The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-16
VOLUME XI. NO. ii.


shall expect YOU TO defend it, II yours
shall be so assailed, in the emergency, no
matter wha: the cause or the pretext, or
who the foe, we shall defend your sover.
eighty as the equivalent ofour own. We
cannot. indeed, accept your sys,em Of
capital or ethics. That would be TO sur.
render and subvcrt our own, which we
esteem to be better. Besides, il we could,
what need for any division into States at
all? You are equally at liberty 10 reject
our system and its ethics, and 10 maintain
:he superiority Of your own by all ,he
forces Of persuasion and argument. We
must indeed, mutually discuss boh sys.
tens. All the world discusses all sys.
TENS. Especially must we discuss them
since we have 10 decide as nation which
Of the two we ought 10 engraft on the
new and future States growing up in the
great public domain. Discussion then
being unav oidable, what could be more
wise than to conduct it with mutual toler.
alton and in raternal spirit?
You complain that Republicans dis
course to boldly and directly, when they
express with confidence their belief that
the system Of labor will, in the end. be
universally accepted by The capital States.
acting for themselves, and in con formity
with their own constitutions, while they
sanction too unreservedly books designed
20 advocate emancipation. But surely
you can hardly expect the Federal Gov
eminent or the political parties OF the ma.
lion 10 maintain censorship Of the press
or Of debate. The theory of our system
is, that error Of opinion may in all cases
safely be tolerated where reason is left
free TO combstit. Will it be claimed that
more Of moderation and tenderness in de.
bate are exhibited on your side If the
great argument than our own We all
learned our polemics, as well as our prin.
ciples, from common master. We are
sure that we do not. on our side, exceed
his lessons and example. Thomas Jeffer.
son addressed DR.. Price, an Englishman,
concerning his treaties on emancipation
in America, in this fashion:
"Southward OF the Chesapeake, your
book will find but few readers concurring
with ii in sentiment on the subject OF
slavery. From the mouth 10 the head Of
The Chesapeake, the bulk Of the people will
approve it in theory, and it will find a
respectable minority ready TO adopt il in
practice a minority which, for weight,
and worth OF character, preponderates
against the greater number who have not
the courage TO divest their families of a
property which however keeps their con
sciences unquct. Norlhward Of the Chesa-
pcake, you may find here and there an
opponent to your doctrine, as you mny
find here and there q robber or a mur-
derer but in no greater number"
This ;Virginis) is the next State to
which we may turn our eyes for the inter
esting spectacle of justice in conflict with
avarice and opprcssion-a conflict where
the sacred side is gaining daily new re.
cruits from the influx into Office of young
men, grown and growing up.
BE not, then discouraged What you
have written will do great deal Of good
and could you still trouble yourself abou,
our welfare, no man is better able 10 help
the laSoring side"
You SEQ, Sir that whe,hor we 90 for OF
against Slavery anywhere. we must follow
Southern guides. You may change youl
pilots with tho winds or tho currents; but
wo,whose nativity ,reckoned under tho Nortt
Star, has rendered us somewhat supersti
nous, must bo excused for cOnstancy in fo.
lowing the guidance of those who framed
the National ship and gave us tho chart fo,
its noble voyage. A profound respect and
friendly regard for tho Vice President o
tho United States have induced mo to wogl
carefully the testimony he has given on th,
subject OF tho hostility against tho South
imputed to tho Republican party, as dorivcC
from the rotations of tho representatives o
the two parties at this capital. llo SAYS he
has soon here in tho Representatives of tho
lower Southern States most rosolule and
earnest spirit of resistance to tho Rcpubli.
can party; that he pOrceives sensible loss
OF that spirit of brotherhood and that feel
ing OF loyalty, together with that lovo for a
common country that arc, ut least, surcst
cement ot the union; so that, in tho pres.
ont unhappy condition of affairs no is almost
tempted to cxciaim, that wo uro dssolyiuG
week by week. and month by month; that
the threads are gradually trottlug them.
selves ussundor; aud stranger may suppose
that the Executive of tho United States was
tho President of tho TWO hostile Republics
1t is not for mo to raise II doubt upon tn,
correctness of Ihis dark picture,so far as tn,
Southern groups upon tho canvass are con
cernod but must bo INDUCED in tho op,n
ion that i can pronounce as accurately con,
corning tho Northern or Republican, repro.
Bentatisos hero as any one. know theil
public haunts and their private ways. We
are not hostile RopuLiic.or representative.
of ono We confer together, but only rs the
Organs of overy party do. aud must do in a
political systom which obligcs us to act as
partisans sometimes, whilo il requires us
always to DO patriots and statesmen DIFF
ferences Of opinion, even on tho subject o
slavery, with us are political, not social OF
personal differences. There is not one dis
unionist or disloyullSt among us all. Wa are
altogether unconscious of any process of dis
solution going on among or around us. W.
haVo never boon moro patient, mud move,
lovod tho representatives of other SECTIONS
more than now. Wo bear the samo testi
mony for tho people around us hero, who
though in tho very center whero tho bolt o
disuniOn must fall first and DO most fearful
IN It's effects, soem neVor less disturbed than
now. Wo bear tho samo testimony for all
tho districts and states wo represent. The
people OF tho North arc not enemies hui
friends and brethren Of the South, faithful
and trno ms in tho days when death doalt his
arrows promiscuously among thom on com
mon baitlcfiolds OF freedom. Wu will not
suffer ourselves hero TO dwell on any ovI.
doncos of a different temper in the South,