, 1860-02-25
4 SHORT Talk ABOUT REPUR-
LICAEKSMs


Union. Wherever it has foothold, its exist.
encs is maintained by virtue Of State laws, !
Tue authority which enacted those laws is the |
OILY power competent to repeal them. So |
far, serofore as the abolition Of slavery is |
concerned, the Republican party can do noth-
ing-seeks to do nothing. Neither can it, nor
does it propose to make tile attempt, to do any
thing as party to ameliorate the condition Of |
the cnslaved- That too is subject coming !
wholly within the scope and under the sole |
authority Of the State Legislatures. In word.
the Whole subject Of tho continuance or ter
mination Of the institution, its accompanying
circumstances while il does last as we'll as the
civil and political privileges to be accorded 10
OF withheld from the fro: colored people Of the
States, under our complex system Of govern
ment rests exclusively with The law-rnaking
power Of tho States directly interested in tho
institution. If the Republican party were
seeking the control Of State government
merely, or if the existence Of slavery were d.
rectly dependent upon National legislation,
then it would be altogether proper for that
party to issue its programme upon these seye.
raj points But as it is, however much men
may deplore the existence Of slavery and de-
sire its extinction, and however anxious they
may be to a1neliorate the condition Of tho en-
shaved, unless citizens Of tile States which are
Identified with it, they gan take no political &C.
ton that will directly affect these objects.
This is the light in which the subject is re-
garded by Republcanism. As political Or
ganization 1t has nothing to do with the ques-
ton Of nbolishing slavery, or bettering the con-
dition Of the slaves So far as its action af.
feets or is intended to affect the institution, it
IS repFesslye only. 1t seeks to prevent its in
crease ly additions from abroad; and therefore
1t opposes tile rcopening Of the African slave
trade. It seeks TO curtail its political power
IN the general government; and for this, as
well as for tho further purpose Of preserving
them for the occupancy Of free white men, it
opposes the introduction Of slavery into our
Territories. 1t is not denied that, indirectly,
this policy will hasten the abolition Of slavery.
Confined to its present area, tho Suites
identified with slavery, woula soon be impelled
bT motives Of self interest, to adopt 1neasuns
for its peaceful extinction. In opposing tic
African slave trade md the extension Of SLAVE
~ into new territories, it becomes necessary
to discuss the nature Of lie institution tho
ronghly-to expose its most repel1ant features,
to hold it up TO tue whitening scorn Of men who
have been cducated in the doctrines If tic
Declaration Of Independence. But all this
argues neither the intention nor the
desire, OH the part Of the Republican
party, to make war upon the constitution
al rights OF, tho slaveholding states. 1t
entertains no euch intent On the contrary;
the Republican party has peculiar claims to
the appellation Of the States rights party aud
it has never. in State or National Convention,
failed to give expression to its sentiments on
this subject, not only to disclaim all inten-
1lon Of interference with slavery where it ex-
lists, but to deny the Constitutional power to
do so.
But while loyal 10 the Constitutional obliga-
tions which prevent its interference with sla-
very, tho Republican party ccnlends that there
is nothing in that instrument to debar it from
doing all i'll its power TO advance the interests
Of the white race. Here Republicanism ceases
to be repress;ve, and becomes affirmative aud
constructive. For the extirpation Of slaveryit
proposes nothing, because it can do nothing;
but for tho white race it proposes much, be-
cause it is not fettered by Constitutional pro.
hibitions. Hero are some Of ita leading OBJ
jects: -;
1. To preserve the Territories to freedom
and FREQ labor; to prevent the monopoly Of their
soil BY the owners Of slaye-labor; to save free
labor from the degradation which always FOL-
lows from closo contact with slavery; to &C.
cure the establishment Of schools, uni. crsities,
aud churches, without which high degree Of
intelligence, morality and thrift is entirely i'm
possible:
2. To give lands to the land1ess: to encour-
age settlers from both the free and the slave
States to enter upon our uow unsettled domain
by the FREQ gift Of q Homestead, inalienable for
ever except at the option Of the grantee, and
thus secure the early development Of our
unequaled RESOURCES, increase our National
strength, and reflect new lustre upon our benc-
fcent free institutions.
3. To strengthen the political power in the
National government Of free white laborers,
by rapidly building up now FREQ States, and
thus placing the representatives Of the Slavery
Oligarchy in our National Councils in hope
less minority.
l. Such revision Of the financial policy Of
the government Es will result in protecting the
free white labor Of this country from the ruin
Gus competition Of the pauper laborof Europe;
which will secure home market for the bulk
Of Our agricultural staples, increase the gen.
oral prosperity Of tue country, and make US in.
dependent Of other countries alike in times Ct
peace aud Of war.
&. Reciprocal free trade with all the govcrn-
1nents Of the New World, the development
Of an American policy which will link
them closer to each other hy .. community Of
interest, put stop to schemes Of annexation
for the purpose OF Increasing the. political
power Of slavery, and efrectuaily squelch fill.
clustering aud fllibuster1:'.' ~:
e::Tho improvement Of. our Rivers and
uarbors, and. the construction Of Pacific
Railroad, cheapening the carriage Of all arti-
cles Of commerce, and facilitating intercourse
between citizens Of every section Of cur widely
extended confederacy.
r.