The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-01-24
KEN OsHA. WIS @ IN SIN
Thursday Morning, JAM "a, 1856
TLc peasOns for Secession.


sons. We see a tremendous effect produced,
and wo seek the cause. VIII some Northern
D emocrat, who is in the secret, as a personal
favor. give us the real reason for the secession
or tell us the real cause OF the pres
ent commotion in the Southern States WGsee
a government of the people--a government
wherein the people elect their own rulers their
own Leglslstors, by their representatives make
their own laws, and elect tho officers to carry
these laws into effect--a Government that has
been called the best and freest on the face OF
the globe. We see this Government, in time
of profound peace, and of universal prosperity,
State and National, shook to its foundations,
and threatened with overthrow and destruction,
not by enemies from without, but by toes ana
traitors within. Other governments have been
overthrown, other nations revolutionized, but
there has always been causes to be assigned
tyranny and wickedness of rulers, and oppres'
sion and abuse OF the people, has offered justi-
fable excuse for revolution, but in our unhappy
country, there is no such excuse. No rights
have been invaded no cruel, tyrannical or
wicked ruler has sought to Cypress the people,
or any portion of them. There is no groaning
under heavy taxation or exactiOns ; nothing, in
short, to Justify or palliate the great wickedness
that is sought TO be perpetrated by southern
politicians, and upheld and justified by northern
Democrats.
If we look at the causes put forth by the diff
erent Secession Conventions for their action,
we shall be just as much as ever in the dark.
Take for instance the reasons put forth by tie
Alabama Convention, and we are surprised at
the monstrous disproportion between the cause
and effect. They say,
"Whereas, the election Of Lincoln and Ham
lin by sectional party avowedIy hostile to the
domestic institutions and peace and security OF
the people of the State of Alabama, following on
the heels of many and dangerous infractions of
of the Constitution Of the United States, by ma
ny of the States and people Of the northern
States, is political wrong Of so insulting a
character as to justify the people of the State of
Alabama in the adoption Of prompt and decided
measures for their future peace and security"
Now mark the great thing complained Of here,
is not any wrong committed or apprehended,
but simply ''the election of Lincoln and Ham
lin by a sectional party, avowedly hostile to the
domestic institutions and peace and security Of
the people of the State of Alabama" The first
and last portions of this assertion are false Il
is true that Lincoln and Hamlin have been cleo
ted in a constitutional manner, without any
fraud, and without any appeals TO sectional pref
udice. The politicians of Alabama may stig -
Matte the party that has just elected Lincoln
and Hamin, as a sectional party, but at does
not make it SUCH That the party is avowedly
hostile to the spread OF slavery into all the free
Territories, and opposed to the policy of max
ing the extension of the accused institution the
sole object and aim OF the Federal Government,
will not be denied. But that the Republicans
are avowedly hostile TO the peace and security of
the people Of Alabama, is false as any assertion
can be. There is no warrant for such fear in
anything the party has ever said or done on
the contrary, Their epubcan party has frequent
ly and emphatically declared that all the guar
antees and compromises of the Constitution
should be upheld and respected, and that slave
~ in the States where it already exists cannot
and shall not be interfered with
1t is said that the election of Lincoln and
Hamlin following upon the heels of many and
dangerous infractions Of the constitution of the
United States, by many Of the States and peo-
pie Of the Northern States, is a political wrong
of so insulting character, as to justify the peo-
pie of Alabama in secession and all reasonable
practices, If it We're true, which it is not, that
there had been many and dangerous fractions
of the Constitution, it might be questioned
whether they would justify treason in
another person or persons. But there have been
no infractions Of the Constitution of the United
States by the people of the Northern States. Ii
here had been, it would have been easy to spec
fly some one infraction, but that was not done,
simply because there was none to specify. We
the Southern secessionists or their
northern allies, the Democratic party, to point
out one single instance where the Constitution
Of the United States has been broken by the
people of the northern States, or where any
guaranteed rights of Shareholders have been in
fringed upon with impunity.
The odious Fugitive Slave Law is not the
Constitution ofthe United States, but even that.
With all its abhorrent features has been enforced
II every free State, where the question has ais
en-. Here, in our own State, where the love OF
Liberty is as strong as elsewhere, we have felt
he CALLING chain Of the odious law, and one of
our citizens is now, and has for seven or eight
months past been the inmate of a loathesome
dungeon, for no other crime than having sever
Al years ago acted up TO the dictates Of com
non humanity, in assisting.or urging others to
assist poor fugitive to a land of freedom. In
illinois, only last fall, three respectable citi-
lens of that state were arrested, thrown into |
prison, for the same offence against rhe Fugi- |
i've Slave Law, and after lying there three or
our months were tried, convicted of having act |
ID according to the promptngs of humanity,and |
nus we might enumeyate case after case where |
he Fugitive slave law has been executed, and |
he force Of the Federal authorities employed |
enforce it, and yet the infractions of the con-
titution by the people of the northern States
5 assigned as a reason and excuse for treason in |
II the Southern States
1t is useless to follow this comparison further |
{ is evident to all candid and reasonable men |
hat no sufficient reason has yet been assigned |
hat will Justify the South in the eyes Of the
World, for the course they have taken The
and the laws must be maintained |
$ they are, and if blood must be shed in saw
ng the country from anarchy and disruption, |
1t the responsibility rest where it belongs upon
he heads or the secessionists of the South.
An Anomaly.
In i've or six Southern States of the Union
b laws of ti.n I-,,;And SAnAO. L.