Year: 1860




o. II. Bro,oning, Esq.,, Quincy, Ill.,:


DEAR SIR: When I received your
letter Of May 22d, I had no thought
that the answer would be so long de-
layod; but waving all excuses, 1 pro-
coed to answer it now.


Under the circumstances Of the case,
it ought not to have been doubted that
I would give Mr.. Lincoln's nomination
a cordial and hearty support. But in
declaring my intention to do So it isl
due to myself to state some Of the facts
and reasons, which have a controlling
influence over my mind, and which 1
think ought to be persuasive arguments
with some other men, whose political
opinions and antecedeuts are, in some
important particulars, like my own.


There was no good ground for sup
posing that 1 felt any pique or dissat-
isfaction because the Chicago Conven-
ton failed to nominate me. l had no
such feeling. On party grounds, L had
no right to expect the nomination. 1
had no claims upon the Republicans a
as a party, for I have never been a
member of any party, go as to be bound
by its dogmas and subject to its disci-
pline, except only the Wing party,
which is now broken up and its mate
rials, for the most part, absorbed into
other organizations. And thus, 1 am
left, alone and powerless indeed, but
perfectly free to follow the dictates of
my own Judgment and to take such
part in current politics as my own sense
of duty and patriotism may require
Many Republicans, and among them,
think, some of the most moderate and
patriotic of that party, honorcd me with
their confidence, and desired to make
me their candidate. For this favor l
was indebted to the fact that between
them and me there was a coincidence Of
opinion upon certain important quos-
tions of government. They and 1
agreed in believing that the national
Government has sovereign power over
the Territories, and that it would be i'm
polite and unwise to use that power for
the propagation Of negro slavery by
planting it in free territory. Some Of
them believed also 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 Of
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 I think the only grounds, upon
which 1 was supported at all at Chi
cago.


As to the platform put forth by the
Chicago Convention, l have little to
say, because whether good or bad, that
will not constitute the ground Of my
support of Mr.. Lincoln. I have no
great respect for party platforms in
general They are commonly made in
times Of high excitement, under pres
sure of circumstances, and with the
view to conciliate present support, rath
er than to establish a permanent system
of principles and line of policy for the
future good government of the oOun-
try. The conventions which form them
are transient in their nature; their pow
er and influence are consumed 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. l shall not discuss
their relative merits, but content my
self with saying that this Republican
platform, though in several particulars
it does not conform to my views, is still
far better than any published creed,
past or present, Of the Democrats. And
as to the new party, it has not chosen
to promulgato any platform at all, ex-
cept two or three broad generalities
which are common to the professions
of faith of all parties in the country
No party, indeed dare ask the conf
dence Of the nation, while openly de-
nying the obligation to support the
Union and the Constitution, and to en-
force the laws. That is a common duty,
binding upon every citizen, and the
AoAlAlS ~ HNAAyl tA 10 lo 70 glAANa


To me it is plain that the approach
ing contest must be between the Demo-
cratic aud Republican parties, and, be-
tween them, l prefer the latter


The Democratic party, by the long
possession and abuse of power, has
grown wanton and reckless; has cor
rupted itself and perverted the princi-
pies Of the Government; has set itself
openly against the great home interests
of the people, by neglecting to protect
their industry, and by refusing to i'm
prove and keep in order the highways
and depots of commerce; and even now
is urging a measure in Congress to abb
dictate the constitutional power and duty
to regulate commerce among the States,
and to grant to tho States tho discre-
tionary power to leyy tonnage duties
upon all our commerce, under the pre-
tenco of improving harbors, rivers, and
lakes; has changed the status Of the
negro slave by making him no longer
mere property, but politician, an an
tagonist power in the State a power to
which all other powers are required to
yield, under penalty Of q dissolution Of
the Union; has directed its energies to
the qualification Of It's lust Of foreign
domain, as manifested in its persistent