Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-12-27
ADDRESS OF HON. HOWELL COBB
10 THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA

request that they might be Paceo pelore Tue pubic
It is imnossble to answer each OF these communica
+ons and have therefore taken the liberty of address
ing nv reply the people of the State asking for what
have to say that consideration only which is due to
convictions deliberately formed and frankly expressed
The whole subject may be properly considered IN the
discussion OF the following inquiry Does the eectlon
of Lincoln to the Presidency in the usual and consu
tiona mode justify the Southern States in dissolving
the Union
The answer to this inquiry involves consideration
of the principles of the party who elected him. well
as principles of the man himself.
The Black Republican party had its origin in the
antislayerY feeling of the North 1t assumed the form
and organization of party for the first time in the Pre-
sidenal contest of 1885, The fact that it composed
of men of all previous parties, who then and still advo
cate principles directly antagonstc upon all other ques
tions except slavery shows beyond doubt or question
that hostility to slavery as 1t exists IN the fifteen South
ern States was the basis Of its organization and the
bond of its Union. Freetrade Democrats and protec-
tive-tarif Wings internal improvement and antinter
nal improvement men and indeed all shades Of parti
zans, united in cordial fraternity upon the isolated
of hostility to the South though for years they had
fought each other upon all other issues The fact is
important because illustrates the deeprooted feeling
which could thus bring together these hostile elements
1t must be conceded that there was an object in view,
of ordinary interest which could thus fraernize these
homogeneous elements. Besides at the time this party
organized, there was presented bright promise of
success. ALI the indications of the day pointed to
their certain defeat So deep, however, was this
they forgot and forgaVe the aspertes of the past the
political differences of the present. and regardless Of the
certain defeat which the future had in store for them
cordially embraced each other in the bonds OF antlSa
very hatred preerrng defeat under the banner OF Abo
lition to success if it had to be purchased by recOgn
ton of the constitutional rights of the South. The par
ty has succeeded in bringing into its organization all the
AboitOniss of the North except that small band OF
honest fanatics, who say, and say trl that slavery is
the moral curse which the Black Republicans pronounce
it to be, they feel bound to dissolve their connection
with it, and therefore for dissolution of the Union
Such may denOminate the personnel Of the Back Re
publican party, which, by the election OF LincOln, has
demonstrated its numerical majority in every Northern
State except in New jersey.
have said that the circumstances which marked the
origin and organization Of this party show that there
was an object in view, Of ordinary character. 10
and appreciate that object properly must refer to
It's first and most important declaration OF principles
which occurred in 1856 at the time of the nomination
of Mr.. Fremont for the Presidency.
ReSoIUed, That with republican fathers, hold it
to be selfevdent truth that all mel endowed with
the naenable right to e liberty and the pursuit of hap
pnes and that the primary object and Interior designs o!
Federal Government these rights to all
persons within its exclusive ursdcton that as our repub
can fathers when they had abolished slavery in all our ma
oDal territory ordained that should be deprived
of life, liberty, property without due process law, it
against all attempts f5 the purpose Of
tahshng slavery il any Territory Of the United STATES by
therein. That deny the authority of Congress- of ter
rtoral legislature OF any individual or association OF md
Vduas to give legal existence to slavery III any Territory
of the United States, while the present Constitution shall be
ReSoIUed That the Constitution confers upon Congress
sovereign power the Territories Of the United States
their government and that Of this power
it both the right and the duty of Congress to prohibit n
the territories those twin relics OF neutrality-suspicious. and
slavery"
There can be no misrepresentation of the doctrine here
announced. 1t is plain and explicit in It's language
it is false and infamous in its teachings Upon its
announcement the people of the Northern States
asked to pass their judgment upon It's truth and correct
The response may be found in the votes of nearly
million and half of the Northern people, IN favor OF
the election Of John c. Fremont, its advocate and re-
preventative and | may add that the election OF Fire
mont upon this doctrine only defeated by the per-
sOna popularity of MIR. Buchanan in the State OF Penn
sylvania@ IN that memorable canvass, the doctrines
thus announced by the Black Republican party were
boldly and earnestly defended by the supporters OF Fire
mont-everywhere. If there any departure from the
standard of principles thus formally and officially erected
1t will be found In the more offensive and extreme doc
trnes of the who advocated his election and spoke
assby authority for the party OF which they were the
most active and efficient representatives. will not
weary you with tedious detail Of their Infamous sent
mens to be found in the editorials and speeches of al
most every advocate of Fremonts election in 1866
They too familiar to every casual reader of that
markable canvass and be forgotten. Ii these
doctrines and principles have been dsclamed
pudiated either by Mr. Lincoln any responsible
oehis&party, have not seen or heard of it. Though
they were not repeated in the language by the
Chicago Convention which nominated Lincoln, they
were virtually endorsed, Win the OF
ton of the decision OF the Supreme Court IN the bred
Scott case will appear in the extract below from the
platform Of 1860, and have both by Mr.. Lincoln and
his leading supporters been defended and elaborated in
the most emphatic language, and with the most emblt
tered spirit.
81 That the new dogma, that the Constitution it's
force carries slavery into any all OF the Territories Of
the United States is dangerous political heresy at Var-
with coemporaneous exposition and with legislative and u
dcal precedent revolutionary in its tendency and sub
harmony
That the normal condition Of all the territory of the
fathers when they had abolished slavery in al national
territory ordained that No person should be deprived Of
fe liberty or property, without process law be
comes our duty by legislation whenever egslaton
necessary to maintain this provision of the constitution
against all attempts violate it and deny the authority
of Congress- of territorial legislature of any indyidu
ais to give legal existence to slavery II any territory OF the
Can there be a doubt in any intelligent mind, that
the object which the Black Republican party has in
view, the ultimate extinction Of slavery in the United
States? To doubt it, is to cast the imputation Of by
pocracy and imbecility upon the aority Of the people
of every Northern State who have stood by this party
through all its trials and struggles, to its ultimate
triumph in the election Of Lincoln, l am that
entertain for them, individually collectively,
less personal respect than do and yet do give them
credit for more sincerity and intelligence than consi
tent with the idea that, obtaining power they Will
refuse to exercise for the only purpose for which they
proiessed to seek it. do believe that with all their
meannes and dupcty they do hate slavery and slave
holders quite as much they say they do and that
argument addressed to their hearts or judgments in be-
half of the constitutional rights Of the South would re-
ceye the slightest consideration. What might be efec-
ted by appeal to their fears and cupidoY will not
now stop to discuss.
In the nomination Of Mir. Lincoln for the Presidency
the Black Republicans gave still more pointed express
sion to their views and feelings the subject OF slavery
Llncon had neither the record nor the reputation of
Statesman Holding sentiments even more odious than
tnose OF Seward he was indebted to the comparative
SIt)oDf