Summary

Morton McMichael from Philadelphia gave a speech in Chambersburg on the principles of the People's Party. The editors praised McMichael for steering the political debate away from the slavery issue toward substantive policy issues, such as the tariff and economic issues.

EXCERPT:

"Except to repel the charge made by Stephen A. Douglas, one of the Locofoco candidates for president--who attempts to fasten the blame of Slavery agitation in the country upon every person but himself, the real author of all the trouble on that vexed question--he never said one word upon the subject of slavery. Mr. McMichael feels too deeply the importance of fostering the industrial interests of Pennsylvania, and of the whole land, to spend his precious time talking about that which does not particularly concern him--slavery in the South."

Full-text web version of newspaper

"In the heat of the campaign of 1860 both Franklin Democrats and Republicans shifted their emphasis on slavery."