The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-08-09

never be otherwise than dastardly Co
press upon the weak and sickly.
twill be noticed that have spoken
LOT the Democratic party without refer
Ienco TO its present distractions. My
treason for so doing is found In tho
Iopinion I entertain that these dissen-
Isions do not affect issues, as neither
ibranch indicates a disposition to meet,
fairly and openly, the great political
Iproblom Of the times. In casting our
votes we should be accurately informed
as TO their effect upon the policy wo do
sire to see established. We should not
be made instruments In the hands Of
any ambitious man, or in the hands Of
Iany combination Of reckless or uuscru-
IpulOus mon, TO force an unnatural
growth Of Slavery in the country, con-
trary to what has heretofore been tho
understanding Of the Constitution Of
the United States, and In palpable vio-
lation Of what has been regarded q set
tied and national policy. 1t should be
n matter Of singing regret to us, if,
from our bearing in the present contest,
We could be fairly charged hereafter
with violation Of the principles wo
have long professod to cherish, or with
having imposed any, the slightest, i'm
.pediment in the pathway of a rational,
well ll-grounded and progressive liberty.
The all-absorbing question now pre-
sented to the American citizen, for what
will prove to be his ultimate decision, 1
have watched narrowly as it has risen
into importance from year to year, and
l. think / know the opinions of the
several Presidential candidates respect
ingit.
am not aware that the supporters
Of Mr.. Breckenridge attempt any con-
cealmcnt as to his designs in case Of
8 his success. If they should desire to
resort to prevarication, they have plao-
ed it entirely without their power by
irankness and boldness, and, 1 had al
most said, the recklossness Of their
declarations. lie has been put forth,
prominently, like a speech and plat
FORM as the Achilles of the armies Of
the South, and as the determined foe Of
free soil, free speech and free men. llo
stands upon no single Democratic sem
timent, unless, indeed, what we're re-
gardcd by all statesmen within the last
, fifteen years as the protentious heresies
Of John c. Calhoun can be so regard
7 ed. He so reads the teachings Of tho
sages Of the past, and their primary
s law, as to make it fruitlcss to attempt
an exclusion Of his peculiar and favor
itc institution from the original Terri
tories; and so as to make it iudispensa-
, bic that Congresses, Courts and Presi-
, dents should exercise all their ingcnui-
ty, and all their powers to fortiiy and
sustain it there, legislative action is to
be invoked, judicial decrees had, exec
utive fats pronounced, navies equipped
and armies marshaled, to exclude every
settler thereirom who will not bow
down before the black god Of his idol
atrous worship. l appeal to you, free
men, TO know whether this is the De-
mocracy Of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe
and Jackson, 7 appeal to you to know
Z whether you have ever found anything
- in the annals of parties so insulting to
the understanding until within the
lifetime of the youth who has not yet
reached his majority. Iappeal to you to
{ know whether the honesty, Intelligence
r and uumixcd blood of the offspring of
Northern mothers can ever accept an
4 excuse for those who would endeavor to
& iasten such a ruler upon US. But We
, may congratulate ourselves that even
official zeal can perceive no chance for
o. Mr. Breckenridge's election. II there
10 had ever been any, the recent stump
/, speech of Mr.. Buchanan would have ef-
d fectually disposed of it.. No amount of
r popularity would be able to stand
P against the encomiums Of such an ad-
' vooate. His midnight appeal can only
o be accounted for by supposing the "Old
10 public functiOnary" was unable to OBJ
10 iterate his animostes towards "the
70 young gentlemen of kentucky" and
% that his well-known craft suggested a
n speech as the readiest aud least often
n sivo means of destruction. Such sug-
d gestions are the more reasonable, as It
j. is not to be imagined that the gyved
IS tenant of the White House should for
B. a moment believe, after the investiga-
e tions which have been had, and tho
s. exposures which have been made, such
y testimony as he volunteered could be
l. otherwise than ruinous to any course
d The daring evinced by him on the oo-
j. casion was only equaled by bis lack Of
2, solt-respect, and his utter disregard Of
C the circumstances by which he was
&c surrounded, and which should have re-
i- strained him.
S, Whatever conclusions may be drawn
j. as to my estimate of Mr.. Brecken-
ridges character as a politician, can
n only say that my esteem for him is pro-
l. found, when brought into comparison
u with that which 1 entertain for his
N Democratic competitor. There arc few,
x if any, living men concerning whom
more has been said, and less really
ID known, than Stephen A. Douglas, Of
j Illinois. There are thousands-by Ear
/ too many thousands-noW sustaining
a him under the mistaken and delu5ivo
4 idea that be is directing his efforts to
le counteract the plans Of the Southern
m Democracy. This is a frightful hallu-
ell ciuation, but a natural one, when We
n take into consideration the humiliating
IT fact that all that devotion could do has
s. been done by those surrounding his
u N- 4 20