The weekly Butte record., 1863-08-15
Radical Republican Ideas.


But it needs very little examination to de-
termine that the most radical and extreme
men have control of the party of our political
opponents. There is an irrepressible conflict
going on in our country. A house divided
against itself cannot stand. This Government
cannot endure part free and part slave" was
the startling declaration of the President of
the United States, short year before his ele-
vation to supreme power, and it must be con
feSsed that history will accord to him faith.
full adherence, while in office, to the views he
entertained as private citizen. That the
sentiment so uttered by the present head of
the Government aud of the Republican party
is in direct antagOniSm to the Constitution and
the Government. as our fathers formed them
that 1t is inimical TO States rights, and sug-
geStive of the Capitalization of power. to the
injury of local governments; that it evnces a
spirit Of dissatisfaction with the peace and
prosperity then enjoyed, and fosters and en-
courages sectional prejudices, cannot be de-
MED. Bot. to the credit of the conservative
men in the Republican party. it must be ad-
mitted. their last Presidential candidate was
more ultra in his declaration of this and sim,
lar sentiments than the platform Of his party.
Those known sentiments of their candidate.
however, drew TO bis support all the leading
anti slavery men of the country. who had be.
fore refused to yield cheerful obedience to
the laws of Congress for the return of fugitives
from labor, on the principle that men of SINH
lar views are irresistibly drawn together with
the power of grayitation itself. Nor can it be
denied that the pertiuacity with which Mr..
Lincoln, in bis official acts, has adhered to his
previously entertained opinions, has proven
satisfactory to the radical anti-slayery men of
the country, who all supported him, aud have
ever since thronged the White House at
Washington. Nor can it be controyerted
that, either through a pretended or real mill
tary necessity, Unconstitutional aud revou-
tionary), the head of the Republican party
has brought the whole Of bis party to concur
iu the practical application of bis irrepressi-
bic conflict doctrine to the abolition of sla.
very. The emancipation proclamation " has
become the creed of the Republican party. and
the patriotism of every citizen is denounced,
who disSents from the legality or wisdom of
the measure. Sectional Abolitionism is en-
enthroned in power at Washington, as fulIv as
sectional Secession is at Richmond. 1t is the
mission Of the Democracy to wrest the scepter
from each, and restore distracted country to
It's former peace and prosperity.
1t is not to be denied that the Republican
party, at least the most intelligent of them.
claim the distinguished reputation of Refer.
mers-ot improving upon the work of the "a
theirs in the construction OF our social and poll
teal institutious,-assertiug that the fathers
of the republic failed to make the people of the
different States homogeneous. To correct this
defect in the political Institutions of the coun
try, is the assumed mission of their party; it
is implied 10 the declaration We have quoted
from Mr.. Lincoln. The idea is that the per
lection Of political institutions requires the peo-
pie to agree in their social habits. domestic
relations aud systems of labor in all the States
or local governments. If this is necessary. as
is claimed, to the very existeuce of the Gov
ernmeut. it is strange that the eminent men of
the Revolution should have overlooked it or
if such correspondence and agreement are ever
essential 10 the happiness of the people. then
did our fathers exhibit surprising lack of
political wisdom. They provided for perfect
similarity in political institutions throughout
the States. requiring of every State in this
Union a Republican form OF Government !"
but they did not suppose that identity in reli-
gious opinions. (which they regarded as a pri-
vste, personal matter between the Individual
and bis Creator). nor even in social habits. co.
cial relations. or systems OF labor il the pro
Guctlon OF utility, was necessary to the strength
or stability OF the General Government. With
these views of the founders of the American
| nion the Democracy concur. II our fathers