, 1860-08-27

nen Nf. Lucoln was nominated, the nro-
slavery press broke out into chorus Of lies
IN regard TO his personal history and political
record. His assai]ants commenced as they
hoped to 60 on; aud, ater the modern Demo-
crate fashion, set out, first to lie, and after
ward invent or manufacture the proof In
furl}4craaca Of this policy, his career was mi
nusely Investigated. Spies from the pro.elav.
CIT camp hung about Springfield for weeks.
l'loushing around in the grogshops and pro.
slavery committee rooms, in hope Of turning
up tome fact, or some old and wel-nigh forgot
ten etcry, that could be used to his discredit.
They went to D,catur, where he once lived.
aud searched there, and even to Indiana, which
he LEFT when boy, where their inquiries we're
rsne*ed with such great particularly that
nothing escaped them. But his reputation as
MIA proved to be proof against all their On.
delvors. Lies hurled at him would not stick.
They 1obounded and injured those by whom
they were sent more than him at whom thev
were aimed. lie stands to.d-y unscathed by
their attacks. He is one Of the few men
against whom malice may do it's worst, in
vain
Ills enemies have had no better SUCCESS
with the political record that he has made
%ince he hogan his public life. That is as blame
less a. lis personal history. He has pro-
gre7acd in the path in which he set out, but he
has III: changed lie commenced his career
Al an ahtl-slavcry man Of moderate viewa, and
be IS that yet. He was sent to the legislature
as an honest man, npoa whom his constituents
could rely for Gaith(ul discharge Of the duties
contiaed to lin; a1d there is not q soul bold
enough to sag that he then, or has since, be.
trayed lis trusts Hs early acquired the rep.
ntatioa Of acting upon conviction, rather than
1mpnlse-upon principle, rather than passion.
Al there is not in his life an act which proves
taat reputation undcserved. He was soon dis
tlngulshed for the purity and unsel6 shness Of
his political ambition. There is not m init.
NATION, even, that he has ever mined at any Of
the saort-roads to power aud place. What hs
has got, he has earned. What be has sacri.
nce5, would have made many lesser men rich.
bu1 h's purity, his devotion to principle.
and his known conservatism have mt s;.
4enccl his enemies. What they lack. -to.
make GU. their case, they invent. It is
enough for them that he does not believe in !
the divinity Of human slavery. Upon that
they build. Out Of his few fundamental ideas
every where expressed in his speeches. Lis
legislative acts and his private conversation.
they have reared and attributed to him n m. |
ltlcal system that Garrison or John Brown
night dislike 10 adopt. His conviction tba,
fsa'ery IS wrcns, al injustice alike t. bond.
men aud masters, is received rs sufficient cv;.
dencc that, as President, he must necsssarilv
use the power OF tho Federal Government in
1e''Arce Of the Constitution, which be will
'w'ar to support, to invade the States and mt
slavery down. His idea that Congress nav
'roal''it the extension Of the institution ;nto
'be public domain is accepted as a guaranty
nat ile must War Upon it where it exists =
10 saact'on Of local Law; and pluns~ 3
ouDt'y INTO bloody s's:fe to root upt' . - @ 'ns
Ne" ~ ~ cas- no direct concern.
:nco Of the nomination at the h.nd. ~ ~.
vho iAil TO see either Dem .cr,or -. ct.;.,:
.nity in the buying and selling Of human h..
p2s, is, with bis r .yilers. nroof that he -
1eepl5 implicated n all treasonablc schemes
u Whatever so It, past, present or to come.
LIS 'e'''' does not justify any one Of tho
:naFses' His speeches, every where read,
sVer9 "!,erc admired, and, among all conscrv-
Atss', men, heartily endorsed, are searched in !
vain for the proofs. They contain arguments
calmly aud dispassiona1ely presented, evi.
eences Of sincere patriotism and broad and |
comprehensive views Of public policy:
indications Of the conserya. |
tian and moderation with which c1-
ls;ing troubles Of sectional character are !
regarded; but no: word dictated by treason,
by hate BY anger, by envy, or by prejudice.
They are models, which prove that he has not
= hope that is not for the perpetuity Of Tho
Unioa o: these states, for the prosperity Of all
their citizens, for the supremacy Of tho law, and
for the inviolab;lity Of existing obligations Of
Al interstate or National character. Butthsy
zrs poisoned for tho Democracy and the South
by the fact that they contain the sentime nts
That # ashington uttered, and that Jefferson
aud his SUCCESSORS, down to the era of poor
Pierce, emphasized AID enforced They e1.
press a love lor liberty, which promises Of f.
1elity to the Constitution do not excuse.
They characterize Slavery as thing to b.
cared and avoided in the elaboration Of Dol.
CT which shall b. the law Of millions yet un-
,orn; and for this his as.ailanls have no such
7ord Is pardon. IN their hate Of Freedom in
he South, they see his direct war upon Slave.
; in the Sans plaza. In thsir passions and
eep a1d bitter preIudiost, they sss and at
1cll to him qualities that would mako him oc-
.sionally disleyal and always unaats. In ,
lelr treason 10 tho will Of tbs rn,jority; they
lis disregard Of ,hs rights Of ths minority.
| their desire 10 extend the horrors Of ssrvl- !
d., they ase n;ln breaking up ths Union to =