The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-05-31
The rsepunlican crnrieatc.

RMe kNepuDsuGxEb SshsssssSadtS'
There is that in the private ani personal,
as well as in the political history of Abra-
ham Lincoln. which give p'rtliat proprie-
ty to his selection as the PreSi 'antial cant
date of the Republican party The great
political question upon which tht party has
been formed relates to the sort of settlers FOR
whose use the vet unorgtnized Territorie
of the United States ihall be reversed. Shall
all these Territories BE- thrown wide
open to Slavery, or shall that institution be
strictly limited to the States in which it al
ready exists? Shall free labor already be
assured in I'll the remaining Territories OF
the United States, that same field of unre-
stricted expansion, which, by virtue of the
Ordinance of 1897, it obtained in all the
country Northwest of Ohio, or shall it be
subjected to all those restrictions, moditica-
tons and degradations under which it strug-
yles in the Slaveholdinr States.
In selecting Mr.. Lincoln as the Presiden-
tlal candidate of the Republican party, the
Chicago Convention hold up to view, in his
person, the bene iccnt operation of the social
system of which they are the champions
and the advocates His case is sufficient to
show that the existing conflict is not sec
tional contest between the North and the
South but contest between the few vino
are rich enough to own or buy slaves, and
the great mass of white freemen South as
well as the North who must commence life
with nothing but their own labor to de-
pend upon. Mr.. Lincoln was born in a
Slaveholding State; but his father FORUM
atelv for him, perceiving the superior adj
vantages which the free labor system offered
to poor men with growing families, emigra-
ted while he was yet a child, to INDIANA
Left to SEEK and make his own fortune,
with no other means to commence with
than labor ofhis own hands, Mr.. Lincoln re-
moved to Illinois. By steady labor and
persevering industry, he opened the way for
putting TO use the talents with which ma
ture had blessed him, and possessing, be-
size talent, high mora. principle, while he
rose to eminence as a lawyer, he secured, a
high degree, the confidence of the commun-
ty in his patriotism as citizen and his
integrity asa man.
It is thrown at him rs slur by some of
the Democratic prints that until recently he
has not occupied CONSPICUOUS political po-
sition Had his ambition been as I'M
principlnd and reckless as that, for instance
of Mr.. Douglas, he might easily have made
himself quite us conspicuous. But he scorned
to sacrifice his views Of tn, public interes-
or his own self respect to political promo
ton. He hal no disposition to play the
part ola demagogue, or tn elevate himself
to Office by panlcrin to the passions and
prejudices Of the hour. Finding himself in
minority, he hal the courage and princi.
pie to adhere to his, convictions and to wait
patiently till the time came when men of his
views and character were needed in the po-
litical field.
The great question having been raised ,f
the repeal Of the Missouri prohibition and
the opening of the Territories to slavehol-
ding, he at once assumed conspicuous po-
sition as a leader of the Free Labor party.
Anxious, however, for the cause. and not
himself, he exerted his influence to secure
for another that seat in the Senate Of the
United States in which his friends wished
not fill the seat in the Senate occupied by
Mr.. Douglas, it is due not to any popular
majority in favor Of his rival, but to a dis
trIcting system IN accordance with slave
holding ideas, by which minority of the
people of Illinois chose a majority of the
members Of the State Legislature.
Instead however, of being an objection,
Mr. Lincoln's comparative freshness in po-
litcal life is decided RECOMMENDATION. His
nomination was largely due to the conviction
on the part of the delegates, that while he
was steady, consistent, original Republi-
can possessed of those qualities of frmness
disinterestedness and sagacity e'snetial to
the successful discharge of the duties of the
Presidential Office, he was also unincumber-
ed by that weight of prejudice, and that
still heavier responsibility for the sins of
others, SIRE to be fastened upon the shoulders
of every man who occupies for long time
the position ola political leader Duly ~ Y.
Tribune.