The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-07-25
For the Grand Haven News.
The Issue.
NUMBER ONE.

at the present aspect of the political con-
dition OF our country, and scanning the
political creeds of the two great leading
parties in the opening of the present Pres
idential campaign, it appears to the wri-
ter OF this article that the issue between
these parties is either not well chosen, or
by many greatly misunderstood. II is
possible, however, that your correspon-
dent is not well informed on the subject,
and if so, he would gladly be enlighten-
ed; and if any of the opposition can throw
light on the subject it will be gratefully
received, and an important service render
ed TO the political world.
With your permission, therefore, I will
proceed to lay before your readers, who
no doubt will present the same to the OPP
position, as they have opportunity, the
ground work of our political faith, and the
issue rs fairly doduced from it, as tho re-
al "bone of contention" between demo-
Gratis and their opponents, hoping if any
error shall be discovered in aught that
shall appear from this pen, it may be
promptly corrected by soms -ons in The
republican ranks. r
II is generally believed that the proper
issue between democrats and their oppo-
nents is that of slavery. The republi-
cans averring that the democratic princi,
pies seek the extension and perpetuation
of African Slavery. And TO this end all
their energies arc directed. They labor
necessarily to make the people believe
the democratic party is pro-slavery par
ty; they would break every yoke and
let the oppressed go free; they would
break down every barrier to freedom and
Danish at once the last appearance of
slavery from our land. 4 But here We are
at issue. We deny the charge of being
a pro-slavery party. We deny the wish
either to extend or perpetuate that insti-
tuition, and charge it home upon them.
And it will be seen in the sequel that
they, and not we, are the pro-slavery par
ty. The proof of this position will be
found in considering the origin and pro-
gress of the present republican party.
Prior to the Missouri Compromise, the
words Republican" and "Democrat"
were used as synonymous terms to sig
nifty, government by tie people. Then
the present democratic party in politics
existed, and had long been laboring to
promote the interests of the masses, by
the administration Of government in ac-
cordance with the popular will Of a ma
jority Of the people of all the States and
Territories, as they might severally agree
on the most feasible of political operations
for themselves, under the jurisdiction of
the constitution of the United States
Then the democrats were opposed by two
parties who were Mt war, as well with
each other as with the democrats. Those
parties were called Wings" IA borrowed
term, and sadly misapplied) made up of
men in both the northern and southern
States, of shareholders and non-slavehold-
ers, and aboliionists, who were confined
principally To the northern States.
The aboltionists were growing party,
and able TO hold the balance of power,
should they unanimously vote with either
of the others. But when each party cast
its vote singly for its own candidate, the
democrats were victorious. Therefore,
unless some plan Of operations which
might exert retarding influence on the
democrats could be devised, the hope of
the two lesser parties to gain political
power was feeble. But what that plan
might be, was a matter of minor impor-
lance, if it would only serve to elevate
their aspirants in the scale Of political be-
ing. Consequently any advantage that
could be taken, of any act Of the democ.
racy, so as TO secure TO them better hope
of political preference, would be grasped