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The Position of the Republican Party.

We have from time to time, in this paper, urged our Republican friends to stand firm, and not to surrender one jot or tittle of our party principles. We repeat again: NO SURRENDER OF PRINCIPLE. Heretofore we have given this advice in the belief that all classes at the North and leading men of all parties at the South understood just what Republicans principles were. In this we were mistaken. We knew, indeed, that the leading men and presses in the opposition parties had woefully misrepresented the position and principles of the Republican party, but we were not aware, until recently, that the Democratic masses in the North and party leaders in the South had put such implicit confidence in the statements of Northern demagogues. Our party platform was before the country — the speeches of our leading men were printed and scattered like the leaves of Autumn — our presses, hundreds in number, and issuing a combined circulation of millions of copies, all united in proclaiming in language that could not be misunderstood, the real principles, aims, objects and hopes of the Republican party. Under such circumstances we formed the belief that the whole country understood the Republican position. We have been charged by our enemies with favoring the equality of the black and white races, with a design to interfere with Slavery in the States where it lawfully exists, with opposition to the admission of any more Slave States — with a determination to deny to the South the benefit of a Fugitive Slave Law — with aiding and inciting slaves to escape from their masters, with approving of the raid of John Brown, and, finally, with cherishing hatred toward our Southern brethren. Each and every one of the above charges are base falsehoods. It was dishonorable in our enemies to stoop so low to conquer in the recent campaign; it is criminal to reiterate those charges now. The Union of the States still loyal to the Constitution — the ultimate return to duty of those States which have so unwisely attempted to secede — the avoidance of civil war — the salvation of the Government, and the restoration of fraternal affection, all depend, in a great measure, upon a true understanding of the position of the Republican party by the people of the Southern States. To preserve interests so vast, and to bring about results so earnestly desired by all good men, may we not cherish the hope that the honest and patriotic men of the opposing parties, North and South, will take some pains to post themselves as to the real principles, aims and objects of the Republican organization? It would be a little matter to print the Republican platform in the leading Southern papers, and to accompany it with the questions proposed by Mr. Douglas to Mr. Lincoln, and his (Lincoln's) answers thereto. If this could be done, the Southern people would at once understand that the Republican party does not favor the equality of the black and white races — does not oppose the admission of more Slave States — does not propose to interfere with slavery in the States where it lawfully exists — does not propose to deny to the South the benefit of a Fugitive Slave Law — is not in favor of inciting slaves to escape, nor in aiding them in doing so — did not approve of John Brown's invasion of Virginia, but severely condemned it — and, finally, does not cherish hatred toward the people of the South, nor seek to deprive them of any Constitutional right. If the Southern people would read our platform, they would find the whole matter resolving itself into this: The Republican party believes that Congress has a right, under the Constitution, to exclude slavery from the Territories, and that it is the duty of Congress to exercise that right. It is the freedom of the Territories, as such alone, that we demand. When the people who may inhabit those Territories shall bring them to the doors of the Union for admission, they should be admitted with or without slavery, as said people may determine.

This is the belief, the doctrine, the principle that we urge Republicans to cling to, to the last. It is to this we refer when we say: No surrender — stand firm — be true!