The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-05-30

were welcomed by the appoving mods, the
congratulations, the applause, Of Democrats,
both on this floor and in the crowded gal.
leries. They have their parallel in kindred
sentiments which are avowed outside of
this Hall by members of the same orgaui.
zsticn. They boldly proclaim that if the
coming Presidential election results as the
slave power desires. then the election is
binding upon them and upon US; but if
otherwise, then they will dissolve the Tn
ion and tear the Constitution into frag.
ments.
There can be men SO craven in spirit
that they will be deferred from voting their
honest convictions by threats, but they are
not found in the Republican ranks. The
man who allows menance to control his
suffrage is only fit to be slave You have
allies at the North who have sacrificed
much Of consistency. much of self.respect.
much Of manhood. in submitting to your
dictaticn; and, perhaps, these mu.teriugs
Of disunon may compel more concessions.
more humiliation, from them but the Re-
publican party. laughing to scorn such me-
nances, and guided by the old landmarks
which the experience Of the past has hal.
lowed. will travel in the old path, illumed
as it is by conscience and by duty If the
popular verdict is against them, they SUBJ
NIT cheerfully in the future as they have
in the past. If the popular verdict is
against you, they entertain no apprehensions
but that you will submit also.
have but few moments left in which
to refer to the position which the Democra.
cy occupy in relation to the great interests
Of free labor in this land. In the contest
between capital and labor, that party es.
pouses the cause Of capital. 1t no longer
sympathizes with man, white or black. who
is struggling to recover his rights or amel.
iorate his condition. If the car of human
progress is to move on. it must move, not
by the help of this Democracy. but in spite
of it. When tho toiling millions ask for
homesteads On our vast domain, they are
met by the jeers and taunts Of this mis-
named Democracy. and told that they con-
stitute "the rery mud-silLs of society and
political government When the white
laborer would carve out his own fortune on
the prairies of the West, he is told, in the
words of the Richmond E1am.ner. that
Principle of Slavery is in itself right. and
does not depend upon difference of COM
plexion or as . Democratic Senator ex.
presses it.
"The poor We always have with you; for the
man uho Lves 6y daily labor, and scarcely iires
at that, aud ,cho has to put out has labor in the
market, and take the best he can get for it-in
/ short your rhOle class of manual la6orers and
operatives, as you call them, are essentially q
Slaves"
Mr.. Fitzhugh, in his book entitled Fail
ure Of Free Society, says:
"!Slauery, black or rhite, Is right
and necessary. The slaves are gov.
erned far better than the free labOrers at the
Moth a.. so~s.nei. %, ...,.s.. -. rvs v..!y
better of as to physical comfort than free labo-
rers, but their moral condition is better
Page 9S.
From the same book. on page l79,
quote the following;
"Men are not born entitled to equal rights
IL uould be far nearer the truth to say that so,at
uere born ,cith saddles On their backs, and 9th
ers booted and spurred to ride them; and tht
riding does them good"
Within the last few years, the homestead
bill has received the sanction of the House
Of Representatives on three separate occas
ions, but it is uniformly strangled in Z
Democratic Senate. And the Democratic
party, viewing that measure from its stand
point and by the light of its modern doc
trines and principles. is consistent in oppos
ing it. The determination of that meas
ure involves the issue whether our frontier
Territories are to sink into communities o
despots and slaves, or rise into republics o
: freemen; whether our Western territor,
shall be dotted with slave huts, the abode
of degradation and misery, or whether tn
: pioneers pleasant dwelling, garnished b.
flower and shrub, shall arise by the side o
: the stream, the home Of contentment. re
, fnement. and industry. This measure o
e Gland for the landess is an importan
| clement in the " irrepressible conflict be
tween opposing systems Of labor; an
!. whilst it is meet and proper that the Re
n publican party espouses the cause Of tn
i hardy pioneer, who would make the vale.
: echo with the cheerful sound Of free labor
it is equally fitting and appropriate tha
] the Democracy should take the side Of tn
: master, who would make the same valley
o resound with the crack Of the overseer'
lash.
!, The conflict between capitol and labc
= has ever been fearful one. 1t has col
}. vulsed nations, shaken thrones, and cause
blood to flow like water. Fortunately, i
IS our day it assumes the phase Of peaceft
e conflict, in which political parties are th
n contestants. and the ballot is the etfectiv
e weapon. On the one side is arrayed th
n Republican party vindicatipg the dignit
b Of free labor. and asserting the rights
t. the toiling millions; whilo its antagonist
c false Democracy, rsviling the laborin
e man as slave. and prostituting itself
B. the interests and purposes Of purse -prOr
s oligarehy. The contest may be protracte
j. but the issue cannot be doubtful. Step
'c step the advancing columns Of the Repu
e. lican host move on. bearing in their ham
1t the dearest interests of humanity. and che
h ishing in their hearts and abiding con
as dence in the justice Of their cause. as w
IS in its ultimate success.
in --
of "Ma, is Mr.. B. respectable ?"