" The constitution which we now present is the result of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensible. " George Washington, President of the Federal Convention of 1787 to the President of Congress....

The publication at this time of a speech of the Presidential Canvass of 1860, may seem uncalled for, and be imputed to other than the motives that influence me. I nevertheless submit it to the candid consideration of the public, and especially of such as having heretofore entertained wrong views on the chief question involved in the canvass of 1860 and the position of the lamented Douglas , may desire truthful information. The speech at the time of its delivery was intended as a vindication of t

Fellow-Citizens:—In early youth, almost in boyhood I may say, I attached myself to the Whig party. It was a conservative, rather than a progressive party, but it was one of noble principles and aims, and it had noble leaders, the greatest of whom now sleep in death. It was, and therefore I loved it, eminently a party for the Union and Constitution. It was a national , not a sectional party. With the death of Webster and Clay, the Whig party, like a headless army, was broken and dispersed. Its vi

The following article from the Fort Wayne Daily Sentinel of September, 1861, is now reprinted on account of its relation to the subject discussed in the preceding pages, and as a further exposition of the views of the writer upon the position of parties in the last presidential election. The defeat of the Breckinridge party, on the one hand, has led to its attempt in the South, by armed rebellion to disintegrate the Republic, because its Federal power could not be used to nationalize slavery; th

There are three distinct antagonistic parties now struggling for the control of the national government: 1st. A slavery extension party, ostensibly headed by Breckinridge. 2d. An abolition of slavery party, ostensibly headed by Lincoln, but more truly represented by Seward. 3d. A non-intervention with slavery party, headed by Douglas. So far as relates to any possible political action in regard to slavery, in these three grand divisions are really merged all shades of opinion from the anti-slave