The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-12-18

that they thought man could be a
christian and countenance the institution
Of slavery. But, few short years have
produced great change in our once hap
Ply and prosperous country. Instead of
our being a united people, We are arrayed
in arms against each other. For the last
thirty years there have been few who
have openly avowed their hostility TO
the institution of slavery, and pronounc-
ed the constitution corrupt. Although
but few in number, in the beginning, they
were mighty in their works they were
never of strong, intellectual wills-haying
restless and dissatisfied dispositions they
never failed TO sow their seed Of discord
and strife wherever they thought there
was any chance of it taking root. As
long rs there was two great national par
ties their power to do evil was very linn
tied; but when the national wing party
disbanded and the republican party was
formed, they agreed with the republicans
in their policy, in respect TO the Terrific
ries, and was admitted into their party.
For short time they were disposed to
let those of the old wing party and the
disafected Of the democratic party have
all the appointments to office, that were
Of any profit or honor, and RETAINED from
offering any of their abolition resolutions
in the republican conventions, knowing
that party formed on sectional princi-
pies, although great majority of them
were Union men, the opposition that they
would meet from national party, and
the people of the South in particular,
would Danish all truly Union feeling from
their hearts, and, in its stead, their own
seed of discord and strife would take root
But TO accomplish their object-and that
was to gain the control Of the republican
party, in rs short time as possible
they kept up their old organization and
worked in secret; they used every means
within their power, without paying any
respect to law or justice; they sent their
emssarcs into the Southern States to
steal their slaves, and furnished means to
run them out of their reach; they run
them into Canada, until they had produc-
ed feeling of hatred and animosity, in
some of the States, sufficient to induce
them to pass laws that places them in the
position of felons-for q man claiming
his slave in our State would have TO pay
fine of one thousand dollars, and would
be liable TO serve term Of years in our
State Prison. The fine he would have to
pay being the value Of his slave, or more
than his value, he would not run the risk
, of being imprisoned by claiming him
therefore we become the receivers and pro-
tectors Of stolen property. They were
not contented with the injury they could
do the slave owners, by stealing their
slaves, but they must employ lot of
mercenary hirelings, and put weapons in
their hands to force settlement of Ter
ritory of the United States; they must
organize an armed force and send them
TO invade their soil, and when their rebel
leader was taken and received his just SEN
tence, they got up sympathetic meetings
for him, and men that few years ago
would have condemned his course, and
, would have been foremost in condemning
the act, not only justified him, but called
him the first martyr TO American liberty.
, Their principles and hatred were carried
into the churches of the different denom-
nations, and they divided; the Ministers
became warm politicians, and instead Of
! hearing from Thorn a religious discourse,
on the Sabbath, we heard political lee
ture. These are few of the causes
that have brought about this rebellion.
The South have met us in the same spir-
it that we have shown toward them, and
whenever they could get chance TO re-
taiate they have done So how, we will
leave it to any candid man, whether it is
slavery, or the acts that have sprung from
opposition to slavery, that is tho cause Of
. this war.
, Have the slaves rebelled against their
masters9 No! Then, certainly, they
are not the cause of this war. Had the
0 general government interfered with any
!. of the rights Of tie South! No! Then
@ swhy do they wish to leave the Union that