The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-10-17
ADDRESS
TO THE WINGS OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

your appreciation, and induce yosr co-opera-
tion.
We arc sincerely attached to tho Wing par
ty--to its namo and its principles. We revo
renee tie memories of tho great men whose
patriotism called into existence, and whose pu-
rity, wisdom and courage mark its career and
emblazcn its history.
Formed 10 administer our government in
accordance with tho principles OF the Consti.
tuition: nerved by a determination to prevent
| its subversion from the high and legitimate
designs of its founders--the Whig party has
over stood--a rcsolute foo to violence, corrup-
| ton and despotsm: tho defender of the Fed
| eral Constitution and tho Union--and tho friend
of liberty and Justice. It's weapons have ever
been these of truth and reason, and its laurols
have been won beneath the banner of right and
! freedom. It's constant purpose has been for
the good of tho whole Republic. Its influence,
its achievements and its renown, will survive
forever. They are as immortal as the princi
plies which gave its birth, and to- which it and
they arc indissolubly united
| Had It's courcils but prevailed, and its ,oice
boon obeyed, instead of tho angry and harsh
discord now rendng the land sounds of har-
mony and union alone would have ncon heard:
instead of tho hot fover that now scorches our
country's brow, and pours its lava through
her veins-tho calm of peace would smooth its
| front and the pulse of friendship beat through
out its utmost limit
Towards such a party-ono strong in its
power and radiant in its course, we can ever
tnrn with proud emotions, and solace ourselves
with tho thought, that oar devotion has boon
equal to It's greatness, md that wo have clung
to it with unchanging devotion through all its
| varied but high reer.
Thus feeling, and imbuod with undiminish-
I'D ,dr rJ nI fait i'm
| party and its principles, we cannot abandon
its organization. or surrender tho flag beneath
whose ample folds we have so often fought tho
battles of Constitutional liberty. Still fondly
attached to both we must retain our preference
| for them.
But in view of tho great issue now before
our country; seeing, as we cannot help but
see, that tie struggle between liberty and sla-
very is nigh at hand-and can no longer be
deferred. We believe wo must vindicato our
party and its principles by avoiding every act
which might tend to sever or distract tho
friends of freedom; by inducing all to unite in
the great common cause; aud thus by patri-
otto union, achieve n sublime and enduring
triumph. To this end and with this Wow, we
deem it best to mako no nominations.
With painful approhensons we havc watch
| cd the continuous aggrcssions of the Slave
power over those United States. Wo have
been conscious of tho danger and sensitive of
the Injustice entertaining an abiding at
tachment to the Federal Constitution and the
Union--opposed to every infraction of either
-solcitous for their preservation through all
time; trusting ;hat they would work ont the
benefccnt objects for which thcy wero estab
lished; that justice and happiness, liberty and
union now and forever one and inseperablc,
would DO the rich results. we have borno in
Il f,.Io .,L az
Recent events have taught US that there will
be no peace We have witnessed the fatal
spread of human bondage over vast and beau
tiful domains. We havo seen .he undying Of
forts of tho Slave power for political suprema-
cy. Our vain hopcs, as each occurred that it
would be tho last, have been doomed to cor
tain disappointment. It's thirst for oncroach-
mcnt and power has proved Unsuitable as tho
grave. Presuming on the mock submission of
tho North, its ccascloss cry, like that of tho
leeches daughters of old, has ever been, give!
give! Emboldened by success, il has thrown
off tho mask, and worthlessly disregards pligh
ted faith and impiously tramples upon ancient
and revored compacts.
We have beheld its dark shadow falling far
beyond tho limits of the old thirteen States
and now read in its bold acts and avowals n
deep rooted determination to seize on every
occasion and oxigoncy to still furthcr swell its
already inflated power. We have seen--and
as froemen sickened at the sight, the officers
| of the general government even at the North,
turning from their appropriate dutios and ben-
ding to obey tho naughty behests of the Slave
power-eaving the cares to which their ofc-
ial stations bound them, and toiling and in
triguing for its friends and it's success.
Seeing thcso things, wo feel that tho hour
for submission and patience has gono. The
81. rsVbt md
will has come.
And we do now DECLARE that we regard Sla-
very rs an evil in overy point of view. Deba-
sing TO FREQ labor, antagonistic TO FREQ institu-
tions; barrier to high progress and advance
mont; and a blot upon our country's cscuteh-
con.
We arc unalt rably opposed to its extension
over ono inch of Territory now free.
We demand so much of the repeal OF the
Kansas Nebraska Act as annuls tho Missouri
Compromise We declare our opposition to
the admission Of another Slave State into tho
Union.
We avow our solemn determination to cxor-
else every constitutional right to check the en-
croachments of Slavery, and to spread far and
wido the blessings of humanity and Freedom.
We boieve that tho great aim Of tho Whig
party has been tho promotion of tho pro pori
this holy purpose neither dofcat or adverse
fortune has over been able TO swervo IL. It
has no selfish mission 10 porforn-no personal
| aggrandizement to accomplishment whlo its
members have clung with chyalric adhesion TO
its principles and its existence, through its
darkest hour, no nero party pride can control
its course, when the common good demands
and points out its action.
Love of conntry--lofty and onnobling-has
been the altar at which il has worshipped and
at whose shrine ii has boon ever ready to lay
down nero selfish objects. We believe the
occasion has now presented itself for display
of patriotism. We cannot however refrain
from declaring that now as ever il would have
been inspiring to us, to inscribe "Whig' upon
our banner and fight beneath it's honorcd folds;
but, at this crisis. and under all existing cir
cumstances, we feel that wo must not consult
merely our individual preference and personal
wishes, but ask what course will most rebound
TO the honor and welfare of our country, and
the Advancement Of those liberal. just and clo-