Year: 1860


so that my nomination, while it would tend
to soften the tone of the Republican party
without any abandonment of its principles
might tend also to generalize its character
and attract the friendship and support oi
many, especially in the border States, who,
like me, had never been members OF their
party, but concurred with them in opinion
about the government Of the Territories
These are the grounds, and, / think the on
ly grounds, Upon which l was supported at
all at Chicago.


As to the platform put forth by the Chi
cago Convention, l have little to say, be-
cause whether good or bad, that will not
constitute the ground of my support of Mr..
Lincoln. l have no great respect for party
platforms in general. They are commonly
made in times of high excitement, under a
pressure Of circumstances, and with the view
to conciliate present support, rather than
to establish a permanent system OF princl-
pies ard line of policy for the future good
government Of the country. The conven-
tons which form them are transient iu their
nature their power and influence are con-
sumed in the using, leaving no continuing
obligation upon their respective parties.
And hence we need not wonder that plat
forms so made, are hardly ever acted out
in practice. shall not discuss their rela-
tive merits, but content myself with saying
that this Republican platform, though in
several particulars it does not conform to
my views, is still far better than any pub
llShed creed, past or present, of the Demo
Gratis. And as to the new party, it has not
chosen to promugate any platform at al,
except two or three broad generalities which
are common to the professions Of faith Of
all parties in the country. No party, iu-
deed, dare ask the confidence of the nation,
while openly denying the obligation to sup
port the Union and the constitution, and
to enforce the laws. That is common
duty, binding upon every citizen, and the
failure to perform it is a crime.


To me 1t is plain that the approaching
contest must be between the Democratic
and Republican parties; and, beeween them
| prefer the latter.


The Democratic party, by the long pos
session and abuse Of power, has grown
wanton aud reckless; has corrupted itself
and perverted the principles of the Govern
ment; has set itself openly against the great
home interests of the people, by neglecting
to protect their industry, and by refusing
to improve aud keep in order the highways
and depots of commerce and even now is
urging measure in Congress to abdicate
the unconstitutional power and duty to
regulate commerce among the States, and
to grant to the States the discretionary
power to levy tonnage duties upon all our
commerce, under the pretence of improving
harbors, rivers, and lakes; has changed the
status Of the negro slave by making him no
longer mere property, but politician, an
antagonist power in the State, a power to
which all other powers are required to yield,
under penalty of dissolution of the Un-
ion has directed its energies TO the graft
fication of its lusts of foreign domain, as
manifested in its persistent efforts to seize
upon tropical regions, not because those
countries and their incongruous people are
necessary, or even desirable, to be ncor.
porated into our nation, but for the mere
purpose of making slave States, in order
to advance the political power of the par.
ty in the Senate and in the choice of the
President, so as etfectually to transfer tie
chief powers of the government from the
many to the few; has in various instances
endangered the equality of the coordinate
branches of the government, by urgent eff
forts to enlarge the powers of the Execu-
tive at the expense of the legislative de
partment; has attempted to discredit and
degrade the Judiciary, by affecting to make
it, at first, the arbter of party quarrels,
TO become soon and inevitably the passive
registrar of party degrees.


In most, if not all these particulars, |
understand the Republican party (iudging
it by its acts aud by the known opinions of
many of its leading men, to be the exact
opposite of the Democratic party; and
that is the ground of my preference of the
one party over the other. And that alone
wonld be sufficient reason, if l had not
other good reasons, for supporting Mr..
Lincoln against any man who may be put
forward by the Democratic party, as the
exponent Of its principles and the agent to
work out, in practice, its dangerous policies.


The third party, which, by its very for
nation has destroyed the organizations of
the American and Whig parties, has nom
mated two most excellent men. / know
them well, as sound statesmen and true pa
triots. More than thirty years ago serv-
ed with them both in Congress, and from
that time to this have always held them
in respect and honor But what can the
third party do towards the election of even
such worthy men as these against the two
great parties which are now in actual con.
test for the power to rule the nation ? Ii
is made up entirely of portions of the dis
iutegrated elements of the late Whig and
American parlies-good materials in the
main, admit, but quite too weak to elect
any man or establish any principle. The
most it can do, is here and there in partic,
lar localities, to make a diversion 10 favor
of the Democrats. In 1856, the Whig and
American parties quot forming a neto party
but united as allies, with entire ununimty
and some zeal, supported Mr. Fillmore for
the Presidency, and with what results |
We made a miserable failure, carrying nc
State but gallant little Maryland. And
surely the united Wings aud Americans O.
that day had far greater show of strength
aud far better prospects Of success than any
which belong TO the Constitutional ITnioT