Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-05-16
WHOLE NO. 922.
The Third Party.

y
the Constitutional Union Convention a
Baltimore, had nominated John Bell o
Tennessee for President and Edward Ev
erett Of Massachusetts for Vice President
The Platform Of principles adopted by th'
Convention is "The Unioo. the Con stitu
ton and the Laws"
Pretty extensive platform We must con
fess, and We would net be surprised if the
ticket and the platform would be formida'
bic in some of the Southern States. II Mr.
Douglas should be the nominee at Balti
more, the American aud Opposition party
in the South. will rally To the support Of
this ticket, and if Mr.. Douglas should no,
receive the Baltimore nomination then
many 10 the Northern Stsses who would
have voted for him. will cast their votes for
the Union ticket. The bitter hn-,ility in
the South to Mr.. Douglas, and from the fur
ther fact that the Constitutional Union
men have seen proper to enunciste no dis
tinciive principles by which thy expect to
make the coming campaign, may give their
ticket some prestige in the slaveholding
States. If however the Richmond Conven-
ton should pat Southern man. on pro.
slavery platform. then the success of the
Union ticket. even in the cotton growing
States, will be much lessened.
The Republicans at Chicago will of
course nominate good men, and they will
enunciate platform of distinctive. posi-
tive, affirmative principles upon which
those men must be willing to stand. PSin
eipiss. in times like the present. are OF more
importance than men. There are ten thou
sand men in this general government OF
sufficient intellectual ability to be Presi-
dent and Vice President. but unless they
were the advocstes of the right principles,
they might inaugurate q policy which
would be ruinous to eur future prosperity
The principles upon which our institu-
tiops are based, and that are TO make rs
still greater and happier peoFle. are Of the
first Importance. II is the form Of govern
ment, and not particularly those who con
troll our public affairs. that MAKES this peo-
pie what they are.
The age in which We live. Is one of pro-
gress, Of earnest, positive thought. The
question of the extension, or rather expan
sion of haman slavery, is the Question OF
the day-the question Of the age. This
government will never be at peace. until
IL. IL Id
nen,ly, conclusively and forever. The
longer it is postponed the more difficult
will it become, the mors sninosity will be
engendered. the more widely will be sepa
rated the slaveholding from the free States.
To meet it now, and settle it by the voice
ofa majority Of the American people, is
the part of wise men-to postpone it, the
policy Of demagogues. The earnest, brave
men of the South are clsmorous for this
settlement-tbe positive. true men OF the
North are equally anxious to bring this
v.xed question to q conclusion. It should
not be permitted to disturb the councils of
the nation longer. II should net be the
eugrossing subject 10 American politics
more IL IL can be avoided-aud ii can only
be avoided. by being permanently set ed
Postpone it. and the day of its final arbi-
traneut is only postponed. Defer it, and
YOU but defer the settlement that has to be
made. "Let it alone" and you but let
alone question, whose inherent nature
will create coumotiou and differences, on
aud forever. II can not be postponed. II
can not be deferred. II can not be let
alone. II must be met. sooner or later. and
the sooner The better.
No party can be regarded prominent
10 American politics that has no opin
ion upon the question Of slavery extension,
and has not the courage 10 meet that qucs
zion. II is that, and that alone which has
SO divided the sentiments Of this people -
Like an obtruding and deeply interesting
thought, it j. all the time present. II comes
up in every conceivable shape, on all occa-
sions, every " here, On Southern and North
ern soil, 10 religious as we'll IS political
assemblies, in State Legis!stures. 10 the
National Legislature. 10 caucuses, on the
corners of the streets, in the saloons, in the
work shops, in the Offices, and in the edito
rial sauctGm. 1t is the topic Of the day
the question of the times. No party can
be party il this country, at this time
With all the exciting surroundings, thai
does no, clearly. distinctly, positively and
earnestly define it's position on the ques
tion Of slavery and slavery restriction.