The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-23
From the Deroit Free Press, Goth inst,
SHIFTS.

Legislature, instructed the black rcpubll-
can State committee to issue al address
defending such partizan legislation, and
nominated Mr.. MARTIN for Chief Justice.
That Is what we call constructing plat
form and placing candidate upon 1t. That
is what everybody has regarded rs con
structing platform and placing n candi-
date upon it, For while subsequent to
his nomination Judge MARTIN did not OBJ
ioct TO standing upon the platform where
he had been placed, nor did any of the
black republican prints intimate that he
was not fully upon the. platform and re-
solved to abide by it aud sink or swim
with it. But for a few days past slight,
~ different song has been sung. 1t has
been found that the black republican plat
form is rickety concern, which great
numbers of people who have hitherto act
ed with the black republican party are
much more inclined to spit upon than
stand upon. Judge MARTIN does not ex-
sctly stand committed TO all the partizan
legislation of the late session. We are
told that it is by no means certain that he
approves the act establishing non-inter-
course with southern States, and that he
has not avowed the opinion that the reg
istry law is constitutional. We have not
at any moment doubted that Judge MAR
TIN would be stultifed during this can
vass if II seeming necessity should arise
for it. We have not doubted that he
would be made TO assume rs many posi-
tons as the exigencies of the day should
seem TO require. We are not therefore
disappointed that he has been withdrawn
from the platform upon which he was
nominated, and that he now appears as a
sort of flibuster black republican candi-
date. We are only curious as to the at
titude in which he will next appear.
But let no one be deceived by these
shifts. Whatever may DO the present
prctences, with respect to Judge MARTIN,
this is the fact: he is committed to the
constitutionelity of the odious and OPP
pressive registry law; and he approves
and is pledged to sustain the scandalous
on-intercourse law, by which any south
ern getleman who shall attempt 10 pass
through the State accompanied by his ne
gro servant will have committed a State
prison offence. This is the fact. These
are measures of the black republican par
ty, supported by every black republican
journal in the State, and Judge MARTIN
is the black republican candidate. The
black republican party seeks TO elect him
on purpose to sustain these measures
when they shall 90 before the Supreme
Court. That he shall sustain them, and
do tho work Of the black republican party
generally, was the price of his nomination,
and to bind him as by bargain they
constructed their platform which he
mounted when he accepted the nomina-
ton.
If Judge MARTIN shall be elected, it
will be rs partizan and not rs anything
else. He will receive none but black re-
publican votes, and these he will receive
because, aud for no other reason, he is
the black republican candidate. Were
not politics involved in the question Of his
election-were the contest simply between
him and Mr.. FELcH rs men of intellect,
as lawyers, as to which is the better fitted
in all respects for the ofiice--does any
body suppose that he would stand the
ghost of chance of m election! Does
any body suppose that Mr.. FELcH would
not be elected by thousands? We appre-
bend not. We apprehend that if Mr..
MARTINS reliance was not upon the sup
port ofhis party, as its candidate, pledged
to its policy and measures, he would
make very poor show on the election
day. We apprehend that if his reliance
were upon his own merits he would lie
Withdrawn from the contest by his friends,
for in the contest his competitor would
distance him.
How odious must the partizan legisla-
ton Of the last session be among The poo
pie, since the black republican leaders
have felt compelled TO falsify tho position
of their candidate towards it--sinoe they
dare not continue that candidate in the
field upon the undisguised issues made
by their State convention. We repeat,
let no one be deceived by their shifts
Let no one vote for Judge MARTrS think
ing he is not pledged to sustain the obi
Gus and oppressive registry law aud tho
scandalous non-intercouFse law.
y VILLAGE ELEcrioN.-The election on