The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-08-23

municipal institution does not give to
it single attribute of nationality that
IL has not an equal status with freedom;
and that its extension is to be discour-
aged. How shall we act between
these opposing views? / answer the |
inquiry! Our laboring classes deserve
all tho encouragement and protection |
we can give them Southern statesmen
regard them as white slaves; let us
not surrender them to such meroies as
the owners Of chattel labor would ex-
tend to them.
Our farmers and manufacturers have
long been cut off from all the bounties
of Legislation by the force of South
ern prejudice; we should enlist on
their side. Our country has suffered
much in the estimation of mankind,
from our manifest attachment to sys-
tenn notoriously in oounteraction to the
principles upon which our Government
was founded considerations of NOR
atty, expedienoy and consistency
should incline us to do all that we
lawfully may do to save ourselves
from further imputations. Slavery
within the States stands behind i'm
pregnable defences, but it holds no
charter to travel without restraint. 1t
has long lsbored for, but has not yet
reached position of absolutism. 1t
grasps for empire, as it is the only
means by which tyranny can ever save
itself. Our danger is imminent, but
we can yet overcome it, if we allow
reason rather than prejudice to shape
our efforts. Democracy, as now inter-
preted by those loudest in the profess
sion Of it, and almost monopolizing its
name, no longer means the will of the
majority; it contemns the masses
holds no association with labor, and ut
tiers no word of encouragement to the
poor It's professions are impostures.
and must soon fail to deceive. 1t has
become worse than the ally of slavery
1T is its plant and prostituted tool.
Wisdom and propriety alike repudiate
it, unless speedily regenerated.
Our true policy is that of resistance
to the extravaganza and unconstitutional
demands of the South. We can only
make it effectual in one way-by the
support of Lincoln. He is honest, and
capable, and attached to the principles
of the Constitution; and his election
will assign limits to sectional oligarchy,
and make labor honorable and remune-
rative.
The question, in its true aspect, is
not as to which candidate should be
elected by the people, it is this; shall
Mr.. Lincoln be elected? The one hun
dred and twenty electoral votes of the
South will be divided mainly, if not
exclusively, between Mr.. Bell and Mr..
Breckenridge, and their support will be
almost, if not entirely, confined to that
section. Such affective force as Mr.
Douglas may possess, is in the North !;
but his most sanguine friends admit
not only that his election is impossible
but that he cannot carry over two or
three States. The body of the North
ern vote will be given to Mr.. Lincoln.
Mr.. Douglas supporters can do nothing
for him the only significant result
they can possibly produce, will be to
withdraw enough strength from Mr..
Lincoln to throw the election into the
House. This done, and Lane would
certainly be chosen by the Senate-the
condition of parties in the House being
such rs to prevent majority of tho
States agreeing on either of the candi-
dates. Resting on these admissions
for they are accepted universally-we
discover that every vote given to Mr..
Douglas must tend to the elevation OF
Lane, who possessing neither education,
experience, nor executive ability, has
been selected to enable the South to
make the most out Of an accident in
case it shall occur. To out-Lane-Lane
in apostacy to the North, and in crouch
ing, fawning subserviency to the South,
need not be attempted by the most am
bilious in that line-not even by Fed
eral ofice-holder. Even if / could be-
lieve that the leopard could change his
spots, and Mr.. Douglas do the North
Justice, would not sustain him under
the circumstances which surround us,
and amid the perils which now envir-
on us.
l have not attempted a speech. My
purpose has been to talk plainly. ]
may have been unfortunate in succeed
ing too well in this respect. Feeling
as do, and knowing the vast impor
tance of the cadvass upon which we
are just entering, / could not be less
distinct in my expressions. Immense,
inappreciable consequences depend up
ON the decision we are about to make
We should tremble when we fear thai
those most interested in the present and
the future, the frugal artisan and labor
er, may fail to comprehend them. But
let,us hope, citizens, that we are 81
far right as to be able to expect the
favor of Almighty God throughout oul
trials, and that He will continue to bless
the Republic and it shall become 9
proper example to the nations of the
earth, and blessing to universal man
THE DIscoNsoLArn STEPHEN.-Oul
modern Japhet having failed to find
his mother in Massachusetts, New