The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-08-16
A Word 10 Rell.rverett Men.

We haVe, in Fairfield county, a very
few men. honest in sentiment and deter.
mined in purpose, who tavor the election
Of Bell and Eyerott. We desire to pro.
pound few questions to this class OF our
fellow citizens ard hope they may be well
considered.
You who are now acting with that par
ty, have. most of you. perhaps all. been
"Whigs" and now claim 10 be "Amerl
eAns." You have done service in both
those "orgsniGaiiOns," bat they are gone,
and in view Of this and in view Of tho
crisis that is now upon the land, we ask
yOu to shuttle of your prejudicea and sur
vey the battle ground of "Novembsr"--
weigh well the issues and obey your con.
yictons.v
Is II not true that the people are divid-
ed upon the slavery question: Is it no,
trus that this is the only issue before the
people? Is it not true that the Democrat.
10 party Of the South--respectible in men.
numbers and power--seek to extend and
perpetuate the institution Of slavery? Is
it not true that this party claim that
slavery is carried into the territories by
the Constitution Of the United States, and
that the federal government 10 pledged to
it's protection" Is it not true this same
party claim that neither the Congress- OF
the United States, tie Territorial LeRisla.
ture, nor the people OF the Territories can
exclude slavery during the territorial ex.
istsnce?
IL it not true, on the other hahd, that
the Republican party, numbering more
than one hall Of the voters OF the nation,
stands forth 10 meet these issues fayoring
free territories and free laber--nothing
more and nothing less? claiming that the
Constitution is not law for slavery
that the condition OF the territories ID flee.
dom, not slavery. Candid minds will con.
ccd these to be the paramount Issues of
the day. That none other divide the pub
lie mind that they must be settled; that
they are now in process oI settlement. -
WhFRE DO YGu STAND? Are you for slavs
ry or againSt hS Are you for free labor
or for slave laborS II wont do for you 10
say you are for neither. The issue is
made up and you are called upon to act
If. in this struggle, you oppose the Re.
publican orgauiSalion--by that much you
favor the extension of slavery. 1t WON'T
do for you TO say you ignore these issues
You cant ignore them; they are upon usj
must bo met and adjusted It won't do
for you to plead your platform of glitter
ing generalites, Of empty nothingness'
"the Union, tho Constitution, and enforce
mcnt OF the laws These we ero all in
favor of wo are all for tho Union, all for
the Constitution, all for .he enforcement
of tho laws. The question s one of con.
structiOu Of your platform, The issue is,
does your platform, (the Constitution.
carry slavery into the territories and 6x il
there beyond the CONTROL Of the people,
beyond the control Of the territorial legis.
lature. beyond the oontro. of Congress. -
WHERE DO you sTANp2 You say you are
"old Wings" But is rot the Wing party
dead? and has not your party expressly
ignored ils great principle2 If Mr.. BELL
was at old Wig; WAS not Mr., LlNcoLN?--
as able, as patriotic as devoted, as hon
est as he-and mas not the Republican
party of to day taken from the grave OF
the gallant CLAY all the issues that lived
after him, and are they not bearing them
on TO victory? Why, then. not cut lOose
from your prejud,ces and rally at once tc
thtlr support
You say you are Americans. Blu, il
the BELL 4 EVERETT arty the American
party? Do they stand on the Baltimore
Platform Of 'b6? lIavo thoy not ignored
its prinoipes3 have they not endorsed tn,
laws Of the country as they are, aud Will
them the law permitting foreigners TO be
come naturaliEed after residence OF fiv,
years. Does the Republican party Dc
moreY You are mistaken in the belle
, that you are clinging to tho "Americal
0 principle" There is no American party
it's disintegratiOu is more complete thar
( that Of its predecessor. the whig party
a But what do you hope to accomplish b,
. your support Of "BEtLS" You know hi
o election is impossible. You know that n
n candidate save "LINcoLS" stands the re
N notost chance Of an election by the pee
# pie; and you know, equally well, that job
"Belp can by no possible means conlrC
:, more than two Of the seventeen States nee
J. eSsaTy to choice If the election shoul
!. 60 70 the House. (nnl4ss You are in