Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-04-19
A LETTER FROM ELISHA ERWIN.

Ma. EDrron:-i have been looking over your
criticism on my communication on the fth resolu
ton passed by the Republicans Of Marshall Co.
am really gratfed to see the construction the
framcrs Of the resolution put ON it. / am willing
to give them all the latitude in the bounds of rea-
son, for feel greatly pleased thta they give it
a construction so different from my understanding
OF it at first. But, let if that resolution and
the Republican Convention that passed it stands
free from all responsibility aidcrs and abettors
in enabling the tyrant to oppress his poor crouch
ing victim. You saw, Mr.. Editor, that say the
Constitution is a slave holding document. And
pray what do you Republicans say? The same,
with ono or two exceptions, at most. They say
the Fugitive Slave Bll of So which gave the slave
Up to the master was constitutional; they say the
constitution gives the South the benefit of the
three lths representation rule; they say the con-
stitut;on requires the General Government to put
down all instructions in the States, and they say
if the slaves rise to throw off the oppressors yoke
it is insurrection, and that the freener of the
North bound by the constitution to aid in sup
pressing it when called on. These are some OF the
objections have to the Republican party. am
for absolving the General Government from the
responsibility of aiding abetting slavery in any
manner. Where it is established by State law |
think il nothing but fair they should have all the
profits AMI benefits, if there any, and its curses
also, and free US from all responsibility of sustain
ing it. The Republican party as party, believe,
admit slavery to be a wicked system, and acknowl-
edge what Thomas jefferson said to be true: that
one hour of American slavery was more intolera-
Die than ages cf oppression such as our fathers re
beled against. They also admit these truths to be
self evident that all men are created equal; that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain in
alienable rights that among these life, liser
ty and the pursuit of happiness, and that to
these rights governments are instituted among
men, deriving their just powers from the consent oi
the governed. These are golden sentiments, but
what voice has The slave in enacting the laxs by
which h, is govefnedl
Now hear what further those old Revolutionary
patriots said: "Whenever any form Of Govern
men. becomes destructive Of these ends it is the
right of the people to alter abolish it and to nst
tute new government, laying its foundation or
such principles and organizing It's powers in sucl
form as to them shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed will
dictate that governments long established, should
not be changed for light and transient causes, and
accordingly all experience hath shosn that mankind
are more disposed to suffer, while evils are suffer
able, than to right themselves by abolishns the
forms to which they are accustomed But when q
long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing in
variably the same object, cvinces desire to hold
them perpetually as slaves. and support the worst
despo;sm that the shone on it is their du-
ty to throw off such government and it is our du-
ty to help them in all reasonable ways that can,
and provide guards for their future security
This is what our fathers advised. Now, let us be
placed in the position of the slaves and think VIC
would answer that question. Oh. but, / hear some
Of the people say, they are negroes God says he
has made Of one blood all the nations that dwell on
the face Of the whole earth, and when we under
take to degrade and abuse the black nan on ac-
count of his color VIC undertake to find fault with
the Maker of all things, for he says he made all
things, and made them good-vcry good. / know
some men say they are not human beings. This
class Of men is not worth while to meet with ar
gument, for they would not appreciate it. But the
Republicans as party say they are human beings,
and are responsible 70 both God and man. There
are many in the Republican ranks who are noble
men and desire the freedom Of the slave, yet, for
the sake of Office say some things that are very
detrimental to the cause of universal liberty. Ed
ward Everett made speech in Congress more
than twenty years since in which he said he was
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