The Van Buren press., 1860-12-21
To the citixsns of Crawford County

10 ene CltfxonD OF Crawford County.
A thorough understanding of the poli,i-
cal crisis now upon rs and correct in
sight into the causes which pr oduced it, is
a most certain method of arriving at cor
rect conclusion ss to our duty. Each and
every one of us has an individual duty to
perform all have collective duty to per-
form. Fanaticism. politico- religious in its
character, at the North. has succeeded in
erecting formidable party. upon the sole
idea of antagonism to ons-hslf of the
American Union and its domestic insti,itu-
tiun. The Black Republican party has
grown into gigantic strength within few
years, and has now proved itself able to
elect an inefficient man to the Chief Magis-
tracy of this country. That Mr. Lincoln
is the representative Of none save aboli-
litionists is sad but undeniable truth He
embodies within his presidential character
no element Of the slave-holding States he
is essentially and only the representative of
northern fanaticism. He enters upon the
duties of his office with such sentiments as
L believ' this government cannot endure
permanently half slave and half free" He
avows the belief that abolitionism will
succeed in sweeping slavery from the con-
tlnsnt. or slavery will again till the grain
fields of the North. To which branch of
the antagonistic forces do you think he
will lend his aid and countenance Will
he turn his back upon the fanaticism which
elected him to his high position, and aid in
propayating slavery or will he not rather
continue to uphold the theory under which
he has lived, and in accordance with which
he has been elected. There can be but little
doubt but that he will continue to favor the
false dogmas of sboilitionism. The doe
trines put forth by Garrison, Gliding.
Sumner, Seward and others will be strenu-
ously maintained. Garrison tells u, he is for
' nseadliny witA .Slazery eoerywtere, aaack-
ing 1t by night and By day IN season and
out of season. in order to finally effect its
overthrow. Another informs us that:
If the ULion he preserved. and if the
Federal Government be administered for
few years by Republican Presidents. u
scheme NAV be devised and carried out
which will result in the peaceful. honorable
and equitable emancipation OF the slaves"
Rejecting upon such sentiments as these
and knowing they proceed from representa-
tive men of the North, how can we long
hesitate in concluding as to tho character
Of the Administration just before us. Well
knowing, also, that Abraham Lincoln 10 a
perfect exponent of the party protesting
such views. We should no longer doubt as
to the expediency OF immediate action. We
have not brought about the storm By which
we are surrounded. yet we must meet it and
battle 1t. We are not Of that number who
favor unconditional and immediate seces-
sion or disunion. We would never com
sci rash and unrehecting action. We would
not wish to see our beautiful country torn
and shattered by civil war, her soil bathsd
In the best blood of her sons but we are
of those who earnestly desire an under
standing in this matter If we glide on
ward in ignorance Of each others views On
this subject. when the time comes for final
action we will present the spectacle of SUI
prised and undisciplined troops. All will
wish to be commanders-none will know
how to command. We hold it, then, OF vi
tai importance to US when we consider the
character of the foe. to come to some def
rite understanding MS to the mode aud mea-
sure Of redress. Communication of . com.
mercial character must he stopped between
North and South temporarily, if not finally
and forever. The cotton of the South
should find it's way directly to the manu-
factories of Great Britain and direct i'm
portations should at once commence Each
State, by convention, should resolve to no
longer encourage Northern factories should
also instruct their respective Legislatures to
pass laws imposing heavy taxes upon oil
goods manufactured at the North pass
laws to prohibit peddlers of northern wares
and MERCHANDISE from passing into or
through the State heavily tax guack
nostrums. patent medicines. ETC.. etc. By
these means and these alone can we hope to |
p reserve the Union and force the Abolition
lists to accord to US an equality under the
Constitution. The purse-string is the
great nerve which winds about the North
rrn heart and if we would affect the heart |
we must first touch this most sensitive
nerve. In the present condition of affairs
political in the South, there is neither head
Or tail to her proceedings. Everything is
no State fully understands the
ceiling and desires Of her sister states. This
should not be so, we should all come to an
at once. You are the suffer
IT in this matter. and you. of all others,
should be first to step forward and prepare
Ill things for the i'll that may befall. 1t is
better for us all to be prepared for surprise
~ night. than to permit ourselves to be
'verthrown. 1t may. be that there will be
10 necessity for the nse of arms. Yet it is
'etter to be provided. than Otherwise. We
nay rest assured there are men in the
North who will leave no opnortunity unim-