The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-12-02


ton in suppressing petition and debate
on the subject of slavery through fear
of disturbance of the public harmony
although it claims that.the electors have
right to instruct their representative
and even demand their resignation in
cases of contumacy. 1t extended sla.
very over Texas and connived at the
attempt to spread it across the Mexi.
can territory, even to the shores ofthe Pa.
cific Ocean, under the plea of enlargino
the area of freedom. 1t abrogated the
Mexican slave law, and the Missouri
Compromise prohibition of slavery in
Kansas, not to open the new territories
to slavery, but to try there in the new
fascinating theories of Non-Interyen.
tion and Popular Sovereignty: and e.
nally it overthrow both these new and
elegant systems by the English Le-
compton bill and the Dred Scott decis.
ION, on the ground that the free States
ought not to enter the Union without
a population equal to the representa-
tive basis of one member, of Congress
although the slave States might come
in without inspection Us to their num-
bers.
Will any member of this Democratic
party now here claim, that the the au-
thorities chosen by the sufrages of the
party, transcribed their partizan plat
forms, and so misrepresented the party
In the varions transactions have reci-
ted? Then / ask him to name the
democratic statesman or legislator, from
Van Buren, to Walker, who either tim
idly or cautiously, like them, or boldly
and defantly, ike Douglas, ever re-
fused to execute behest of the slave
holders, and was not therefore, and for
no other cause, Immediately denounced
and deposed from his trust, and repu.
dated by the Democratic party for that
cOntumacy
l think, fellow citizens, that / have
shown you that it is high time for the
friends of freedom to rush to the rescue
of the Constitution, and that their very
first duty is, to dismiss the Democratic
party from the administration of the
government.
Why shall it not be done? All
agree that it ought to be done. What
then shall prevent its being done {?
Nothing but timidity or division of the
of the Democratic party.
Some of these opponents start one
objection and some another. Let us
notice these objections briefly. One
class say that they cannot trust the
party, that it has not
avowed its hostility to slavery boldly
enough, or its affection for freedom
enough.
/ ask in reply, is there any other par
ty which can be more safely trusted I?
Every one knows that it is the Repub-
lican party or none, that shall displace
the Democratic party. But 1 answer
further, that the character and fidelity
of any party are determined, necessar-
lily, not by its pledges, programmes and
platforms, but by the public exigencies,
and the temper of the people when
they call it into activity. Subserviency
to slavery is law written, not only on
the forehead of the Democratic party,
but also in the very soul. So resistance
to slavery, and devotion to freedom, the
popular elements now actively working
for the Republican party among the
people, must and will be the resources
for its ever renewing Strength and con-
slant invigoration.
Others cannot support the Republi-
can party because it has not sufficient
ly exposed its platform and determined
what it will and what it will not do,
when triumphant. 1t may prove too
progressive for some and too conserva-
tive for others. AS if any party ever
feresaw SO clearly the course of future
events as to plan universal scheme for
future,action, adapted to all possible en-
ergencies. Who would ever have
joined even the Whig party of the
Revolution, if it had been obliged to
answer in 1775, whether it would de-
clare for independence In l776, and for
this noble Constitution of ours In 1887
and not year earlier or later?
The people of the United States will
be as wise next year and the year after
ward, and even ten years hence, as we
are now. They will oblige the Repub-
lican party to act as the public welfare
and the interests of justice and human
ity shall require through all stages of
its career, whether of trial or triumph.
Others will not venture on efforts be-
cause they fear that the Union would
not endure the change. VIII such OBJ
iectors tell me how long a Constitution
can bear strain directly along the f.
bres of which it is composed? This is
a Constitution of Freedom. 1t is being
into Constitution of Slave.
ry. 1t is Republican Constitution.
1t is being made an Aristocratic one,
Others may wish to wait until some
collateral quest on concerning temper
ance or the exercise of the elective
are properly settled. Let me
ask all such persons, whether time
enough has not been wasted ON these
points already, without gaining any
other than this single advantage, name
ly, the discovery that only one thing
can be affectually done at one time, and
that the one thing which must and will
be done at any one time is just that
thing which is most urgent and win no
longer admit of postponement or de-
lay. Finally, we are told by faint
hearted men that they despond, the
Democratic party they say is uncon-
auerable and the dominion of Slavery