to "slavery per Sc,
that We are accustomed to find in the speech
es of Seward, Sumner Hale, and other
( Eastern "Republicans." " In fact, "Republi-
canism " in the West and /" Republicansm p"
1 in the East, are two very different articles
! Here it assumes q virulent and rabid type,
/ being nothing short of opposition to all
| constitutional obligations, favoring negro
equality and claiming wonderful sympathy
with the . oppressed slave Out West the
very opposite sentiment is appealed to, and
| the natural repugnance Of white men to
negroes is used argument to keep
Southern citizens out of the Territories.
Now, strange as it may seem, these two OPP
posing influences-the one ant-slavery, and
the other, in fact, pro-slavery-are combin-
ed in trying to elect Lincoln
Mr.. L. will, no doubt, find his most seri-
Gus drawback in the Eastern States, where
his views on the Fugitive Slave Law, and
his statement that he would not vote against
the admission of slave State, must be
very unpalatable to our genuine Republi-
cans Yet what he loses of these he will
i L
anti-slavery men. Already we see that the
Buffalo Commercial -4doertiser, Mr.. Fill
mores home organ, has come out openly
for him, and we know Of no reason, in Mr..
Lincoln himself why most Of that party
might not support him. Mr.. LIS views do
not seem to be any more anti-slavery than
those which Mr.. Fillmore himself expressed
in his letter last winter to the Uniou Meet /
ing in this city. We repeat, therefore, what
we said the day after Mr.. Lincoln was NOM
mated, he is Il very formidable candidate
There is no use of Democrats shutting their
eyes to facts. The best way to prepare for
danger is to look it calmly and resolutely
in the face. We believe Mr.. Lincoln stands |
fair chance 20 be elected President in No /
venlber next.
Now, how is he to be opposed? Our en-
emy is before us. Shall Mr. Douglas be I
who only differs with Mr.. Lin
coin as to 1chich has the power to exclude
portion of the citizens of the United States
from all the advantages of emigration TO
the new Territories, Congress or the incho-
ate people? Both acknowledge the theory
or false premise of anti-slavery, viz: that
negro subordination, or sO-calIed slavery can
not exist without positive enactment-thaL
it is created by municipal regulation or the
len loci, hence that it is not a thing exist
ing in nature, but unnatural, and if so, it
must be wrong-an evil, and then follows
all the logical sequences of the anti-slavery-
ties, even down to John Brownism. What
sort of a fight can we make with an adver-
sary, while we allow his premises? If Mr..
Lincoln believes that "slavery is an evil"
we do not see how he could consistently be
less an anti-slaverY man than he is, for lie
leciares he would vote for a Fugitive Slave
Law, and for every other right he believed
he South entitled to under the Constitution,
hough it cOnficted never so much with his
own prejudices. lie even goes so far as to
,ay in one of his speeches land he drives
his point home upon Mr. Douglas, with
power that if he believed that
he Dred Scott decision properly construed
he Constitution, and that Southern men had
he right to take their slaves" into the
new Territories IN defiance of the will of
Congress, he would not only favor it, but
lie would, if in Congress, vote to enact such {
avs for the protection Of slave property in
he Territories as to make the right practi-
al. He says he thinks he would be no less {
han periured man, after taking the oath :
o support the Constitution, if be believed, :
Is Mr., Douglas does, that Southern men had 8
he right to go into a Territory with their -,
slaves" and then he should refuse to vote +
or such laws as would give vitality to that '
light. We know that such sentiments as c
hese will not fail to command respect even
rom Mr.. Liucoln's opponents, and we are
rec to confess, that we know of no argu-
nents with which to oppose them. except to
trike at the very foundation of the whole
uperStructure of fraud and delusion which ;
nti saveryism has erected. Mr. Lincoln's
Doctrines are the most subtle and dangerous
orm of auti-slaveryism, and if we do not
ave candidate who is opposed to them,
yhy, there can be in reality no fight True,
We may have a sham battle to determine L
7ho is TO have the offices and emoluments; !
ut we shall not be whit nearer settling !
isputcd principles. Men Of sense, who o
ever fight except when they are in earnest, {
re feel sure, can have no stomach for such a !
Residential contest, and they will either 4
1ol on, or retire from the field in disgust. l