The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-04-17
Our Country--0ur Duty!

The condition Of our country to-day is
a fearful protest TO the theory of selfgov-
eminent.
What now is the duty of every man
who values home, order aud nationality 7
Never have we been so perplexed as now.
We have always, as journalists, conscien-
ciously and faithfully endeavored TO do
our duty. We have impartially advoca-
ted the interests of the whoie Union
Never have we penned thought or word
to foster or encourage sectionalisms. We
religiously believe the truth as given us
by WASHINGTON:
ITO the efficacy and permanency of
your Union government of the whole is
indispensable. This government, the off
spring of our own choice, uninfuenced
and unawed, adopted upon full investiga-
ton and mature deliberation, completely
free in its principles, in the distribution Of
its powers, uniting security with energy
and containing within itself provision
for its own amendment has just claim
to your confidence and your support
Respect for its authority, compliance with
its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are
duties enjoined by the fundamental max
inns of true liberty. The basis of our
political system is the right of the people
TO make and alter their constitutions Of
government. But, the constitution which
at any time exists, till changed by an ex-
plicit and authentic act Of the whole peo-
pie, is sacredly obligatory upon ALL"
The wild rawlings of religious bigots and
fanatical partizans, North and South, have
eliminated in the success of political
party whose principles arc the essence of
bigotry and sectionalism. The sections
thus arrayed were belliger-
ent" and Peace Congress was called to
devise and determine a just compromise,
that the rights of none be trampled un-
der foot. The dominant party with SCOTS
and jeers dared the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
the Union rather than yield an inch In
Congress the same spirit ruled, and now
we have the result.
The New York Tribune among free
thinkers and the New York Independent
among priests, have drawn upon us the
horrors of civil war. The North, under
the rule of Abolilionists, have been max
ing f" fire" for the eaters" South. From
the North the aggression came-assailing
n constitutional institution of the South
rs the sum of all viIlainies." A gener-
alton have been educated to hate the
South, and the South have organized for
defence. MaGdened beyond endurance
the South, at Charleston, have assailed
our common flag, battered down our for
tress and taken the lives of soldiers of the
U. s. Army. Now recurs the question,
What is now the duty Of every man who
values home, order, nationality?
What perplexes us is, '0hich shall take
precedence in merited retributive award
the Aboltionists or the Fire Eaters The
cause or the effect? To whom is il best
TO turn our attention first? When the
house is on fire the first thing is to put il
out-then the incendiaryl So we think
is to-day our duty. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
is constitutionally the President of the
United States. He has sworn to support
the constitution. Now let every Demo
crat uphold him in enforcing the CONSTR.
TUITION AND LAWS. The Union must be
preserved. 1t is the palladium of oul
political safety and prosperity.
Our type have been used faithfully in
an attempt to introduce common sense
into the heads of Abolitionists and Fa-
natics. A change of form would doubt
lessly accomplish result quite as salts
factory. Our country first. Esto per-
petua.
- Hon. John u. Goodrich has resign
ed the Office of Lieut.. Governor Of Mass