The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-07-12

OF the President. so as efectually to trans
fer the chief powers of the government
from the many to the few; has in
various instances endangered the equali.
ty of the coordinate branches Of the gov
ernment, by urgent efforts to enlarge the
powers of the Executive at tho expense
of the legislative department; has attemp-
ted to discredit and degrade the Judicia-
ry, by effecting to make it, at first, arbi
ter of party quarrels, to become soon and
inevitably the passive registrar of party
DEGREES.
In most, if not all these particulars, l
understand the Republicansparty (judg.
ing it BY its acts and by tho known opin.
ions Of many of its men) to be the exact
opposite of the Democratic party; and
that is the ground of my preference of
the one party over the other. And that
alone would be a sufficient reason, if I
had no other good reasons, for supporting
Mr.. Lincoln against any other man who
may be put forward by the Democr attic
party, as the exponent of its principles
and the agent to work out, in practice, its
dangerous policies.
The third party, which, by its very
formation, has destroyed the organization
of the American and Whig parties, has
nominated two most excellent men. I
know them well, as sound Statesmen and
true Patriots. More than thirty years
ago | served with them both in Congress,
and from that time to this | have always
held them in respect and honor. But
what can the third party do towards the
election of even such worthy men as these,
against the two great parties which are
now in actual contest for the power to
rule the nation 1t is made up entirely
of portions Of the disintegrated elements
of the late Whig and American parties
good materials, in the main, admit, but
quite too weak to elect any man or estab-
lish any principles. The most it can do
is, here and there in particular localities,
to make diversion in favor of the Demo
crats. In 1856 the Whig and American
parties (not forming a nelc party, but u
nited as allies with entire unanimity and
some zeal, supported Mr.. Fillmore for
the Presidency, and with what results =
We made a miserable failure, carrying no
State but gallant little Maryland. And
surely the United Wings and Americans
of that day bad far greater show of
strength and far better prospects of suc-
cess than any which belong to the Copsti.
tutional Union party now. In fact, see
no possibility of success for the third par
ty, except 10 one oontipgency-tbe de-
struction of the Democratic party. This
is contingency not likely to happen this
year, for badly as l think of many of the
acts and policies of that party, its cup is
not yet full-the day has not yet come
when it must dissolve in its own currup.
tions. But the day is coming, and is not
far off. The party has made itself en-
tirely sectional; it has concentrated its
very being into one single idea; negro
slavery has control of all it's faculties,
and it can see aud hear nothing else
zone stern, tyrannic thought. that makes
all other thoughts its slaves II
But the Democratic party still lives,
and while it lives, it and the Republican
party are the only real antagonistic pow
ers in the nation, and for the present, l
must choose between them I choose the
latter, as wiser, purer, younger, and less
corrupted by time and self-indulgence.
The candidates nominated at Chicago
are both men who, as individuals and pol
iticians, rank with the foremost of the
country. | have heard no objection to
Mr.. Hamlin personally, but only to his
geographical position, which is thought
by some to be too fer North and East to
allow his personal good qualities to exer-
else their proper influence over the ma
ton at large. But the nomination fol-
the Presidency is the great controlling
act. Mr.. Lincoln, bis character, talents,
opinions and history will be criticised by
thousands, while the candidate for the
Vice Presidency will be passed over in
comparative silence.
Mr.. Lincoln's nomination took the pub
lie by surprise, because, until just before
the event, it was unexpected But real
ly it ought not to have excited any sur
prise, for such unforeseen nominations are
common in our political history. PolE
and Pierce by the Democrats, and Har'
rison and Taylor by the Wings. were all
nominated in this extemporaueous man
ner-all of them were elected. have
known Mr.. Lincoln for more than twenty
years, and therefore have rig BIT to speak
of him with some confidence. As an indi
vidual:he has earned high reputation fol
truth, courage, candor, morals, and ami
ability, SO that, as a man, he is most trust
worthy. And in this particular, be ii
more entitled to our esteem than some
other men, his equals, who had far bette1
opportunities and aids in early life. Hi
talents and the will to use them to tb'
best advantage, are unquestionable; an'
the proof is found in the fact that, in ev
cry position in life, from his humble be
ginning to his present well-earned eleva
ton, be has more than fulfilled the bes
hopes of his friends. And DOW, in th
full yigor of his manhood, and in the hon