The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-07-05

aSaiios any auNeiSuiy anu III any uclu NleTe
mind and knowledge are the weapons used.
In politics he has but acted out the prin-
ciples of his own moral and intellectual char
acter. He has not concealed his thoughts
nor hidden his light under bushel. With
the boldness of CONSCIOUS rectitule and TIE
frankness of do wright honesty, he has not
failed to avow his opinions of public affairs
upon all fitting occasions.
This know may subject him to the carp
ing censure of that class Of politicians who
mistake cunning for wisdom and falsehood
for ingenuity ; but such men as Lincoln
must act in keeping with their own characters
and hope for success only by advancing the
truth prudently and maintaining it bravely.
All his old political ontecedents are, in my
judgment, exactly right, being square up to
the old Whig standard. And as to his views
about "the pestilent negro question:" I am
not aware that he has gone one step beyond
the doctrine publicly and habitually avowed
by the great lights Of the Whig party, Clay,
Webster, and their fellows, and indeed sus-
tanned and carried out by the Democrats
themselves, in their wiser and better days
The following, I suppose, are in brief his
opinions on the subject: l. Slavery is a
domestic institution within the States beyond
the control of Congress. 2. Congress has
supreme legislative power over all the Terri
ritories, and may, at its discretion, allow or
forbid the existance of slavery within them.
8. Congress, in wisdom and sound policy,
ought not to exercise its power, directly or
indirectly, as to plant and establish slavery
in any territory heretofore free. 4. And it
is unwise and impolitc in the government of
the United States, to acquire tropical regions
for the mere purpose of converting them into
slave States.
These, believe, are Mr.. Lincoln's opinions
upon the matter ofslavery in the Territ ories,
and concur in them. They are no new
inventions, made to suit the exigencies ofthe
hour, but have come down to us, as the Dec
laration of Independence and the Constitu-
ton have, sanctioned by the venerable author
ity Of the wise and good men who established
our institutions. They are confornable to
law, principle and wise policy, and their util-
ity is proven in practice by the yet unbroken
current of our political history. They will
prevail, not only because they are right in
themselves, but also because q great and
still growing majority of the people believe
thom to be right, and the sooner they are
allowed to prevail in peace and harmony,
the better for all concerned, as well as those
who are against them as those who are for
them.
am aware that small partisans, in their
little warfare against opposing leaders, do
sometimes assail them by the trick oftearing
from their contexts some particular objection
able phrases, penned, perhaps, in the hurry
of composition, or spoken in the hurry of
oral debate, and holding them up to the pub
lie as the leading doctrines of the person
assalled, and drawn from their uncharitable
differences. That line of attack betrays a
little mind conscious of its weakness, for the
falsity of lis logic is not more apparent than
the injustice of its design. No public man
can stand that ordeal, and, however willing
men may be to see it applied to their adver-
saries, all finch from the torture when ap-
piled to themselves. In fact, the men who
never said foolish thing, will hardly be able
to prove that he said many wise ones.
consider Mr.. Lincoln sound, safe, ma
tional mar. He could not be sectional if he
tried. His birth, his education, the habits
ofhis life, and his geographical position,
compel him to be national. All his feelings
and interests are identified with the great
valley of the Mississippi, near whose centre
he has spent his whole life. That valley is
a section, but, conspicuously, the body Of
the nation, and, large as it is, it is not capa-
BILE of being divided into sections, for the
great river cannot be diuided. 1t lis one and
} indivisible, and the North and the South are
alike necessary to its comfort and prosperity
Its people, too, in all their interests and af
fections, are as broad and general as the re.
gions they inhabit. They are emigrants, a
mixed multitude, coming from every State
in the Union, and from most countries in
Euroge they are unwilling, therefore, tc
submit to any one petty local Standard
They love the nation as whole, and they
!, all, not ohiy uts fes ribex. are bound to them
5 and mutual dependence, but also by tht
recollections of childhood and youth, by blood
, and friendship, and by all those social ant
. domestic charities which sweeten life, ant
make this world worth living in The vale,
is beginning to feel its power, and will soor
be strong enough to dictate the law of tn,
land. Whenever that state Of things shall
, come to pass, it will be most fortunate 70
the nation to find the powers of govcrnmen
t lodged in the hands ofmen whose habits O
r thought, whose position and surro1ndin;
, circumstances ccnstrain them to use thost
powers for general and not sectional ends.
, l give my opinion freely in favor of Mr.
Lincoln, and hope for the good of tn,
whole country, he may be elected. But it il
, not my intention to take any active part il
. the canvass. For many years past l hav,
, had little to do with public affairs, and hay,
n aspired to no political Office; and now, il
: view of the mad excitement which convulse
:. the country, and the general disruption ant