Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-04-06
rorihe o,rorl pemoenl.
Who Shall be PRESIDENT

is the great question before the American
people. Considering the present condition
of the United States a, home and abroad,
this question never assumed greater impor'
lance than a, this moment, At home we
see two gres, parties, nearly equal in num-
bers aud strength. The great idea Of one
I Is liberty. personal liberty. Tho ruling
idea Of the other Is slavery. Tho former
respects labor. and tho ownership Of the
person by himself, Of his muscles, his brain
and their products. Tho latter respects
capital in human ile-h, and repudiaiIns the
doctrines Of the former. maintains tina, the
great mass n mon. black and white, are or
oush, TO be slaves, owned, dir c,ed, scourg.
ed and branded. by an arisiocracy called
now " catching the manners living as they
rise" Arpioeracy. Democracy. Siaveholl.
crs and their co.workers. tho Doushfaces.
These arc now synonymous terms.
This las, clas. has had possession OF the
government Tor the Las, eish, year., and
ruled the country according TO It's p, prin'
ciplcs. Daring ,hi, time the taxes have
become enormous. Slavery extension has
been tie ruling passion at home and abroad.
Fillbuuerlng has been encouraged, and
weak but friendly nations have been op'
pressed. Tho African slave trade has in.
creased and ilourishcl. The President, the
head Of tai, party, has declared tina, the
Constitution carries and protects slavery in
all the territory Of this government, The
army. the navy. the departments Of state.
and Treasury. and Interior. are al employ.
81 to increase. ia',en and foster this pccu-
liar institution.
Tho country under mi, abnormal state Of
things has become. and j. daily becoming,
moro and more restless and disturbed than
over before. Under i, We havo had civil
war. connasra,ion and murder in our terri
tories. In many States the constitutional
guarantees arc violated, and the prison, the
cat o'ninc tails. tar and feathers. exile, and
The meane,i and most d,.po,ic Surveillance
nrs ms,el out to innocent and inofrnsiye
citizens And even ia New England, We
find men everywhere, in oci,a and out.
ready, willing anil anxious, toc,n,inuc aud
pcrp,tuatc thi. state Of things.
\ change j. required. |, mus, come, or
the tranquility Of this nation cannot be 80
cured. The arts OF Peace. Liberty. Justice
and humauitv.-noi the devices Of Slavery,
Dc.poii,n, Fillibu',ering. personal asgran'
dil,mcp,. injus,ics AMI oppression. must
be encouraged, iis,ercd and established, or
the Author Of justice and right wall sweep
w.. a, he dil tho Utilities and Invites Of old,
from tho hco OF the earth. 4 change mua
come, and think i, i, likely to come soon.
have the opinion and imprs'.ion. that tho
tune has arrived tor such chang aud
iha, tho people no, only desire IL, but that
they ,s,V unite AMI sccuro IT,
What, then, is the duty Of Republicans,
who represent tho people Il !. thgi; iu'y
in selecting a candidate Tor President, to in
quirc fir, Of all, whether no will carry out
tie principles Of personal liberty. according
TO tho constitution, fairly and justly con.
s,rucl and whether HE whole life, poll,i.
cal principles and actions, are such n. to
insure this result. II this - true Of any
truly great man, in tie Republican ranks,
north or south. n {. e. Tor President. II
nominated | can voie tor such man. -
can every Republican, who has a soul above
faction, An,sccdeuts and local prciudic,'.
For my part I believe there are enough such
men aul | am proud to say that | think
there are many.
Personal liberty. the true elevation Of
the person AMI the security OF his right.
,r,r,rrl,r,. !, then. really, the soul and
pcrs1nIicauon Of tho Republican party
The person or candidate Of the Republican
party possessing this, i. qualified to meet
the eIisencic. Of tho times, and conduct
tie forces OF freedom to victory. carr
not whether this candidate has been a Re.
publican a day or f,o ycar'-Nhothor he
has been in one organization Of the two
great parties or another. | care not ior bis
tariff. river aud harbor, his Iniian or other
local views. # be Ia. only been jus, to NIL
section. Of ,hc country. aud ready IN all his
conduct TO examine and decide according 70
the cIpciiency, necessity AMI justice Of tho
case The wises; Book yet Published. for
the benef, Of mankind or nations. has said,
" Seek We fret the Kingdom Of God, Il
government, Of love 10 man and right) and
all other things shall be added unto you"
So, believe IL the Republicans select a
candidate for President, no should DO ono
who will nor seek, and a'rdy' has sought a
government, of love TO man, one Of respect
TO life, liberty, and personal happiness, and
then he will have all other things added to
him.
Without saying ono syllable against
Mcssrs. Bate, Seward, Cameron, Lincoln.
Trumbull, King. Banks, or Fc'senden. oil
of whom, in my opinion, are ct to be Presi.
dent, according to my rresen, understand.
ing must say, that II ] were called upon
20 designate man Tor this high Office, !
should say, select Salmon +. Chase. Of
Ohio. Iflopr and patient Investigation Of
just Republican principles, ability in their
advocacy. consistency Of political views and
actions in State and nation. can entiile
man to place, and secure the fruits OF liber'
~ when success has crowned our efforts,