The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-09-07
From the Laporte Times, Aug. 9th.
THE OPPOSITION In 1860.


The republicans of the North are max
ing great exertions to create an opposition
party for 1860 which may have a show
for nationality in its character, and en-
brace within its folds the interests and
desires of the people both of the North
and the South. The great Northern sec
tional party that was built upon the ru-
ms of Know othingism, like all others
that have opposed the Democracy of this
country, has fallen, through its own rot
tenness, thereby making the creation Of a
new party, and a change of tactics, ne
cessity. The leaders of the Republican
party see this necessity, and are willing
to sacrifice whatever they may have of
principle, to the attainment of the object.
In 1856 they started out with the idea
that their anti-slavery dogmas would car
ry the Northern States and they would
get, through this means, the reins of Gov
eminent in their own hands. But the re-
suit of that election has taught them
that it is unsafe to rely upon Northern
agitation for success. Hence their pres
ent endeavors to form party with plat
form to catch Southern votes. In order
to do this they have got TO sacrifice the
principles they advocated in SO. The
war cry of "No more Slave States" cold
never be raised in the South. The prin-
ciple that Congress can exercise the pow
er of prohibition in the Territories, is ex-
tremely unpalatable to the most liberal
minded Southerner, and in direct antago-
nism TO the avowed position Of the oppo-
sitionists in that section of the country.
These were the doctrines of the Republi-
cans in '56-but for 1860 they have got
to lay them all aside, and embrace the
extreme Southern doctrine of "Congress-
ional legislation for Slavery in the Ter
ritories," in order to draw Southern men
to their aid. They cannot run Popular
Sovereignty platform, because the Oppo-
sition of the South, and the Abolitionist
of the North are both opposed to any.
thing of the kind They will not take
the old platform of SO, for that has
proved obnoxious to the people. 1t fol
lows, that in order to get a platform up
on which Bolts and Prentice and that
class of Southern politicians can stand
the power of Congress to lcgislate fol
slavery must be acknowledged. Thi.
will not require very great efforl on the
part of Northern Republicans,-in iaei
the thing is already done. Their actions
show this, even if they have never Sc
much as acknowledged it. The Republi
can party has discarded its name, anC
taken that Of Opposition" and the Op
positionists of the South is regarded a
a member of good standing of that par
ty; both laboring for the same object
the defeat Of the Democracy. Now j
it not to be inferred, from the action O
the Republican party, and the tone of tn
Republican press for the last few months
that they have adopted the principles nd
yocated by the slave-codeites of tn
South? The Louisville Journal, lead
ing Opposition paper Of the South, anc
one which labors side by side with tn
Opposition press of the North, for tn
overthrow of the Democratic principles
shows just where the whole Opposition
stands to-day, when it says, il think
"Mdt Congress has the right to protec
by all necessary Legislation, The adiulico
ted rights Of property, SLAVES as weU a
other property, in the Territories. -
Here is the position of the Oppois
ton, and if that principle, or somethin,
as near it as possible be not cngrafted il
tho Opposition platform of 1860, we ar
greatly deceived. A portion of the pres
of the North, is advocating the doctrin
of Seward, and they regard him as tn
most available candidate. But this, W
think will hardly be hepolicy Of the Or
} position nominating Convention. 1t VOL,
only result as in SO, in the defeat of
Northern sectional party-and they vii
not care to depend, again, wholly upol
Northern votes. Which will il be-Sew
ardism or Prenticeism! We shall see.
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LAND OFFICE DIscoNTINuEp.-Th,
United States Land Office at Kalamazoo
has been discontinued and tba ,o.o..