Year: 1859




That the Republican party was organized
with reference, mainly, to the q Slavery ques-
! tion,'' will not be denied by any one. In what
way, and to what extent it is its mission to act
upon the institution of slavery, is question,
however, about which there may be some diff
erehce of opinion between us and our opp0-
nents and to some extent, perhaps, among our
selves,


All Republicans look upon Slavery, as an
eFil-yet they may consistently differ Very
widely in many Of their views in Relations to
the subject. Some may condemn the ifistitu-
ton of Negro Slavery, mainly upon the ground
of the deleterious influence it is supposed to
have upon the welfare of the white population
in any community where it exists; while 9th
; ers may be opposed it more from sympathy for
the enslaved race, and on account of the great
wrong and oppression it inficts OH thetii.-
Some may think that slavery ought to be imme-
diately abolished wherever it exists, while others
would not abruptly disturb the existing do
mestic relations in the slave states, if they had
unquestionable power to DO so, But however
diverse the views of Republicans may be on
these questions, they all agree that slavery is
an evil which ought not to be extended beyond
its present limits and so long as they do agree
upon this proposition, they can just as consist
entity uttite in opposing all measures designed
to promote the extension of slavery, as if all
their views lii relation to the subject of slavery
were Identical


There is another proposition upon which,
we presume, all Republicans agree. And that
is, the Federal Government has no constitu-
tional right or power tt interfere with the in
stitution Of slavery in the states where it eK-
lists. This being admitted it follows, that the
only political action that all Republicans could
agree upon in opposition to the institution of
slavery, is the only political action they would
have any power to take on the subject, if every
branch of the Federal Government were ttn-
der their control, Practically, it is wholly ina
material whether the Republicans of the free
stBte5 are in favor of the abolition of slavery
i in the states where it exists, or not +; for it is
admitted that they can take no political action
either through the Federal Government, or
their own respective state Government, to ef-
feet that Iesitlt. IT, therefore, Republicans
agree upoti the only practical measures in re-
lation to slavery that they c6dld act upon in
any event, why should diversity of views up
on question which they admit they would
have no power to act upon, create the slightest
dissensions in their ranks?


Those who regard slavery as a great moral,
political and social evil will find their united
vigiant and persevering exertions Necessary, to
prevent the institution from being spread over
| a vast portion of this continent, now free, and
| its blightifig influences from being visited up
| OH the future generations whose lots are there
to fall, without frittering swHt their strength
in controversies and dissension upon questions
which can have 10 practical bearing on these
great impending dangers


The danger of a vast extension of slavery
on this continent is more imminent now than
when the Republican party was first organized,
Since tlfen, new interpretiori of the Constitu-
ton has been adopted Hy the Judicial and Exc
cutite branches IF the Federal Government,
which establishes and legalizes slavery III every
acre Of common territory that we now possess,
or n1hf acq1iFe, lind dehies ALIKE TO Congress
and to the people of the Territories themselves
any power to prohibit or abate it. Stupen-
dous projects are on foot for the acquisition
of territory in the direction of the tropics


and such is the dtplorable condition Of MeKi-
co, and the neighboring Republics of Central


America, TINT it seems almost inevitable that
those countries will speedily fall into our hands
whether We desire them or not--l1riless we alb
solutely refuse to take them. Under the inter-


probation of the Constitution above referred


to, the States of Mexico and Central America
although TOW free. Would, on being acquired


by us, instantly become lin the language oi


President Buchanan) " as much slave states as


Georgia or South Carolina" In fact, accord
ing TO this doctrine, slavery would become ever
more firmly established in them than in Geor
gia for it is admitted that the people of thos'
states have power to abolish the institution a


any time they please-while this doctrine de
nies to the Territories any power over the sub
jsct, so long as they remain in Terrtoial condi
ton. It is claimed, as a necessary corollar,
+ from this Interpretation of the Constitution


that Congress is bound to legislate for tn
e special protection of Slavery in the Terrific
a ries, against any attempt on the part of tn
e people thereof to prohibit or obstruct its in
l. troduction-and it will require the united re
s. sistance of all slavery extension to preven