The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-02-13
Poets. North aud south.

| The New York Ind pendent contains most
happy editorial article. contrasting the taste and
style Of Northern lyrics, upon the absorbing top
| les, with those of the South. The Independent
says;
With exquisite felicity Of language. Mr.. Whit
tier has embodied the following sonnet addressed
TO WIN. H. Seward, the feeling OF thousands OF
earnest anti-Savery men touching the late speech
of the New York Senator. II was no; to be ex
| pected that Mr.. Seward would mark out a line
Of policy toward the secessionsts which could be
seized upon BY his adversaries as the programme
of Mr.. Lincoln's administration. This reserve
| in that direction accords with the highest wis
dom and patriotism. Yet multi,udes were dis
| appointed that his speech assumed altogether
the general charcter of disquisitOn upon the
Union-more magnificent. indeed. than the i'm
passoned panegyries Of Clay and the stately Pc
RIO - Of " ebster-and that its tone upon the vi
| tai issues of the day SO entirely apologize.
A closer scrutiny of the speech, however sat
isles US that it comedies in reality far less than
il appears to cOncede in words; SO that viewing
it in all its bearings, We can only say with Whit
tier that
"dissent
Mingles, reluctant, with our large content"
The sonnet appeared in The Ecening Post:
To william II. Seward.
1.-THE following. it will be seen by the initials,
is from the pen Of the accomplished J. G. Whit
tier
Statesman, thank thee and, If yet dissent
Mingles, reluctant, with my large content,
cannot censure what was nobiy meant.
But, while constrained to hold even Union less
Than Liberty and Truth and Righteousness,
| thank thee in the sweet and holy name
OF Peace, for wise calm words that put TO shame
Passion and party. Courage may be shown
Not in defiance Of the wrong alone;
He may be bTavest who, unweaponed, bears
The olive branch, and strong in justice. spares
The rash wrong doer, giving widest scope
To Christian charity and generous hope.
II, without damage to the sacred cause
O. Freedom and the safe guard OF its laws
II, without yielding that for which alone
We prize the Union, thou can ct il now
From a baptism Of blood, upon thy brow
A wreath whose flowers no earthly soil have
known,
Woven OF t beatitudes, shall rest;
And the peacemaker be forever blest!
These noble lines express the true spirit Of
the North-lOving Liberty. yet hating violence
hating slavery, yet loving Union firm for the
right, yet seekin the Right by Love. Whittier
can be magnanimous in awarding praise, even
when compelled TO record dissent.
What a contrast with this in spirit no less
than in style. is the following address to Horace
Greedy by Georgian poet, Vim. Hove:
From The Rome tG. Courier
Coma, NJ. Greeiy, come t. the % TIL
The In fou have LIED ana KE LIED n
fou lover your CHI n, and open your mouth,
When your neck s;rA 6 tne rope you TED
Bring Oh G-annr Gliding, clustering Hale,
ID Douglas AMI H-n Ward e.ber,
And Negro hi.f n atr. from WASH. gF..p jail,
AMI sumner, the Devil. own p, sach-r.
Come. brig all ynur lends, 90 IDLY and good,
Who rob, kill, AMI burn for In. fis-d.m
OF blac ks, h. despse oar cont-ny abe brood,
And csn find better fcen,s shes they nesd EN-
Let each b-inx som. Yycb ina be-s pike
Which you sHRIEKERs Il Free 'on ell Oh -
So TO Is 50 father, he Devil d"ih Ike
To use IN tie which you tight in
Come bring sI you fden,s, aod never despair,
In "a ch.f of be ievas -p s;l~s;
Our hemp II ass 81 IN Gals ny The air,
And make splay VI big tasti--!
City # r me, Incs penien: Republic Of Georgia