East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-07-25
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, JULY 25, 1861.

tuouaduuo tiat 80 iar ~ tuc cOnstltutiOl-
al rights of the Soatnern States, / will
cay the constitutional rights of slave
holders are concerned, noting has been
done, aud nothing ommitted OF which
they can complain. b oaogfs or,f.s.t.
There has never been time from the
day that Washington was inaugnrated
first President of these United States,
when the rights of the Southern States
stood firmer under the laws of the land,
than they do now; there never was a
time when they had not as good cause
for Disunion as they have to-day. What
good cause have they now that has not
existed under every Administration.
If they say the Territorial question
now, for the first time, there is no act of
Congress prohibiting Slavery anywhere.
If it be the nonenforcement of the laws,
the only complaints that l have heard
have been of the too vigorous and faithful
filment of the Fugitive Slave Law
Then what reason have they p, sb.o.
The Slavery question is mere excuse.
The election of Lincoln is mere pre-
text. The present Secession movement
is the result of an enormous conspiracy
formed more than year since, formed
by leaders in the Southern Confederacy
more than twelve months ago. D f..g
They use the Slave question as means
to aid the accomplishment of their ends.
They desired the election of Northern
candidate, by a secti onal vote, in order
a IL Al Al
together. When the history of the two
years from the Lecompton charter down
to the Presidential election shall be writ
ten, it will be shown that the scheme
was deliberately made to break up this
Union. .'r. t.-.....,. ...,o.f, r.,
They desired Northern Republican
to be elected by purely Northern vote,
and then assign this fact as reason why
the sections may not longer live together.
If the Disunion candidate in the late
Presidential contest had carried the
United South, their scheme was, the
Northern candidate successful, to seize
the Capital last Spring, and by United
South, and divided North hold it. That
schme was defeated in the defeat of the
Disunion candidate in several Of the
Southern States.
But this is no time for detail of
causes. The conspiracy is now known.
Armies have been raised, war is levied
to accomplish it. There are only two
sides to the question. Every man must
be for the United States or against it
There can be no neutrals in this war;
only patriots and traitors.
Thank God, Illinois is not divided on
this question. [Cheers.l know they
expect to present united South against
a divided North. They hoped in the
Northern States, party questions would
bring civil war between Democrats and
Republicans, when the South would step
in with her cohorts, aid one party to
conquer the other, and then make easy
prey of the victors. Their scheme was
carnage and civil war in the North. A..
There is but one way to defeat this
In Illinois it is being SO defeated by
closing up the ranks. War will thus be
prevented on our own soil. While there
was hope of peace / was ready for any
reasonable sacrifice OF compromise to
maintain it. But when the question
comes of war in the cotton. fields of the
South or the corn-felds of Illinois, say
the further off the better. .--..-.-
We cannot close our eyes to the sad
and solemn fact that war does exist
The Government must be maintained,
its enemies overthrown, and tho more
stupcndous our preparations the less the
blocdshed, and the shorter the struggle.
But we must remember certain restraints
on our action even in times Of war. We
are Christian people, and the war must
be prosecuted in q manner recognized " W
Christian nations. fn.s sr.a-t lgc "a.
We must not invade Constitutional
rights. The innocent must not suffer,
nor women aud children be the victims.
Savages must not be let loose. But
while sanction no wars on the rights
of others, l will implore my oountrylnen
not to lay down their arms until our own
rights are Recognized. [Cheers.1 - \
The Constitution and its guarantees
are our birthright, aud am ready to
enforce that inalienable right to the last
extent. We cannot recognize Secession.
Recognize it once, and you have not only
dissolved government, but you have des-
troyed social order, upturneJ the foun-
dations Of society. You have inaugu-
rated anarchy in its worst form, and will
shortly experience all the horrors Of the
French Revolution. ~ .@f' ~, 49,
Then we have solemn duty---to main
tain the government. The greater our
unanimity the speeder tho day of peace.
We have prejudices to overcome from
the few short months since, of a fierce
party contest. Yet these must be allay-
ell. Let US lay aside all criminations
aud recrlminations as to the origin of
these diiiical!iss.r rrtWN WNttnfsg tie United States
dag, floating over it and respected on
every inch of American soil, it will then
be time enough to ask who and what
brought all tins upon US. lo fesfyofl
/ have said more than / intended to
[Cries Of "Go on u 1t is sad task to
discuss questions 80 fearful as civil war,
but sad as it is, bloody and disastrous as
/ expect it will be, L express it as my
conviction before God, that it is tho duty
of every American citizen to rally round
the alag of his country. 4 ~
/ thank you again for this magnificent
,lo,oo stra tiou To II ear chow that Won