Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-08-25
From the Principal.
HONEST ABE LINC0LN"-N0N.C0MMIT
Ia. !-DECLINES ANSWERING

nails, are circulating Lincoln's debates with Doug
in 1858, as containing q true expose of his
and measures, not q few ant-slaUe'y
Republicans, are annoyed with such a 'cdmpdiSa
document and are trying to persuade themselves
others, that perhaps his views are not quite as
Objectionable, nou, as when he debated with Doug
las. AT that time no denied being in favor Of the
unconditional repeal of the Fugitive Slave law, de-
clared bis belief that the Southern States were en-
to have one in some form; aud added that
though the present law was mot free from some
objections which might have been obviated in
framing. without lessening its efficiency yet he,
(Lincoln,) would not be the man to introduce it,
IA proposed change as a new subject of agitation
&C. Further, he was not pledged against the ad-
mission of new slave States, and did not see how,
if such q State offered itself, it could be excluded,
Neither was he pledged to the abolition of slavery
in the District Of Columbia, nor could LIE consent
to il. unless it were gradual, with consent Of the
majority of the voters. and with compensation to
such of them as were unwilling to emancipute.
The question has been presented-Are these the
present vieos Of .Adrahdst Lincoln ?
In order to satisfy himself on this point, M. b.
G.. Wright of Rural, en- a gentleman who has
long been known to US, addressed to Mr., Lincoln
a letter, which we re-publish from the Rock Is
land, (Ill.) Weekly Register, a Republican paper,
where it is introduced by a letter addressed by
Mr.. b. G.. Wright, and commencing as follows;
ITO THE REPUBLICANS OF 1860"
Fellow citizens As it would be q violation OF
moral principle in me-, to vote Ter your nominee
for President and Vice President, let me frankly
give you the reasons for my withdrawal from your
party.
1T is conceded that every man owes fealty to
his party, but he is not bound to sacrifice principle
in his devotion 10 any organization.'
After discussing the subject at some length, Mr..
Wright says,
Some of my republican friends having assured
me shat their nominees were sound on the anti
slavery side of the goose and others, that they
had no other object in view, as regards slavery,
than to keep it out of the Territories, l addressed
u letter of inquiry to Hon. A. Lincoln, which, with
the reply, is appended.
In the following letter to Hon. A. Lincoln, my
sole object was to acquire such information as
would enable me conscientiously to give him my
vote, for the exalted position to which be laspires
and which no man eau reach without the consent
of the requisite number Of his fellow citizens
And that this consent should be based on q thor
ough knowledge Of the political principles by
which the aspirant intends to be governed, in the
exercise of the highly important 'srust powers
con6ded to him, will not, 1 think, be doubted by
any one, who believes that all power emcnAtes
from the people. And that we should be extreme
ly cautious in making this choice, is equally true
because the acts of the representative are, Ia fact
the acts of his constituents whose votes place hin
in power, and for whose acts they are, beyond al
question, accountable to God and their country. l
the people know what course Mr.. Lincoln will
adopt on the very highly important question ask
ed in my letter, they know moro than | do. Ever
his friends do not agree in their statements to me
Of what his course will be; but they are willing t.
take him upon trust, and risk their accountabilis,
to God, their country and posterity, for all hi
acts. This, my fellow citizens, is the difference
between us-hence the following letter;
DEAR SIR Anxious to vote understanding
for President, l address you, in good faith, the fo
lowing questions, trusting that they will be frank
I y answered,
. LIST. Will you, if elected President, take you
Q stand upon the Virginia and Kentucky Resolution
Q of 1913, against the Alien and Sedition laws, an
to remove oil danger of collision between the Fec
eral and State governments, recommend Congress
I to repeal that deliberate, dangerous, and palpabl
usurpation of undelegated power, commonly tern
0 ed the Fugitive Slave Lawf'
0 End. Will you, under the plain, positive an
: specific grant of power. TO regulate commerce
y among the several States recommend Congress
8 prohibit, by law, the interstate slave trade?
: Sd. As the Federal Constitution expressly dell
: gates to Congress the right TO exercise exclusiy
Legislation in ell cases whatsoever over the Di
tr;ct Of Columbia will you recommend Congress
. = to abolish and prohibit slavery in that Territory
18th. viii you recommend Congress to enact
law, defining what shall constitute a contempt
either House, and to protect the citizens from b.
ing immured to rot in a Republican BastleP
A usurpation Of power, infinitely more DANCE
/ Gus to liberty, than any that has preceded i.
3 now, it is to be feared, in a successful tide of @,
, pertinent. The Senate in committing Mr.. HyaI
for an alledged contempt has, beyond all question
d transcribed its powers, and established a prec,
, dent which, if not met and resisted by the SoveI
I eign States, will subject their citizens, for a
a time, to a desposism. compared with which, til
a%trocious SediliOn law of l79S, dwindles into absc
: Lutte iusignifcance. This usurpation, like th
'Sedition law can be defended upon no possibl
plea, but that the common law of England, is i
: full force and vigOr in this Union.
Yours truly, B. G. WRIGHT.
= To Hon. A. Lincoln.
SPRINoEIELD, ILL.,, June Stb, 1860.
e B. G.. WRIGHT. Esq,
S Dear Sir Your letter to Hon. A. Lincoln, {
: May 2Sth, and by which you seek to obtain hi
opinion on certain political points, has been II
Q ceived.
Q lie has received others Of a similar character
' but also a greater number Of the exactly OpposiI
/ character. The latter class besesCh him TO writ
. nothing whatever upon any point of political do
: thine. They say his positions were we'll know
when be was nominated, ard that be must ne
r now embarrass the canvass by undertaking to shi
j. Ior modifv than lie reoreta that ha cannok obIio