Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-07-20

the lower walks of life, day laborer and
poo1 would ever stand much
chance to get up very high in the world
At last one day at home, we heard that
the Republican State Convention was to
be held at Decatur, aud that they were go
ing for Abe for President. As soon as /
found this out, went into town and told
friend Of Abe's that, as great and honest
merit was at last to be rewarded in the per
son Of my friend, Mr.. Lincoln, by the Re
publican party, l thought Of the hard and
trying struggles of his early days, and rec
ollecting the rails we had made together
thirty years ago, made up my mind to pro-
sent some of them to that Convention as n
testimonial of the beginning Of one of the
greatest living men of the age, believing
they would speak more in his praise than
any orator could, and honor true labor more
than the praise of men or the resolutions Of
Conventions. On our way to get the rails,
l told this friend Of old Abe that il Abe
should be nominated for President would
vote for him; everybody knows what he
has been, and rejoice that live to give
this testimony to his goodness and honesty,
and hope shall live to vote for him fol
President Of tho United States next No
vember
Is there anything wrong in thisl Who
ought to refuse to vote for as good and a;
great a man as he isl 1 know that in vo
ting for him vote with the Republican
party, and will be considered as adopting
its principles, and as now understand then
[ see no good reason why l may not do so
our own party is divided, and we have nc
Solomon to tell who shall take the child
Slavery has divided the Democratic party
nobody can blame Republcanism for the
destruction that came upon US at Charleston
slavery has disunited us-it has united the
Republican party; if there is any gooC
about the question they have it all, and W.
have the trouble. If / understand Mr.
Douglas now, he occupies position on thi
question just as distasteful to the South a
Mr.. Lincoln does-with this clear difference
the South seem to understand Mr.. LincolnI
position better than his, and to respect it
great deal more, and am convinced if Mr.
Douglas does not reflect the nigger, he doe
the mulatto, and one brings just as much il
Mobile as the other, and stands as high il
the market
Many of my Democratic neighbors will
say have done wrong, but l know there
are many who would do as l have done
were it not they do not feel willing to break
away from party ties and to encounter the
stalk" of old friends. As long as 1 have
"Old Abe" to lead me know l shall new
er go very far from right. Should he bc
elected and find any trouble in steering hi
new boat, he has only to remember how We
used to get out of hard places by rowing
straight ahead and never by making short
turns. The tallest oaks in the forest have
fallen by his giant arm; he still wields a
tremendous maui; out of the largest timber
he can make the smallest rails; l have seer
him try tough cut and fail once; the sec
ond trial he never failed to use it up
Though not a very beautiful symbol of hon
esty, l think the rail fitting one, and meal
to present Abe with ono of his own make
should he be elected, in the city of Wash
ington, on the day of his Inauguration, tc
be kept in the White House during his ad.
ministration. JOHN HANKS.