The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-06-08
Mr.. lincoln on the "Irrepressible Con
Aiot


Before it was settled that Mr.. Seward
would not be the Republican nominee for
the Presidency, our opponents were wont
TO attribute TO him alone the idea Of an
"irrepressble conflict" How bitterly
was be assailed for simply asserting, what
the words and acts of his enemies con.
s,antly verified, and what no man can dis
prove, that the agitation which prevails
in our land, is but an inevitable result OF
the inherent an,agonism Of the forces Of
Freedom and Slavery. But, now that
The Chicago Convention has done its work,
the Democratic press has suddenly trans
ferred the honor Of originating the "irre-
pressible conflict" from Mr.. Seward to
Mr.. Lincoln. 1t tappears that, in address.
ing the Republican State Convention Of
Illinois, in June, 1858. fbefore MIR. Sew
ards famous Rochester speech was de.
livered,) Mr.. Lincoln, speaking Of the ex.
lsting agitation, said {: r
I'm my opinion, il will not cease until a
| crisis shall havo been reached and passed.
| "A house divided against itself cannot stand.
| | believe this government cannot endure
permanently half slave and half free. do
not expect the Union 10 bo dissolyed-I do
not expect tho house to fall--but do ex-
pect it will cease to bo divided. 1t will
become all ono thing or all the other -
Either tho opponents Of slavery will arrest
the further spread of il, aud place il where
tho public mind shal rest in tho belief that
il is in the course Of ultimate extinction, or
it's advocates will push it forward until il
shall become alike lawful in all tho States
old rs we'll us new-North as well as South.
Our opponents are welcome to all the
capital they can make out Of such extracts
as the above. We shall be thank full, il in
this Presidential contest. anything can in.
duce them to aid in circulating the truth
As Republican, We rejoice that in Mr.
Lincoln we have standard. bearer who
is a faithful representative of our princi'
pies. Our greatest fear before the meet.
ing Of the Chicago Convention. was. tina,
one would be forced upon US. who would
either fail to understand he issue Of the
contest. or lack the ability and courage te
meet it fully and fairly. But. happily, all
such fear was dispelled by the nomination
OF Abraham Lincoln. Hear him define
the issue between the friends and oppo.
nents Of Slavery: .. .a s.r- a.'~
"If Slavery is right, AL words. acts. laws
and constitutions against i: are themselye,
wrong and should be silenced and swep
away. II il is right, we cannot Justly OBJ
ject 10 its na,;onality-its universally =
II it is wrong, they cannot justly insis
upon its e1,ension--its enlargement. All
they ask we could readily grant, il we
thought Slavery right: all we ask, they
could as readily grant, II they thought il
wrong TAeir thinking il ri9ht, and ou,
thinking it pron9, IS The precise fact upon
which depends The ,chols controversy
Thinking it right, as they do, they are no
TO blame for desiring its full recognition
as being right; but. thinking i, wrong, a,
we do, can we yield to them Can W.
cast our votes with their view. and agains
our own ? In view OF our moral. social
and political responsibilities, can we dc
this 2"
} The position OF Abraham Lincoln, ir
: regard to the only issue Of this campaign
being thus clearly defined who can doubt
that il will be sustained by tie people 2