The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-09-05

ana domestic, and not Federal. And,
what is more, Mr.. Buchanan thought so
in 1856. Mr.. Breckenridge also thought
so in 1856. The republicans all though
so when they voted for the Crittenden
bill in the Lecompton controversy
Cheers. The democratic party think so
now. Applause. This principle of pop
ular sovereignty and non-intervention is
cardinal plank in the platform Of the dem
ocratic party. Every democrat has here
tofore declared and considered it funda-
mental article of his creed. But here
must be just to other parties. We dem
ocrats are not entitled to the exclusive
claim and exclusive credit of this doctrine
of non-intervention and popular sovereign
ty. In 1852 it was adopted as a plank
in the whig platform. Clay and Web
ster established it in the compromise
measures of 1850. Gen. Pierce was
nominated upon it in 1852, and elected
upon it. l remember well that in the
contest between Pierce and Scott, in 1852,
the whole controversy was, which party
was entitled to the most credit in the
adoption of the compromise measures of
1850. The wings were in the habit of
claiming the exclusive credit, because their
great leader, Henry Clay, was the author
of it, because their godlike Webster made
the argument to vindicate the measure,
and because their model President, Fill
more, approved the bill after Congress
had passed it. On the other hand, l
was in the habit of denying that the wings
were entitled to all creditor to more than
half of it, for the reason that, while ad-
mitted that the whig party furnished the
general that commanded the army, we
democrats furnished a majority of the
soldiers that gave the votes and passed
the measures through Congress. But it
cannot be denied that both the whig and
democratic parties in 1852 stood pledged
by their platforms TO this principle of non
intervention by Congress with slavery in
the Territories of the United States.-
Will any man deny the truth of these
facts! No. How then does it happen
that so many old line wings, so many old
democrats, have strayed away from the
path where both parties used TO tread in
peace and harmony? Wings and demo
Gratis were in the habit of quarreling about
the distribution of the public funds and
the specie circular; but at the same time
they were agreed on the slavery question.
Non-intervention was plank common to
both parties. You wings agreed to stand
by that, and so did we democrats. want
TO know whether you, old line wings, are
going to jump of the only plank remain
ing in the platform merely because you
find ne standing on it. give you fair
notice that never intend to abandon it,
if 1 find every whig in America on it.
Laughter and cheers. So it was with
the American party in 1856. You Amer.
leans and we democrats differed about
other matters, but agreed on non-inter-
vention. Remember the twelfth article
in that celebrated American creed, in
which you preternitted the slavery ques
ton. "Pretermitted" was the word used
Now l want to know if you are not will.
ing to pretermit it now? Pretermtting
/ reckon, is about the same as non-inter.
vention. Let every old-linc whig, every
democrat, every American, every conser
vative man, rally on this principle of non,
interference by the Federal government
with slavery in tho Territories, and you
will have peace and harmony all over thi.
land. Remember there has never been
sectional strife in this country except wher
the Federal government attempted tc
take power over the local and domestic
institutions of the people. So long q:
Congress has confined its acts to those
few objects specified in the constitution a.
being Federal, and not local, there la.
been peace. But now you find this coun
try threatened with sectional strife, ant
why? Because you are now realizing
what the Father of his country, in hi
Farewell Address cautioned his country
men against.
You now find this country divided in
to two sectional parties, one North anC
another South. The republican party ap
peal to passions, prejudices, and the am
bition of the North against the Soutl
and her institutions. Secessionists of th
South appeal to passions, prejudices, anc
to the ambition Of the southern peopl
against the North and our institutions
The republicans demand that the Fedora
Government shall take charge of tn
slavery question. The southern secess
ionists also demand that the Federal gov
ernment shall settle that question. Th
republicans want the Federal governmen
to WELD its power against slavery every
where. And the secessionists want tn
Federal force welded for slavery every
where. Thus you find an irrepressibl
conflict produced between those two sec
tional parties. The one is the antipode
to the other; and yet the one is necessa
ry to the existence of the other. The re
publicans Of the North and the secession
lists of the South occupy precisely tn
same relation to each other rs the tw
blades of a pair of shears. They bot
| t,r, on tho cama nivot hut cnl in onno