Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-03-10
Mr.. LinCom's Position on the
slavery Question Three Years
Ago.

Ago.
Abraham Lincoln was inauguratcd Presi-
dent of the United States, March 4, 1861,
Three years have elapsed since that event.
Civil war then threatened the country; in a
few weeks it came with all its horrors. Ii
has continued with accumulated horrors to
the present time, and is likely, under the
policy and management of Lincoln and his
scycophants, to continue FOR generation to
come.
On the 4th of March, 1861, in several
States ordinances of secession from the I'M
ion had been passed, and so-called indie
pendant Southern Confedcracy had been
formed. The gravest apprehensions of an
immediate outbreak of civil war existed
throughout the country. Under these cir
cumstances all minds naturally awaited with
intense anxiety the declaration of policy in
the inaugural of the new President. 1t
came at last, aud while it satisfied no one
seemed to assume conservative and pacific
tone.
AS Mr.. Lincoln is now an admitted candi-
date for reelection, it is due to ourselves
and the country to compare his course since
his auguration into his present position with
the principles laid down, at the outset of his
Presidential career, for his guidance. To do
this fully our readers should carefully per-
use his inaugural address But one of the
more important features in that document
we now propose to notice briefly.
In the outset of his address, Mr. Lincoln,
in defining his exact position in regard to
slavery in the States, quoted the following
from one of his own speeches II have no
purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere
with the institution of slavery i'll the States
where it exists" and Immediately added /:
81 believe have no right to do so; and |
have no inclination to do so" lie then
said, as if to put his position on the slavery
question beyond all doubt or cavil
Those who nominated and elected ine did it
with the full knowledge that had made this
and many similar declarations, and had never
recanted them. And, more than this, they
placed in the platform, for my acceptance, and
| as Il law to themselves and to me, the clear and
emphatic resolution which now read
the ri@hts Of the states. and espccialiy the right
ofeach state to ordcrand control its own domes.
tic institutions according to its own Judgement
exclusively, is essential to that balance of pow
| er on which the perfection and endurance Of ON
political fabric depend and we denounce th,
any State or Territory, no matter under what
pretcxt, as among the gravcst Of crimes"
81 now reiterate these sentiments" said
Lincoln three years ago How long did he
abby them? Not many months, for tn,
radl Disunion fanatics soon persuaded
him that, as 'heir to the aspirations o
John Brown" there was military neces
sity'' for his taking from the people Of Ger
tain States the control of their domestic in
stitutions, such as slavery, religion. the elec
tive franchise, &c, and assuming tohmsel
exclusively their regulation or abolishmen
altogether He is still under the same in
fuence, and is seeking through its aid tC
make sure Of second four years term o
Office. - Statesman.