Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-06-30

| We want all who have not paid to avail themselves
of this opportunity TO fifty cents, as we shall
consider it no longer binding upon us.
Protection and Natural Rights.
RIGHTS, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE: In no coun-
try are these holy words so frequently repeated
in no country are these holy things so abun-
dainty enjoyed-we do, and will continue to en-
joy them as long as we are worthy of them.
GoD hath blessed us as liz hath blessed no 9TH
err nation. He hath set apart for the purpose
of preserving Political, as He set aside the Is
raelites, for the purpose of preserving Reg-
ious Truth in the world. We are all dwellers
in the promised land, while other people are
the land of bodage. When the Hebrews cross
ed the Jordan and took possession of their
inheritance they violated one command, which
ever afterwards proved a thorn in their side.
Our fathers made a similar error: the same eff
fects are visible amongst us. Our joshua
GEORGE WAsHINGToN-when he expelled ST.
Georges flag from our shores banished with it
almost every Maxim" Of the old political phi
losophy. A few tribes remained. They have
been frequently assaed. They have twice near
ly severed the Federation They dwell with
us still and are dangerous still. But they are
not invincible. One united and strong arma-
ment would expel them forever. "To your
tents" then, o Democrats, and prepare "to
smite them hip and thigh, with the edge of the
sword" of reason.
The two principal Of these curses of our
country are known by the names of Negro
Slavery and Protection. With the first, we
Northerners have no concern. The Southern
ers alone must plan an exodus if they wish to
escape the plaques. The second is within the
range of our artillery Our party have played
against it quite long enough. 1t is time that
the cannon Of common sense should be fired
into its midst. But before we apply the match
let us examine if Protection has the doctrine of
Natural Rights on its side. If it has, that
cloud which envelopes it, which we believe to
consist of sophisms, will be transformed liz the
hour of their danger into a pillar of fire.
Natural Rights are those rights which are
possessed by man before entering into civil
society-are the prerogatives of the solitary
savage. Civil Rights are those rights which
are possessed by members of nation-are the
prerogatives of the citizen. In entering into
civil society, or nation does a man give up all
his natural rights in return for its protection or
such only as are incompatible with its peace
and welfare! This is no specializing question.
1t caused the great revolution of France and
was the seed of that harvest of corpses of which
the career of Napoleon was productive. Its
discussion was the means of converting many
Royalists into revolutionary soldiers during our
war of Independence. That a total surrender
is made is the soul of toryism. Thus is civil
liberty rendered not q question of right but Of
That man gives up such only as
society imperatively requires-the right of re-
venge, for example, or of appropriating all UNI
occupied lands--s admitted by all liberal loyal
lists and is the soul of republicanism. Thus is
civil liberty rendered question of right and
they are despots branded as usurpers.
That the lonely barbarian has the right of pro-
curing his provisions where they can be most ca
silly obtained and of bartering them where they
IAN be most proftably sold-of buying in
he cheapest market and selling in the dearest
IAN be denied by none,-the father of lies and
he wings included. This natural right is not
with the peace and welfare of our
Union; this natural right, thanks to the well
mentioned arch foes who style themselves
friends of Home Industry" our people do
lot possess. Until we do possess it we will
lot be an entirely free nation and intestine ]