The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-06-15


The rirCi n Ektndling--Ronl Dcn-
Ocrnts rOr lincoln nnd nlnut-
lin---LCttg 0OtEs lt. y. smith.
We clip tho following strpight-lot-
ward letter from the Norwalk Reflector,
Of last week.
EplroRs OF REFLBcroR--Sit. ind In F,
the editorial columns of the Reflector Of
the goth inst, the following article, yiEs
"NVc understand that D. ~ Smith,
Esq, Of Bellevue, in this county, hereto
fore prominent Democrat, has dcteunin-
cd to give his support to Lincoln and
Hamlin."
On what authority you made this state
ment, am not adyisedj bat Of Us truth
there can Be no doubt; yet IL would have
been moro agreeable to me u the article
had not been publishod--not that wish
to conceal my political position, but Il
calls upon me to either admit or deny is
truth, and If admitted, IL mightbe expect
I ed by some that | should give through the
Reflector, a reason for the faith that h
within mo. To do this fully would ro-
quirc more space in your paper than 1
could reasonably Osk, Therefore permit
me to state in a brief manner a few prop
I ositions which | believe are true, and 80
believing | must necessarily occupy the
position I now do in politics.
The normal condition Of AL mankind il
one Of freedom, Slavery is a creature Of
llaw-it cannot exist without law; II Il
morally wrong; but may be legally right
in the sense that "might makes right
that with Slavery in sovereign States oi
which we are not citizens, we have moth
ing to do except as morohsts-that itii
unsafe and unwise in any party 70 allow
the Supreme Court Of the United States
, or any other Court. TO dictate 70 il apolit
ical creed, OF for any party TO stand spon
sors for the correctness ofany iudiclul dc
cision or opinion--thHt the present Dem
ocratic party Is perversely pro-sluyery u
= its procliyities--that the great majorit!
, Of the leaders Of that party consider feal
" as due az much TO the opinions, as de
lcisions IN the bred Scott cOso-that tht
/. present Administration Is extravagant
corrupt, and sectionul--that the well-bc
ing of the people Of the United States re
, quire a change in the administration, !
! order TO effect some important changes d
4 the domestic policy ofour federal govern
! ment.
=. TheEe propositions or assertions | bC
n lieve are true, aud shall at all suitabl
= times and places be ready to give th
. reasons on which that belief is founded.
!. Further, I have examined with care th
. Chicago Platform, and so far as the quci
. ton of Slavery is concerned, It approx
: mates to the position taken by the Den
i ocratic party in Ohio but a few yeai
n since, and to which can take but few
/ any exceptions. The balance Of thI
platform can be cxceptionable only
him t0lO is determined not 20 be pleGst
Il irih %. ...
=. Further, all or nearly oil ofthe old p
>, litical issues have become obsolete, al
~ the issue now is whether Slavery shb
> curse our free territories by virtue of ]
N dicial or any other legislationi that
h stating the issue in its mildost form, fro
u anything can gather from the proceG
ocI ings Of the Democratic Convention he
=, at Charleston, and the Chicago Platfori
81 And finally, Mr.. Editor, il has, and Q
70 er shall be my intention TO castmy hui
m ble influence in that scale where my co
~ victions Of what is right shall dictate;
h. err, il shall be for want ofinlurmatl,
ii or correct perceptions. Truly yours,
az . d. +. SMITH.
~ ~ BELLEVUE, Nay 30, go,