Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-09-24
First PrIncipIes---Sum ner,s speech.

We last week exhorted our readers to confne
their attention to the real principles on which
rest the issues which now agitate the country, to
the end that they may not be deceived to their
own injury, by the ten thousand frivolous and
unimportant issues, having no bearing upon the
real question, which our opponents know so well
how to excite. The extract we make to day from
Summers speech, furnishes a most admirable
textbook of first principles. From it we learn
as fully and clearly the purpose of the founders
of this government and the trainers of our con-
sttution, as il we had moved among them and
been personally conversant with their thoughts,
motives, and acts. 1t stands forth clear as the
noon day sun, that our general government was
not by its founders, in any manner connected
with the institution of slavery, and that its pre-
sent degraded and unfortunate condition has been
brought about by repeated violations Of the con-
stiution, and by All entire subversion of the pur-
pose and spirit that animated our fathers. The
good old ship Of state has broken loose from its
moorings and is drifting without rudder or COM
pass, or landmark in sight. This is the great
What then! Is this noble ship to be forever
tossed on this sea of uncertainty, surrounded by
those black and dangerous rocks of wrong and
cruelty, and crime, Oh which moulder the skele-
tons of so many other goodly ships, that in the
earth's history, have started richly freighed with
a worlds hopes, in search of land and CLINE
where true republicaniSm, real democracy, and
rational liberty, would be the rich reward of It's
gallant crew. We say is she to be thus left,
with certainty that her own skeleton will 500
ner or later when the rocks which lift their heads
around her, or shall we make an effort to rescue
her and get her once more into the open sea?
Understanding the point from which our 60
vernment started and the point where she now
stands, the position of the respective parties be-
fore the country becomes apparent, and we need
not err, except willingly or carelessly. Both the
wing and democratic parties have pledged them
selves that the present connection OF our govern
ment with slavery shall be eternay maintain ed
with all the inevitably destructive influences that
belong to it, whilst the Free Democracy are or
ganzed for the express purpose of bringing back
the government to its early purity, and the con-
sttution to its original and Legitimate purpose.
We may talk about Lundys Lane and Cerro
Gordo-about Native Americanism and the Ca
tbolic test-about fuss and feathers and fainting
and fancy but it all amounts TO nothing. The
ballots carry to the box none Of this idle talk
these baseless issues: but every one cast will be
distinctly for or against the grand principle We
have mentioned.
Let those who comprehend the glorious results
for humanity, for our own country and the world
that our constitution involves, when understood
and applied in favor of freedom, as it should be-
come up now to the work Of restoring it to that
object We cannot expect that our victory will
be complete at this election, but no great cause
was ever won without labor, and as our cause is
approved by the popular heart aud conscience
we can rest with confidence that the popular ac-
ton will follow the popular heart and conscience
if we who profess now to sec the truth clearly
will but stand up firmly and consistently in lis
vindicaton.