The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-10-18
SPEECH OF THE N
HON. THOMAS EWING G
Ar OHILLICOTHE, OHIO'
BEFORE Republican Mass Meeting, Sept
Jt 28th, 1860. ''''

MY FRIENDS AND FELLOW CTTIzENs
am here to address you by the invita-.
tion Of ycur Republican Central Commit,
tee. I belong to no existing party. L
am attached to none. bu. to the Union
the States--thsir liberties and laws. L
come not to arouse your enthusiasm IN De-
half Of any man or any party, but to speak
my own free thoughts, aud che concla'
sions Of my own judgement. as to tire con,
dition Of our country and the course---of
all that are open to us-which is most
likely to tend to its permanent prosper.
ty and peace. will speak something OF
men, bat more Of principle and policy,
And it may be proper for me to say, in
the outset, that I have made up my mind
to vote for Abraham Lincoln. l know
him personally, and am satisfied with him.
He is a man Of unimpeachsd integrity
sufficiently acquainted with the recent
history of our country. and the men and
measures which have made mp that his.
tory. | am satisfied with the man, though
[ do not place him in advance Of all bis
opponents. John Bell is his equal in
personal qualities. OF large experience the
elder statesman, if we could make him
our President, l would consider him a
very safe choice. know him much more
intimately than Mr.. Lincoln. l was in
counsel with him daily for many months in
times Of trial, and besides my confidence
in the statesman, / have for him warm
feeling Of personal friendship and regard
But he cannot get the vote Of Ohio. His
ticketis but disturbing element in the
canvass. The contest in this State is be-
tween Lincoln and Douglas, ane between
them cannot hesitate for moment,a and
indeed, have no vote TO throw away when
such is the contest. AS statesman,
Douglas has shown bimself inconslderste
and reckless. The extreme agitation Of
the country for the past six years is due
to his restless impatience for notorlety
He is politically auswerable for all the
terrible atrocities consequent upon the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise. They
we're embodied in the repeal, and the eye
ola statesman could not have failed tc
discern them there. He set o complies
ted machine, which he understood not, ID
wild and destructive moiop, and his sole
merit. is that he attempted but knew nO
how TO check or direct its movement. Ex
perience Of the past does not warrant VI
in believing that tie repablic would 6'
safe under his guidance. 1t would b.
once again Phseton guiding the chariot 0
the sun. Mr.. BreckinridgeI | know onl!
as gentleman, and as such l esteem hin
and believe him stainless, He has NJ
record as a statesman, at least none know
to me; and be stands as the representa-
tive Of an extreme sectional party, who's
opinions and policy tend strongly to dis
union. Besides. Lane. the candidate TO
Vice President, 10, l think, little worth,
of that honorable position. My Sopinie'
ofhis personal merits will be- found "a
large in a speech, delivered in the Senal
Of the United States, January 7 1861 o
the Bradbury resolutions, which, with &C
Copanying, documents, is in Appendix
Congressional clObs'yOl, %, pages 81 an
6S. r 7 SfE 'VCfTEQN9~F1 y
This will suffice lforthe personal merit
and status Of the several candidates. Tt
political questions invoked, and my ow
relation 10 those questions, require MOI
careful presentation. / view the existin
contest almost from q neutral standpoint
have, belonged to no political part
since the 99d day Of March, alS54, b.
have since that time looked upon the ac
and purposes Of each as subjects ofaPpr'
yal or censurs, as in my opinion their 2
forts might be useful or injurious to IL
oountrys The Republican party aro'
out Of the repeal Of the Missouri Comp,
mise. This attempt, when first mad
seemed an act Of wanton childish reckles
ness, and took the nation by surprise, II