The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-07-05


Of the coordinate branches of the Gov
ernmont, by urgent efforts to enlarge
the powers Of the Executive at the ex-
penso of the Legislative department.:
has attempted to discredit and degrade
the judiciary, by affecting to make it,
at first, the arbiter of party quarrels, to
become soon and inevitably the passive
registrar of party DEGREES.
In most, if not all these particulars,
II understand the Republican party
Cjudging it by its acts and by the known
opinions of many Of its leading mem
to be the exact opposite Of the Demo
cratic party, and that is the ground of
my preference Of the one party over the
other. And thatalone would be a suf-
icient reason, if had not other good
reasons, for supporting Mr.. Lincoln
agaiustany man who may be put for
ward by the Democratic party, as the
exponent of its principles and the
agent to work out, in practice, its dan
gerous policies.
The third party, which, by its very
formation, has destroyed the organiza-
tiOns of the American and Whig par
ties, has nominated two most excellent
men. I know them we'll, as sound
statesmen and true patriots. More
than thirty years ago 1 served with
them both in Congress, and from that
time to this 1 have always held them
in respect and honor. But what can the
third party do towards the election of
even such worthy men as these, against
the two great parties which are now in
actual contest for the power to rule the
nation? IL is made up entirely Of por-
| tiOns Of the disintegrated elements Of
the late Whig and American parties
good materials, in tho main, L admit,
| but quite too weak to elect any man or
establish any principle. The most it
can do is, here and there in particular
localities, to make a diversion in favor
of the Democrats. In 1856, the Whig
and American parties, (not forming a
new party, but united as allies,) with
entire unanimity and some zeal, sup
ported Mr.. Fillmore for the Presidency,
and with what results? We made a
miserable failure, carrying no State
but gallant little Maryland. And
surely, the united Wings and Amori-
cans of that day had far greater show
of strength and far better prospects of
success than any which belong to the
Constitutional Union party now. In
fact, 1 see no possibility Of success for
the third party, except in one contin-
gency-the destruction of the Demo
cratic party. That is contingency not
likely to happen this year, for badly as
think Of many of the acts and poll
tics Of that party, its cup is not yet
fulI-the day has not yet come when it
must dissolve in its own Couuptions.-
But the day is coming and is not far off,
| The party has made itself entirely sec
| tiOnal; it has concentrated its very be-
ing into one single idea; negro slavery
has control of all its faculties, and it
can sec and hear nothing else-"one
stern, tyrannic thought that makes all
other thoughts its slaves"
But the Democratic party still lives,
and while it lives, it and the RepubH-
can party are the only real antaganistic
powers in the nation, and, for the pres
ent, 1 must choose between them. I
choose the latter, as wiser, purer, young
er, and less corrupted by time and self
Indulgence.
The candidates nominated at Chica-
go are both men who, as individuals
and politicians, rank with the foremost
of the country. l have heard no Obiec-
tiOn to Mr., Hamlin personally, but on
ly to his geographical position, which is
thought by some to be too far North and
East to allow his personal good quail
ties to exercise their proper influence
over the nation at large. But the nom
nation for the Presidency is the great
controlling act. Mr.. Lincoln, his char
acters talents, opinions and history,
will be criticised by thousands, while
the candidate for the Vice Presidency
will be passed over in comparative 81
lence.
Mr. Lincoln's nomination took the
people by surprise, because, until just
before the event, it was unexpected
But really it ought not to have excited
any surprise, for such unforeseen nom
nations are common in oar political
history. Polk and Pierce by the Dem
ocrats, and Harrison and Taylor by the
Wings, were all nominated in this ex-
temporaneous manner-all Of them
were elected. I have known Mr. Lin
coin for more than twenty years, and
therefore have q right to speak Of him
with some confidence. AS an indiyid-
ual he has earned a high reputation for
truth, courage, candor, morals and
amiability, SO that, as a man, he is most
trustworthy. And in this particular he
is more entitled to our esteem than some
other men, his equals, who had far bet
ter opportunities and aids in early life,
His talents, and the will to use them to
the bost advantage, are unquestionable;
and the proof is found in the fact that,
in every position in life, from his hum
Bile beginning to his present woll-earned
elevation, he has more than fulfilled the
best hopes Of his friends. And now, in
the full vigor Of his manhood, and in
the honest pride Of having made him
self what he is, he is the peer of the
first men Of the nation, well able to
sustain himself and advance his cause,
against any adversary, and in any field
whore mind and knowledge are the