Summary

Slavery was cast as an issue brought to the fore by those who wished to undermine the Republicans' chances of victory in the election. In essence, these editors charged, slavery should be a non-issue. By avoiding the slavery question, they desired to focus attention on the plight of white men rather than African Americans. Republican priorities were, they argued, to stop the agitation over the slavery issue, make the territories open to "free, white laboring men," protect American industry and the jobs of free white men, aid commerce through railroad and transportation development, and to restore public virtue and morals to the government.

EXCERPT:

"The first work of the Republicans will be to put an end to the disturbed state of public mind arising from the discussion of the Slavery question, by showing that they have no desire to interfere with the institution of slavery where it now exists, and only want to prevent its spread into territories now and always free, and that only by means recognized and provided for in the Constitution of the United States."

Full-text web version of newspaper

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