Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-06-04
From the Grand Rapids Daily Enquirer.
DEMOCRA CY- THE EXI'EN
SION on .SL4 VERY 90

DEMOCRACY- THE EXTEN
+. SION or SLA VERY a.
The Democratic party is charged with an
intent to extend Slavery, beyond the locali-
ties in which it at present exists, or with a
policy which will permit and even secure
that extension. Ile m an
Now what is the truth? The Democratic
party-with conflicting views amongst its
members in different sections of the Union,
as to the expediency and righteousness of
Slavery; also as to the best mode of its alb
oiition, and as to the effect on the enormities
of the system which its diffusion over a
larger area of territory would have,-all
agree that the question of its perpetuation
where it now is, or of its establishment anew
in other sections, should be left to the arbitra-
ment exclusively of the people, amongst
whom it is proposed to continue or COM
mence it. That party proclaims its belief
in Popular Sovereignty, and to that power,
exercised according to the Constitution and
laws, leaves the decision of the controversy.
No such submission was ever unfortunate. -
The light of truth--the searching processes
the lessons of experience, all contribute to,
all secure correct determination of the issue.
With entire safety may this matter be en-
trusted to the people themselves. They need
not be taken under the guardianship of Con-
gress, or any other superior organization.-
They may, they should be left to exercise the
attributes of citizenship, in this regard, as in
all others brought by our political constitu
tons within their purview and power.
Under profession Of love for the colored
men, shall we deprive the white race of civil
rights? Shall the freeman be disfranchised
that the slave may be liberateds 2 Shall the
right to selfgovernment be taken from the
Anglo-Saxon in Kansas that the African in
South Carolina may groan under a COM
pressed and intensified bondage?
TO contend for the perogatives of the
people, to retain for them the right to form
their own institutions and customs; to enable
them to exercise their suffrage on all subjects
that come home to their business and bosoms;
to secure them in the full enjoyment of all
the qualities and consequences of their origi-
nal sovereignty, is the old, ever renewed and
unceasing effort of the Democracy. It's an
tagonists meet them under specious pretexts,
and ingenious devices. Profuse professions
of philanthropy, catch-phrases about liberty
and humanity, pretences and claims of ben
evidence, are paraded to cover what is really
an attempted outrage on the privileges of
the white man.
The real issue, whether the doctrine of
selfgovernment, which is the basis of our
whole system, shall be practically carried
out, is obscured; is sought to be hidden un-
der clamor about the extension of slavery.
Democrats, we again say, are charged with
favoring that extension, and the Republicans
claim to be its opponents. Democracy will
define its own position, and will not accept
that assigned to it by its antagonists, under
such gross, though persistent misrepresenta-
ton. To extend Slavery, or to abolish it;
neither is an article of the Democratic creed.
Democrats, as we said in the beginning, en-
tertain diverse views on these propositions,
as location, prejudices, and interests affect
their opinions. In the non-slaveholding States
the Democracy are opposed to domestic serv
itude. They have framed Constitutions which
prohibit it eternaly. The great majority in
the slave-holding States, think differently,
and have striven to perpetuate their senti-
ments in their several organic laws. The
emancipation of slaves by act of Legislature,
in some of the latter mentioned States, is
forbidden. Even in Kansas, the colored race
as an element of its future population, is
avoided by most stringent prohibition of
their immigration. Pointedly, and truly
does the Albany Argus, put the real issue
before the country, in the following remarks !:
The only creed which the democratic par
ty has on the subject of slavery is to leave
it where the Constitution of the United
States has left ito the action of the
people of the several States and Territories,
restrained only by the provisions Of that in
strument. There is where the subject be-
longs where, not only the Constitution, but
the first principles of Democratic doctrine,
repose the control of this and all other local
and domestic questions, and the Democratic
party refuses to drag it forth upon the arena
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