Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-09-26
BEyroH. Ill. Aug. %, lSGO.

ter:
BrSToy, H.. Aug. %, 1SGO.
TO the Toicys Of tie AXTIh Judicial
Circuit If Illinois:
FELLOW CITIzENs:-It has been an
nounccd to you that | an a candidate for
the oG,e Of States Attorney. and it has
also been represented to You by myself and
others that Stephen i. Douglas was my
Grst choice for the Presidency. 1t is true.
[ am 4 candidate for the Office Of States
Attorney, and Stephen A. Douglas Is my
first choice for the Presidency. and have
been doing what little l could in my own
district TO inAuense votes in his favor. and
would continue TO DO SO. only find myself
aiding a dis nicnist. and by this | mean |
am Indirectly giving my influence. what
ever it may be. to John c Breckenridge
and Joseph Lane. who have been nominat-
ell and presented before the American pco-
pie. by mon who have openly avowcd their
intention to dissolve u happy Union. l
prefer then 10 support Il man who has in
RucEce and strength enough to put down
! the disunion element which VIC find IN our
happy and at this time prosperous land
And. finding it impossible tn accomplish
this end by supporting Stephen A Douglas,
the man We all 50 mach admire, | am con-
strained from a sense Of duty to my God
| ana my country. f. tender my feeble efforts
to Abraham Lincoln. the nominee Of the
Republican purity. This. no doubt Will
surprise many of you at first glance, but |
feel assured that when you come to exam
inc my reasons, many if not all of You
will justify me in the step | am taking in
the present political battle of the country,
and will upon mature dcliberation and re-
Fiction. join me in humbling to the dust
the party which seeks to destroy our Fed
cral Union, and spread civil war, anarchy
and confusion throughout the land.
The reasons which will guide me in the
present political comte,t are based upon the
fact that VIC cannot elect Douglas.
We have four candidates III the field. and
it is now asccrtlincd that Breckenridge and
Lane will carry every Southern State with
two or three exceptions, and they will be
carried for Bell. unless Douglas carries
| Missouri. Then Douglas must depend for
| his support on tie Free States. and We all
know it to be conceded 10y some of his
leading friends. that he cannot carry more
than four States. and to do this there will
have to be a strong eff TT in his behalf,
hence you sec. the fight Is to be made be-
tween Breckenridge and Lincoln, the two
strongest candidates. and it bccoWcs our
duty at once to decide which of these can
didates we prefer. have decided to sup
port Lincoln. would willingly support
Douglas, but u further support of him can
have 10 other effect than that of carrying
the election into the House of Representa-
tivcs. which will either elect Bree inridgc;
or if the House should fail to elect by the
9Th Of March, as is probable, the Senate
| will elect 10. Lane. who becomes President
Of the United States. Aul Lane Will only
be 4 toll in the hands Of the DIsuniOnists,
TO accomplish their o c idea of breaking
UP the Conseleracy and erecting the Slave
States together, with our Western country,
into a separate and independent govern
ment, | say to you fellow citizens. that it
is my honest judgment. that this is the
object of the Southern Secession movement,
ani | anog this opinion is not incOmpat-
ible with the judgment of the large mljar-
itv of the men who are nOw supporting
our distinguished Stephen \ Douglas, and
so it is the opinion of the press. Then,
this Breckenridge ticket. having 10 other
! Object than the destruction of our happy
Union. to establish which. it cost our faith
c $ years and years Of toll and blOodshcd.
L cannot, and will not, directly. nor indi-
rcctly. support the Breckenridge ticket. |
inow We L We mel who prefer Bell over
Lincoln. | believe myself. John Bell Is 4
Patriot. but this cannot be Il sufficient rca-
son Why We should support him in the
present contest, because, ii c Douglas, he
cannot carry but two or thrcc States, and
Will have no strength in the House of Rep
rcscntutives. hence YOU See. unless We sup
port Lincoln. we are aiding the disunion
ticket. Douglas has no strength III the
House of representatives. aud | ask you
in the name Of Heaven. where are We to
get Votes to elect him by the people? 1t
cannot he done in the present contest, aud
cannot disgrace my ancestry by support
ING 4 man | believe to be Il disunionirt-
But it is Chan &c that Lincoln is an Abo-
l%itiouist. This is not true. He only
wishes to prohibit slavery in the Terri
tories, while they are III I Territorial con-
/ Gition, ard has 10 desire or inclination tn
interfere with slavery where it exists. He
is pledged to the doctrine that slavery is i
local institution. Uud that each State has u
right to retain it as long as they please
And again. il is said that he voted against
4 bill in Congress. which was intended to
supply the soldiers in the Mexican war
This Is not true. And | will satisfy any.
one of it who will examine his acts while
in Congress.