The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-04-11

The Duty Of Republicans.
BELFAST, March lG, ISG

BELFAST, March 1G, 1861.
Mr.. j. i. BOARDMAN-Sir. am not
in the habit Of writing for the public
eye, but there appears to be such de-
sire on the part of the Democratic par
ty for the Republicans to back down
from all their principles, that being at
leisure I thought / would write a few
thoughts on the subject. 1t is hard to
know what is the duty Of the Republi
can party at this juucture Of our ma
tional affairs 1t is a great and moment
Gus question / believe it is the wish Of
all true-hearted Republicans to do their
duty, if they can be made to see what
that duty is.
The Republicans are urged TO sur
render their principles and abandon the
Chicago Platform, in order that the
Union may be saved. If the Union
could be saved on such terms it would
be Of no value after il was saved IL
would be saved by virtual admission
to the world that our boasted Demo
cratic form Of government was a failure
and a sham The foundation princi
/ pie Of a popular form Of government
such as ours, is that the people shall rule,
and by "people" mean, a Dtqjority, not
a minority Tho theory Of our govern
ment contemplatcs that there will be
differences between the people of our
common Country, but in the settlement
Of those differences itcontemplates the
use Of ballots instead of bullets: but aft
er resort has been made to the ballot
box, and victory perches on tho banner
OF one class Of contestants, if the party
that is beaten rebels, and threatens tc
resort to bullets, and break up the gov.
ernment unless an abandonment of theil
principles is made by the successful par
ty, then democracy is a failure and oul
form Of government will soon becom,
a kissing and a by-word.
No true Republican has any surrend
er to make of his principles unless h.
can be convinced that they are wrong
d We of the Republican party lore thu
Union and are willing to do anything
to save it, except to renounce fdelit,
to our convictions of righL The at
tempt to nationalizc slavery on the par
of the Democratic party was the caus,
b of the formation Of the Republican par
j ty. When people call on the Republi
cans to give up their principles in or
der that the Union may be saved, the,
forget what sort Of a government WI
have. Our opponents are at liberty t.
ply us with arguments, for the purpost
Of inducing US to join their party, anc
all weakened Republicans are wei
come to do so, and if our enemies viii
over to their ranks enough to beat III
5 at the next election, then there will b,
, no use for them to call upon us to "mak
CONCESSIONS They will have reverse,
the verdict of the people, and they car
throw up their hats and cry out again
"Long live King Cotton and his slav
S Sambo." and We give fair notice that if
S they want votes to protect slavery, the,
must get them by making their OWL
party larger and not by expecting tina
Republicans who believe in their prin
4 oipIes, are going to turn round and hel
. carry out slavery principles becaus
the pro.slavery party are not stronl
enough Of themselves. Let every tu
stand on its own bottom, say 1.
IF Republicanism wins by majorit
p Of the people going for our principles
D then we expect our principles carried gu
4 in the administration of the govern
ment. If our opponents beat us at tn
, polls then VIC shall expect their princi
Piles carried out and we will not threat
t en- to break up the government unles
- it is administered in accordance wit
our principles after they had been re
jectod at the polls. subscribe mysel
. A REPUBLICAN.