The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-09-02
CORREsPONDEN CE.
La SAIL, an.

LASALL, Angl 20, 1865.
Editors Free Trader-In an able review of
the position of Gen. Cox, of Ohio, tn. pres
ent republic III candidate for Gov krror, by the
Hon. w. NJ Dickson, of Cincinn BIT, brother
republican, the following languae . is used
1.-The Union Convention purp4sely omitted
an expression OF opinion on thd question Of
negro suffrage. The overthrow and eradica
ton of slavery was felt to be the paramount
cons deration OF the hour, and 10 exf ressIon
of opinion which might embarra| IS or prevent
this ronsumma,ion was permittdd. For this
reason negro suffrage was Suborf nated to tue
adoption OF the constitutional a nchdment
Ali were in favor o! the constitut iOnal amend
,ment, but not all of negro 5 fl age Hence
the latter was excluded from dhe platform.
So. according to the action 9th u convention,
a man might be member Of thk Union par
| ty, and III good standing, WI eth er he was tor
or against negro suffrage, and the election of
the Union ticket would decide nothing on
that question " Mr.. Dicksdn. therefore,
though entertaining an opinE Jon radically
different from that OF Gen. Cox on this ques-
ton. says, IN his letter:
Il shall support the platfOrt pa of the CON
vention, and most cordially labor tor the
election of Gen. Cox, and will conform,
when differ from him, II The spirit OF the
pronositon: That adherence TO a PARTY
platform does not exclude freedom OF opinion
or of discus Sion upon matters nPt included IN
it., though it does imply tina. s'i rh discussion
should be a free and friendly iAterchange of
views with the object of throw b. all possible
rht upon Subjects which may fooner or later
become TOPICS Of Importance, aid upon which
we NAV have to fer a dehuiuye policy.
We have also, Ne SIS. Editors, noticed III
the views expressed in. communications IN the
Rc7iuJIjcaa. and in the .siler Zee OF the late
Rciu'tc4 convention, til; i 1t Is the
Intention Of our opponents to 4ke negro sui-
frage entirely out OF politics. Ut IS apparent
shat the insti,uiio; OF slavery is entirely dead,
and that the slave states themselves are about
adopting constitutions which recognise this
fact, aud acquiesce in i. This therefore, Is a
settled question, and the only true question
is this one. whether the free black man shall
vote or not, and on this subject the repub,i~
can party as a party as no opinion. Now,
Me,srs Editors WIZ should not we democrats
follow the example thus set "a? what will wc
lose II We also ignore the question Whether
the negro shall vote or not? Let us also
leave Samho ont Of OR platform. VIII not the
practical operation OF tins course be 20 leave
n ,sc who do consiie: the question of uni
versal suffrage vital political one to free
unite with Us or our opponents. a We or they
letter sustain their views on other subjects ;
or VIII it not con pei An organization ~ favor
OF the equality Of al! men uuder the la~ ?
And how wiil the democratic party lose
strength in either cyeitE How viii this
cour endanger The success Of Tie democratic
candidates to lie nominated? Let as saY
18th at a man may be a mcmbsr o. the 9enso.
c5utic party, and in good Standing. whether
he IS for or against negro suffrage. and
,ha, the clcctIoG Of tie demo ratio ticket
will decide morning on that question "
Shall we not also be willing to say that We
are in favor oi blsing representation on voters
and not on population, as long as portion
or the population does not vote? ask this
question 10 elicit discussion.
Yours truly, c.