The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-05-08
Our Country---0ur Duty.

a number OF so called Republican pa
pers in this State have set up partizan
howl over the position taken by Demo
Gratis, in view of the perilous condition Of
our country, and particularly have they
assailed this paper, because, forsooth, we
do not join them in the endeavor to ex-
cite war to carry out their distinctive
political policy.
The gentlemen (you see we attempt to
be respectful who edit the several papers
TO which we refer have evidently even lost
sight of the "Law to them that is,
the Chicago Platform and we commend
10 their care q section of their former
creed, with the hope that it may be to
them food for reflection and moderation: /:
"The maintenance inviolate of the
rights Of the States, and especially the
right of each State to order and control
its own domestic institutions according TO
its own judgment exclusively, is essential
to that balance of power on which the
perfection and endurance of our political
fabric depends; and we denounce the law
less invasion by armed force Of the soil of
any State or Territory, no matter under
what pretext, as among the grayest of
crimes"
The editors Of such papers as have so
long and persistently advocated a high
er law" than the Constitution will not
now be gratified by seeing conservative
men, Union-loving men, democrats, adj
vocating at this late day their heresies
and sacrificing property, reputation and
life, to widen and deepen the es-
arrangement caused by sectional strife.
The Constitution as it is we uphold; and
the laws, as they are, we are ready to en-
force and defend against Abolitionists
and Higher Law partizans, North or
South.
AS a Union spirit, for the sake of the
Union, was always distasteful and repug-
nant 10 Abolitionists, so now, when civil
war is upon us, they egotistically claim
that their will shall be the supreme law,
and purpose, and attempt to brand with
infamy every man whose patriotism does
not act, exist and end with their own.
To all such editors we propose for the
first week that they strive their utmost to
advance, in common sense, the point at
tained by President LINCOLN, in his In
augural. He said: al have no purpose,
directly or indirectly, 10 interfere with
the institution of slavery in the States
where it exists. l believe that l have
no lawful right to do so, and / have no
inclination to do so. Those who nomi-
mated me knew that l had made this and
many similar declarations, and had never
recanted them."
AS the above "stent" is certainly
equal to our opinion of their capacity in
seven days of hard labor, therefore we
present to them the following resolutions
to think upon after the weeks work al
lotted to them is ended. These resolu-
tions are the sentiments Of the Demo-
cratic party. They were proposed and
adopted in New York, in the Empire
State, and meet our hearty approval and
confirmation:
Whereas, The General Committee
and those they represent have, to the
present time, been the constant advocates
Of the rights of every section of our
country, and the firm defenders of the
constitutional rights of the Southern peo-
pie, to protection from every species of
assault upon their peculiar domestic in
stitutious, and have always maintained
their right to share upon equitable terms
in the settlement of the National domain,
and have made resolute and strenuous ef-
forts to secure an adjustment of the whole
matter in controversy, upon basis at
once just and liberal toward the South,
and honorable TO our whole country; and
Whereas, Several of the Southern
States have assumed the position of vio-
lent resistance TO the National authority,
which resistance has been carried TO the
extent of actual war, manifested by out.
RACES on the flag of the United States,
the forcible seizure of their Notifications
and property, the preparation of extensive
armaments and batteries of assault upon
the forces Of the nation, the lombard
ment Of Fort Sumter, and, finally, by an
invitation TO freebooters of the world to
prey upon the commerce Of our people;
and
Whereas, The rulers of the seeded
States, by the measure aforesaid, have
commenced civil war upon the United
States, threatening their existence as a