Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-08-30
NUMBER S6.

choose 20 forget all this. and | vii. no,
criminate them for doin ]! 90, but p.omiso
never to forget II. I ap for ny rrIeads snd
sgsinst those who oppo g my friends. FL
am wrong in this, let charity te extended
to mel csnnot help IL. H9f
Ihsve ssid ell desire to say Of The Re pre-.
sentatives Of the two Demoeracies There
10 q preference between them. The ono 10
outspoken and evident; the other IL con.
cesled and tricky. Of the Two much pre-.
fer Mr. Breckinridge, end yet cannot
imagine the circumstance under which I
could be induced TO support him. He asserts
the 1Sopreme Court hss decided that slavery
is an existing constitutional institution in
sll our Territories. end that II is the duty
Of the Government to suetain u where IL
thus legally EXISTS. Mr.. Douglas contends
the courts have net yet so decided, but, if
they shall do DO, it will then .bscome the
dUty ofsll good citizens to respect, the dec,.
ion, and oi every branch Of the Federal
Government TO enforce il with promptnen
and inelity. That is his platform. II our
Federal Court has not slready given a
decision in accordance with the notions Of
Mr.. Bfeckinridge, no one doubts il will do
80 as soon ss the question shall be brought
distinctly before it. So Of best the only
point Of disagreement between these rival
candidates is that Of time only. If, In the
language of the resolution adopted by the
Convention placing Mr.. Douglas in nomi-
nation and just partly quoted, II becomes
;he duty Of all good citizens to respect, and
of every branch Of the Federal Government
TO enforce, judicial decision determining
the constitutional existence of slavery in
our Territories, what becomes Of that other
theory Of Mr.. Douglas, that DO matter Whist
the Supreme Court may decide. slavery
may be excluded frcm Territory BY un.
friendly legislation! e..
s Those advocating the elaine Of Mr.. Bell,
would please everybody by promising no'h-
ing. They compose the party Of extreme
faith. They stand upon Constitution with
on, Interpretation, and upon an endangered
Union without announcing the means BY
which it can be saved.
Let us not be decsisedi There are but
two doctrines between which we can choose
when we come to deposit our ballots. Ono
is, that the Constitution favors Slavery ae
well as freedom; that neither mas advant-
age over the other; that they must travel
together and exist together, under equal pro.
lection. until the territory shall be clothed
with State Sovereignty; and that both alike
are national. The other is. that the Con-
sttuton treats Slavery as local municipal
institution; does not give 10 It q single ct.
tribute Of nationality; tina, it has not an
equal status with freedom; and that its ex.
tension is 10 be discouraged. How shall we
act between those opposing views, ! an'
swer the inquiry: Our lsboring classes de-
serve all these encouragement and protec.
tinn we can give them; Southern states
men regard them es white slaves; let Us
not surrender them TO such msrcies as the
owners Of chattel labo, would extend 10
them. Our farmers and msrufsc,ursrs have
long been cut off from all ihe bount!es Of
legislation, by the force Of Southern pre-
judice, we should enls, on their s.6.. Our
country has suffered much in the estimation
of mankind, from our manifested attach.
ment to a system, not1riously in coun;crac-
ton TO the principles upon which our Gov.
ernment was founart; considerations OF
morslity ,expediency. and consistency should
incline US to do all that we lawfully may do,
to save ourselves from furtner imputstions.
Slavery within the States stands behind
impregnable defences; but it holds no char
ter to trsve, without festraint. u has long
} ahored for but has not yet reached posi-.
tion of absolutism. II grssps Tor empire,
as i, is the only means by which tyranny
, can ever save itself. Our danger 10 immi.
nent. but we can overcoms it, II we allow
reason rather than prejudice, to shape our
efforts. Democracy. as now Interpreted by
those loudest in the profession Of il ana al.
} most monopolizing its name, no longer
I means the will OF the majority; it con;emns
the masses, holds no association with labor,
and utters no word of encourag cement TO the
poor. Its professions are impostures, and
must soon fail to deceive. 1t has becom q
{ worse than the ally of Slsvery-it 10 plant
and ,prostituted tool. Wisdom and propriety
e must alike repudists It, unless speedily re-
; generated.
4 Ou, true policy is thst Of resistance to
G the extravsgant and unconstitutionsl de.
msnds Of the South. We can only make !,
a effectual in one wsy-by the support of Mr
/, lincoln. He Is honest and capable, and at
e tached to the principles o: the Constitution
2 and his election will assign limits to sec
is ton Il oligarchy, aud make labor honorable
e and rem1nerative.
,e The question, in it's true aspect, Is not al
l. to which candidate, should be elected by th'
lg people; il is this; shal. Mr.. Lincoln be elec.
n- ed, The one hundred and twenty Elcc,Ot
le al votes Of the South will De divided mainly
C. if not exclusively, betwee, Gr. Dell an
or Mr.. Bleckinridge, and their support will t'
g. almost, if not entirely, confined 70 that sec
or ton Such effective force as Mf. Duugla
n. may possess, is in the NORTH but h's mos
o. sanguine friends admit not oulv that h'
e. election is impossible, but that he canno
he carry o"er two or three States. The bod.
,s- Of the Northern vote will be given TO M
ny Iincoln. Mr.. Douglas supporters cen d.
,r- nothing for him; the only significant resl'
he ihev can possibly produce, sill be 10 ~iIh
to draw enough strength from NJ. Lincoln
10, throw the election into the House. Tni
for done, and Lsne would certainly be chose
,s by the Senate---the condition OF parties j