The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-31
U.,..a 49,. s,.ud-Divtded we Fail.

SfaU0-O1vbOeo VIC
rhs,e never was time when this truth appli-
cd tn the American people with greater force
than at the present. We have more TO fear from
dissensons insdiously fomented among our selves
than we have from traitors in arms against u.s.
In order to avoid the rocks which beset US on
either side, it is necessary to keep distinctly In
view the great purpose for which the present
war is waged.
That purpose is simply to settle now and Tor
ever the question whether We have a govern
ment. Il is 70 determine whether an appeal can
be successfully made from the ballot box TO the
b,vouet-wLe,her law can hereafter be enforced
and order maintained, or whether all our rights
are 10 be put in jeopardy at the beck OF a mob.
This question, as VIC have repeatedly stated,
rises above all party issues. Before its massive
proportions political differences dsinde to insiS
ni6cance fIe who interposes these differences
in the path Of those who striving to put
down treason, may justly be regarded as an enc
nv to the country. 1t is impossible that We
shall all be brought to think alike, and he who
refuses to act until all conflicting views are reduc
ed to the plane Of his own ideas can hardly be
classed among patriots or liberal minded men.
There are those " 0 are seeking to make the
emancipation of the slaves the sole object OF this
war; Now We claim to be as deeply impressed
with the evils of slavery as any man. But there
are certain facts which must be palpaby obvious
to every sensible man.
We say in reply to such that the party in pow.
er have ever held, and still hold to the doctrine
that slavery exists alone by virtue of State au.
thority, and as such the people at large have no
right to interfere with it in the States where it
exists. With what consistency :hen could the
administration inaugurate the abolition of slave
~ in the States. Ii may be said that the seced-
ed States have placed themselves beyond the
protection Of the Constitution, but on the other
hand our government refuses to recognize seces-
sion as existing, and consequently cannot ignore
the requirements of the Constitution as to those
States.
Let not these remarks be understood as apply
ing to traitors in arms against the government,
for they hare forfeited their rights under the
Constitution, and the government wOul,l be per-
fectly justified in confiscatng their property, or
hanging them il it sees fit. We think traitors
have thus far been treated altogether too ginger
ly BY the government, and that they should
hereafter be made to feel the full penalty of their
treason in every honorable way in which punish
ment can be administered.
There is another class who have such bitter
tb,r ica hat 81
would prefer to see the government destroyed,
rather than to see it saved by a republican ad-
ministration. The former turn a cold shoulder
toward the government because the do not make
this an abolition war, and the latter abuse them
because they do
Both are equally in an error. Slavery NAV,
and it NAV not be abolished in this war, but the
object Of the war is neither the one purpose nor
the other. 1t takes into view only the fact that
rebels have risen up to overthrow the govern
nent. and in crushing out this rebellion only
such means are to be used as will accomplish the
object in view. What means may be necessary
time alon.. can determine, but certainly whatever
these may be they ought to be and riH be en-
ployed.
1t 10 high time the conviction fastened itself
upon the public mimi that the governments needs
the support of every man who loves his country.
When it is settled that We haze a country and a
government there will lie plenty of time to de-
eide questions AZ to what shall be the policy Of
the one, or for best good of the other, and when
civil war shall cease and shall return again to
the peaceful contests Of the forum and the press,
truth may still be safely left to grapple with err
ror, provided the rig hit of free discussion shall be
as widely and fully enjoyed as it is broadly guar
anteed by the Constitution.