Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-06-26

party organizations and platforms on the
altar Of his country does not deserve The sap
port and countenance of honest people
How are we to overcome partisan antipa-
thies IN the minds Of men of all parties so
as to present united front in support of
our country? We must cease discussing
party issues. make no ounsio,i. to old party
tests, hare no examinations and recrinaina-
tions, indulge In notaunis one against the
other as TO trho has been the cause of these
rou6fes
"When we shall have rescued the gov
ernment and country from its perils. and
seen its flag floating over every. inch Of
American soil. it will then be time to in
quire as to who and what has brought
these troubles upon us. When we shall
have country and government for our
children to live under in peace and hap
piness, ii shall be time for each OF us to
return to our convictions Of right and
duty Let him be marked as no true pat
riot who will not abandon all such issues
in times hike this" 80 s-
Some will tell you. perhaps. that Doug
las made speech on the 18th of March
prior. in which he saidthat "war was dis
union" 1t was evident that he had recon
sidered his position. and found that he
was in error. am not here to impeach
the motives OF any one. but it is plain that
some people are not willing that Douglas
should correct his own errors. Those
who wish to follow him in the right can
take his revised speech for their guide If
a., 4. r. i
can 60 back and take his 18th of March
speech.
The conflict of political ideas and opin-
ions among the people of the United States
during the long years of peace which pre-
ceded the breaking out OF the rebellion,
found them in the Presidential election of
1850. and at its close. classified as Repub-
licsns. Douglas Democrats. Breckinriage
Democrats, and Constitutional Union
men. or Bell & Everett men, or Ameri-
cans.
The ideas or political opinions of the
people which these organizations we're
based uron and intended to represent. may
be classified as Antislavery, Pro-slavery,
and conservative. The men of conserva-
tive opinions were not all to be fou I'd in q
separate organization by themselves. and
the extremists in like separate parties. but
the conservatives were to be found in all
parties, enrolled with men of more opin-
ions. who gave tone and character to the
parties respectively. Thus the Republi-
can party was based on anti-slavery ideas.
but was composed Of men of various shaaes.
or schools of anti-slavery sentiment. from
him who stopped at the sentiment of the
Wilmot Proviso. prohibition OF slavery
in the territories, through the intermediate
classes who favored the abolition OF slave
ry in the District Of Columbia, the inter
dic,ion Of the slave trale from State to
State. the repeal of the fugitive slave law.
&c.. mp 20 the radical aboltionists, who
maintained the right and duty of Congress
to abolish slavery throughout the Union.
The prominent cardinal principle announc-
ed by them as party. prominent among
them all, was the non extension of slavery.
The views Of the Douglas Democrats, as
expounded by their author anil generally
understood by the country. were based
upon and intended to develop principle
called popular sovereignty" aud may
not. therefore. be described either as pro-
slavery or antislavery. but the organiza-
tion included pro slavery men Of the South
perhaps some Northern men Of mild anti
slavery type.
The Breckinridge organization was bas
ed on pro-slavery ideas. and contained
within its ranks Southern pro slavery mer
and conservative men North and South.
whose opinions were founded on their in
depreciation of the Constitution and their &C
quiesce in the Dred Scott decision.
believe that the Dell and Everett part,
were in favor of curtailment of the facil
tiles for the naturalization of foreigners
and that the organization embraced men o
various shades Of opinion in relation tc
slavery. but was strongest among South
ern men friendly to that institution. Thei
published platform simply declares for tn
Union, the Constitution. and the enforce
7 ment Of the laws" To complete the emu
: meration. l ought. perhaps. to mentio,
the Southern disunionists, a class of me-
in the slave States who for years pas
have professed to regard the Union as
curse. and sought its overthrow as an OBJ
ject desirable and praiseworthy in itself
ayailing themselves of slavery agitation
and every other possible pretext to promot
: their designs.
The wicked purposes OF this class wer
heartily seconded by a northern faction 9
abolitionists. who regarded the Constitu
tioa Of the United States as a pro- SLAYER
! establishment. have consistently denounc
ed and repudia.ed its covenant with deaf
I: and an agreement with HE'LL" and sough
1 its overthrow as an obstacle in the way O
the general emancipation of the slaves G
: the Soush-the object which they hav
: cherished and steadily pursued as dut
n higher than the allegiance they owe I
their country. or the obediance they ow
t its laws.
/ These two kindred classes of men hay
e at times sought to avail themselves {
i the political organizations of the countr
1 composed chiefly of loyal men. to forwar
their special purposes and at others relic
n upon their own appropriate machinery.
a the former case the knights ofthe Golde
n Circle" and other similar orders; in I'll
: latter "The American Anti-Slavery Soc
i ety." and other kindred associations.
9 The dissolution of the Union by IL
e peaceful secession of the States, with ii
Is alternative of revolution and civil war