Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-03-31
Shall We Preserve the Union {?

The most hardened bunker as wei
as the most timid conservative, will no
deny that the Fugitive Law is not on
j. unchristian but also Internal and di
abolicaI in It's character. But it is the
TOR they say, and therefore must be
observed and enforced. is obsery
arce and enforcement are necessary
for the preservation Of the Union, anc
the good order Ct society generally
Without going into any nice DISGUST
lions, We wish to call the attention o.
all rejecting men to the point, whether
il IS possible for any human institution
TO lie perpetuated on q basis Of such
laws. If the low is unchristian in It's
character--and on that point there can
be no doubt-thcn to observe it cheer
fully, people must be unchristian IN
their characters, and every time it is
enforced, the requirements Of Christi
anity must be violated. To suppose
then, that nation can be pcrpetuated
on such 2 basis, IS simply to suppose
that Gods laws are Of no account, OF
no force and effect, and may be laugh
cd at and violated with impunity.-
The wreck Of al previous Republics
and the present rotten character Of all
human governments are to be referred
simply and entirely to the fact that
those nations forgot God and attempt
Ell to enforce unrighteoUs laws. I'm
righteous practices have precisely the
same effect on nation they do ON an
Individual. Decentralization and death
ire the inevitable result. Down,
down, from one step Of depreciation TO
another, until decentralization and de-
struction closes the scene, and new
struggle commences to realize the
hopes Of Christians and phiIanthro-
pist5.
Oar nation during the past 90 years
has exhibited precisely the phenomena
Of an Individual who has commenced
the downward path, until the crisis APP
pr0achos which is to determine whoth-
or it viii continue in those unchrietian
practices which are sure to lead to
death; or whether it will reform, |
, .s,:..cc us steps, and in harmony
with the Divine laws, go forward to the
high standing, the sure footing, and !
the perfection, which observance oil
those laws alone insures.
We will admit that the fugitive law Is |
huac, for the sake Of the argument, and I
us law should be obeyed IF so, so
much tho more necessity for the most
active and vigorous efforts on the part
Of every person who honestly desires
to save the Union and preserve our in- |
to speedily procure It's cx-
from the statute book. Tfit
is unchristian, as even its fiiends, and !
those who enforce it for aecuey, adrl;t
then how great the necessity Of oct,
ting rid Of it, for our ma, on is ~ ne-
2esslty IN II imminent 11arger when one
OF 1 us chleL la"| IS If this character.
lit ,er may be said to the con
(, .,.y, the Democratic party is pledged
to maintain and sustain this law. Every
man wAo votes with that party, what
ever his mental reservations, votes to
sustain and pe}petuate that unehristian
law. Every mau who votes for Judge
Dixon in the coming Judicial contest,
votes 10 sustain, strengthen aud per-
rotuatc it. 70 vote with the I5epubli-
cans and fer their candidate, is not TO
vote for the violation Of law, nor for
disorder. II IS to throw the weight Of
Your influence against an unchriStian
enactment. 1t is t0 maintain your own
patriotism and moral purity, It is to
i 10 ,,oIrI, obo,,a fn,,-orAS tho nrn7tin.1 of