Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-05-14
THE GRAND RIVER TIMES
GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY Ia, 1856.
1s3 For the Grand River Times.
THE FUSION PRESIDENTIAL
N CONVENT

IreSlQenLldl cduulQdIes are dt uont', tuu III q
few days we shall see the strange spectacle
of an exclusively Northern convention for
the nomination of Presidential candidate
who shall represent the exclusively sectional
views of those who nominate him. If this
is denied, will our fusion friends tell lis how
large portion of the Southern States will
be represented in the Philadelphia conven-
ton (which they style nationally to be held
next month? With the exceptions of Mr..
Blair and Cassius M. Clay, there will hardly
be a man from the Southern States known
beyond the limits of the county in which he
lives, and probably not dozen counties rep
resented. For the aboltionsts then to deny
that it will be Northern instead of a Ma
tional convention is an insult to the intelli-
gence of the American people.
1t will be National convention and its
nominee will be pledged to the maintenance
of principles and policy, which are directly
opposed to the wishes and interests of the
Southern States, without arguing the justice
or injustice of their principles. Does not the
fact allow that one half of the Union is thus
arrayed against the other give ground for
the most serious apprehension? The fusion
convention will meet, having inscribed on its
banners no more compromises; their object
is to compel obedience from the Southern
States to measures which those States be-
lieve to be unconstitutional and unjust, and
all compromises for the settlement of this
disturbing question of slavery are to be re-
jected, assuming their own infallability and
the error of all those who are opposed to
them; they seek to obtain possession of the
general government and by the strong hand
of power compel one half of the Union to
comply with the demands of the other.
This is the present position Of the fusion
party and the Philadelphia convention will
prove it, the North is arrayed against the
South, and if the fusion party carries out its
principles to their full extent one must 90 to
the wall. They are not willing to leave the
question to the different States and Terrific
ries The general government is to be the
agent to enable them to accomplish their
purposes. They will not acknowledge the
obligation which the treaty with Texas i'm
poses, viz: that four States are to be carved
from her territory and admitted into the
Union with or without slavery as the inhab-
itants of those States may elect; their motto
is "no more Slave States" They are not
willing that the general government should
provide for the faithful carrying out of the
constitutional provision requiring the rendi-
ton Of fugitive slaves. They are going to
"diyorce the general government from all
connection with slavery" They are not will
ling to allow the District of Columbia to de-
eide for itref whether the owners of slaves
are to be allowed to retain them. They are
going to "abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia"
This is the manner in which these ques-
tons are to be decided by the general gov
eminent; they will disregard the interests
and wishes Of those most directly concerned
the requirements of the eonstitution-and
deny the correctness (when applied to the
territories) Of practically carrying out the
only principle upon which truly republican
government can be based-the right of the
people to govern themselves-and then with
a cool impudence that Jeremy Diddler might
envy, they style themselves National Repub-
Leans.
Look at the means employed by them.
Every argument that can inflame the pas
sions or produce jealousy and i'll feeling be-
tween the North and South is made use of,
the most revolving pictures of cruelty and
oppression are held up to our view through
the medium of the press, and we are told
the shareholders are daily practising them
upon their slaves. They tell us one day the
Border rufiians are ovefrunning Kansas, that
there is no freedom of thought or election,
that the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
has made it slave territory, and the next