Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-09-25
TO the Voters OF the Tcuth Com
grcssiOunl ID District of indiana.

My name is before you as candidate
to represent the people of this District in
Congress.
Having no political opinions but what
are sincere convictions, and none which !
desire to conceal or fear to express, | have
deemed proper, in this public way, brief
ly to state my position. | do this be-
cause o, much misunderstanding and
Misrepresentation already existing, and
for the reason that, in the general canvass
Of the District which | propose to make
before the election, many voters will not
hear me, and others may from pref" dice
or other causes, misconceive and misrep-
resent what | may say; and for the fur
.her reason, that, in four counties of the
District, the party represent has no
newspaper organ to express the views OF
odvocate the claims Of its candidates. !
therefore make this public record of my
opinions SO that every man so inclined
may have an opportunity, at his leisure,
to know for himself what my views are.
l. | base my efforts and hopes for sue.
cess in this canvass upon the Intelligence
and patriotism OF the people. | have
never been a politician in the common
sense OF the term, and am therefore no
adept in the arts, or tricks, or schemes
Of politicians. ask no man to vote for
me from any Other than honest and pat
riotic motives. if the principles and poll
icy | advocate arc right and the people
believe / will faithfully sustain them |
look confidently for their support-other-
wise, not.
2 | am Union man. / believe in
and honor the Federal Union as the true
palladium of American liberty. | be-
ieve in and honor the Federal Consttu-
ton as the wisest and best system of gov
ernment for the people of the United
States, for all time-aud, as an Ameri-
can citizen have no higher hope or de.
sire that than the Federal Union, under the
existing Constitution, may be restored
anu preserved.
3. do not believe in the heresy of
secession. do not approve it. | do
not sympathize with it any form, nor
with its leaders or supporters. l. regard
the attempted secession and the rebellion
VI tiiC h'pullitIu DlulcS uOW Ill ICNDIt, u
an act of suicidal folly and political
dye, deserving the just condemnation of
the civilized world.
4. Believing the Southern rebellion, or
attempted revolution to be an uniustfablc
act of treason against the rightful au-
,hority OF the Federal Constitution and
laws, | also believe that SO long as that
4 - .olf -, Il,
10 resist or destroy the Federal Govern
ment, it is the highest duty Of that Gov
ernment to resist and put down the trea.
son by the whole material power o the
Federal Union. Against those who levy
war upon the Federal Government while
in the exercise of rightful and Constitu-
tional authority, would bring to bear the
power of earnest and heartfelt fidelity
Therefore. as member of the National
Congress, | would do all in my power to
| hold up and strengthen the hands Of the
Federal Administration, by giving to it
all neediul aid in men and money, and
leagle authority, TO PUT DOWN THIS
REBELLION and | would not inter
pose tactious or partizan opposition t.
any measures of the Administration Tor
that end. AT the same time, as n faith
lul representative Of the people, | would
feel it my duty to watch and guard the
Constitution OF my country SO that
amid the assaults of treason, and the
eXcitements of partizan feeling and the
pelils of gigantic iratricidal war; and
the temptations of great military power
hone of its sacIel principles should be
invaded, nor any of its vital provisions
be overthrown. lwould stand firmly and
fearlessly by the Constitution as the hope,
and the strength, and surest protection of
all the people. | desire to see no new
Union nor new Constitution-the old are
good enough for me.
B. am not the advocate or apologist
OF human slavery in any form, and my
instincts and the plejudices of my educa-
ton, are all against negro slavery of the
Southern States. At the same time, am
free to say that / have no personal or
practical experience of either the good
or evil of it. The true relations of the
white and black races on this continent is
Ioi'tiNoi anu Sociai Plopiclh W uc sOIN-
ed, not by the crimes and horrors of civ
il war, but by the wisdom of large ex-
perience, governed by intelligent and
christian humanity, and not by fanatical
zeal. | believe the Federal Constitution
recognized the fact and legality of do
mestic negro slavery, and left it, as To-
cal or domestic civil relation, to be con
trolled by the pc ople Of the several States,
without authority in the Federal Govern
ment to interfere with it, either to estab-
lish, prohibit, or abolsh it. | have, there
fore, regarded as dangerous TO the nation.
al peace and prosperity, all attempts to
make this domestic civil relation of ne
gro slavery question Of national poll
tics in any form. Federal intervention,
and all political intervention in the free
States, with the question, have excited
sectional feeling, stimulated sectional
hatred, and resulting in the formation of
sectional parties, the natural result of
which has been an attempt to break up
the Federal Union and to bring upon the
country the great calamity Of civil war,
witc any consoling prospect to either the
white or African races. The whole sub
ject of slavery should be left to the op.
Grafton of moral and economical inAu.
ences, operating freely and gradually up
on the minds of the people of the slave
/ Ia ~.