Year: 1860

The latitude of opinion, which is at
once the glory and inconvenience of the
Republican party, is having its natural
effect at this time, in the matter of Sc
lecting leader for the approaching cam
paign. While one portion see nothing
but disaster and defeat, in selecting
man from within the party, steady and
consistent opponent of slavery, and
whose influence has been devoted to
the formation of the present wholesome
and formidable condition of sentiments
on that subject, another class, equally
earnest, look with distrust an alarm at
the exercise of that policy, which, to Sc
cure present success, seeks to avail itself
of a sentiment, though nominally anti
slavery, has never been identified in ac-
ton, if indeed in purpose, with the CON
servatiVe opponents of the institution.
The discouragement likely to result from
a cause of such apparent neglect of those
to whom we are indebted for our present
commanding position, they apprehend
will work greater evil to the Republi-
can party than an honored defeat-a re-
tirement from the contest in good order,
and in fidelity to our friends and princi-
pies. On this subject, the New York
Evening Post, no mean authority, by the
way, holds the following sentiments:


After discussing the ends and aims of
the Republican party, it proceeds to say
that it ''ought to select it's Presidential
candidates from among its own men, and
not go outside of it's own ranks under
any consideration whatever. 9 If those
opponents of the Administration who
have no stable organization Of their own
are in earnest in what they profess, they
will have no difficulty in voting for such
men as we present. But if they insist
upon our taking their men as the sole
condition of their votes, it will show that
they are not sincere in their CO. operation,
but in fact had rather see the Demo
cratic party succeed than allow truly
Republican Administration. To select
our candidates from among those who
labored so earnestly to defeat us in 1856,
would be degrading as well as suicidal.
If we are willing to have a man who
stands upon the same ground as Fill
more, how can we justify ourselves for
not having voted for Fillmore the last
time?


"But no real Republican is willing to
take the back track now, when the tide
of public feeling against the slave power
is so much higher than it was before
If the outsiders will vote with us for our
men, give them all due credit, and let
them have for their reward the blessings
of a renovated government and a country
rescued from dishonor. If they will not
do this, they might better defeat US in
the election than destroy us after it,
which they would be sure to do if we
give the power into the hands of their
men.


"With such men as Seward and Chase,
Banks and Lincoln, and others in plenty,
let us have two Republicans, representa-
tive men, to vote for. Let us have can
didates, first of all, who will unite and
consolidate our ranks, and prepare us for
further service. Better come out of the
campaign as we did last time, united and
consolidated, and full of confidence and
resolution, though defeated, than to win
nominal victory, which shall leave the
power in the hands of those who have
no sympathy with US, and ourselves dis
heartened and demoralized."