The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-03-23
Mr.. LincOIn's Position on the
Slavery Question Three Years
Ago,

uT. LbICOthS EOSfNVA Vh tue
Slavery Question, Three Years
Ago. t....'s..
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated
President of the United States March
4, 1861. Three years have elapsed
since that event. Civil war then
threatened the country; in few weeks
it came with all it's horrors. 1t has
continued with accumulated horrors to
the present time, and is likely, under
the policy and management Of Lin
coin and his sycophants, to continue
for generation to come.
On the 4th of March, 1861, in sew
eral States ordinances Of secession
from the Union had been passed, and
a so-oalled independent Southern
Confederacy had been formed. The
gravest apprehensions of an immedi>
ate outbreak of civil war existed
throughout the country. Under these
circumstances all minds naturally a.
waited with intense anxiety. the dec
laration of policy in the inaugural Of
the new President. 1t came at last,
and while it satisfied no one, seemed
to assume a conservative and pacific
tone. ~ -n''a aigl aaa sra .i.#
As Mr.. Lincoln is now an admitted
candidate for reelection, it is due to
ourselves and the country to compare
his course since his Inauguration and
his present position with the princi-
pies laid down, at the outset of his
Presidential career, for his guidance.
To do this fully our readers should
carefully peruse his inauguraladdress.
But one Of the most important fea+
lures in that document we now propose
to notice briefly. ..-
In the outset Of his address, Mr..
Lincoln, in defining his exact posi-
ton 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 in the States
where it exists" and Immediately
added: 81 believe I have no right to
do 50; and l have no inclination to do
So. He then said, as if to put his
position on the slavery question be-
yond all doubt or cavil: @
Those who nominated and elected
me did it with the full knowledg &c that
I had made this and many similar dec
larations, and had never recanted
them. And, more than this, they
placed in the platform, for my accep-
tance, and as law to themselves and
to me, the clear and emphatic resolu-
ton which l now read: ..
"Resolved, That the maintenance
inviolate of the rights of the States,
and especially the right of each State
to order and control its own domestic
institutions according to its own judg-
ment exclusively, is essential to that
balance fpower on which the perfec-
ton and endurance of our political
fabric depend; and we denounce the
lawless invasion by armed force of the
soil of any State or Territory, no mat
ter under what pretext, as among the
gravest Of crimes" I
81 now reiterate these sentiments"
said Lincoln three years ago. How
long did he abide by them? Not
many months, for the radical Disunion
fanatics soon persuaded him that, as
"heir to the aspirations of John Brown
there was d military necessity" for
his taking from the people of certain
States the control Of their domestic in
stitutions, such as slavery, religion,
the elective franchise, &C., and assu>
ming himself exclusively their regula-
ton or adjustment altogether. He
is still under the same influence, and
is seeking through its aid to make
sure Of second four years term of
Office statesman. "t. ..s"