Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-08
Mr.. siddmra on tho Presldency.

Mr.. Giddina9 on the Presidencys
To the Editor Of ths Epening Post:
While editors aud letter-writsrs are inform
ing the people which Of the Republican candi-
dates can and which cannot be elected if placed
in nomination, desire to express my opinion
also
Since the tenth Of November have Travelled
in eleven States. "Tho old guard" the men
who have given form and vitality to the Repub'
lean party, felt perfectly free to converse with
me, where / have been, and appeared anxious
to express their. views in regard to the Presi-
Dental election. Among that class of men
there exists no doubt that the Republicans viii
elect their candidate, provided he stands out
boldly upon the Republican doctrines avOwed
at Philadelphia in l776, and repeated in 1856
Nor have they any less doubt that the Repub-
licans will refuse to so outside their own or
ranization 10 select candidate, or, if
candidate outside the party be selected, they
hold his defeat inevitable. They say there are
half million votes among the most ardent and
active Republicans, who will under no circum-
stances cast their votes for any who, by his
past life or present avOwals, does not stand
pledged TO relieve the federal government and
the people Of the free states from the crime Of
sustaining the slave trade, both foreign and do
mestic, upon the high seas, in our territories and
| in the District of COlumbia-whO will not in
the words of our platform carry out "the pri-
mary object and ulterior design of our federal
Ns,t th,
constitutional powers, the rights of all men to
life, liberty and happiness" leaving the institu
ton of slavery entiTely with the states in which
it exists. No man who denies to the people of
the tree states the same right to be entirely pu-
rifed from the guilt of slavery that the slave
states have TO sustain that institution, can
receive the vote of any true Republican.
That class of Republicans say that our doc
trines have been clearly expressed; that the
party was founded upon "selfevident truths, -
TO the support of which all true Republicans
| stand pledged; that no man can be called true
Republican who hesitstes to avow his adhe.
renee to them; that any change or modification
of those doctrines will be to the same extent a
change or modification of the party; that the
abandonment of these principles will be a dis
bOndment of the party.
This class of men speak from experience
when they say, it is thousand times better to
fail while supporting great principles, than to
elect candidate lDithOHt principles, who, when
he comes into the power, viii place in office
more of his own character, without maintaining
Republican do ctrines, and leave the party to
disband and reOrganize. They say they 4viI
not be "TyIeriSed." They are honest, they
seek no office, and they declare they will moi
be made the dupes of wire workers or office.
seekers.
They feel indignant at hearing any man who
stands upon the republican doctrines stigma
tzed as ''rGdical." They say all republican,
hold the same political faith--if one be radical
all are radical, if one be conservative, all arC
conservative.
They express equal indignation when it il
said that certain man has emancipated hiI
slaves, and is therefore a suitable candidate -
They ask, at once, is he Republican? vii
he endeayor to. emancipate the people of tht
free States from the despotism of slavery!
They regard the proposition to take candi
date whose doctrines are not fully known, o
known to be in favor of extending slavery b.
admitting more slave states-givng the slave
holders of such State, for every hundred slave
they profess to own, the same influence owe
our national and commercial interests which
sixty of our educated and liberty. loving free
men possess, as nothing mHIe nor less than al
insult to the intelligence and self-respect of tn
Republican party. For men they care but little
for principle they would sacrifice life ITSELF
Among the Seceders, the Free Presbyterians
the Wesleyan MethOdists, the Quakers, tn
New School Presbyterians, and the reIig1ou
denominations of Ohio, there are Republican
electors who will not attend an election if
. doubtful man be nominated-more than sufi
cient to render our State doubtful These mel
are actuated by religious principle, and will no
by their vote aid in the election of any mai
f who will TO any extent prostitute thepOWers o
government TO the support of slavery. Suel
is also the case in Indiana and Illinois. B,
that policy we should drive from us nearly th
whole Of the German vote. They are as relia
BILE Republicans as we have; but they are gov
erned solely by deep and ardent love of liber
ty, and will not even go to the polls if the,
! cannot thereby promote the great doctrine o
human rights
cannot but think those men mistaken VIII
think the people are to be led by the cry o
turning out the party in power, while they see
q no change of doctrine in the administration O
, government.
, Nor willthey patiently listen to the argumen
that Pennsylvania will not support the doctrine
Z Ofthe Republican party unless a candidate b
nominated whose position is conservative ,rathe
q than Republican. They say if the people of tina
State would rather remain subject to the part
] now in power than support the RepubGca
. faith, they should be permitted to suffer unit
they can be instructed in the doctrines set fort
in their State at the baptismal font of our GOV
: eminent; until they shall understand the prir
I ciples avowed by their own Franklin and hi
associates.
: 1t is my opinion that the people will take th
? subject into their own hands-will nominate
representative man, and, when nominated, wi
elect him; while editors, politicians and othe
patriots will do mole for our cause by uphold
t ing and prOmulgating our doctrines than b
selecting candidates and informing the peopl
whom they must and whom they must NJ
elect. Very respectfully,
3 J. r. GIDDNGS.
8 Aurora, Ill, February 2s.
Very FIimsy Logic.
| Ga,oEor nouoIsr in his III iuduad raD1v 4