The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-07-17


the history OF the country, that the dis
graceful exhibitions cease and tlieir actors
be condemned.
And now, fellowrclizens, / come TO
that which is alleged MS being the direct
and immediate cause of the rebellion
the institution of slavery in the southern
States aud the action Of the American
people respecting it. How shall | speak
upon this yexed questions? 1 see before
me here men Of different political parties,
entertaining views and opinions SO oppo-
site that it is impossible for me TO touch
upon the question without touching,at tho
same time feelings of a pahizap nature
in some Of my audience. Shallrl, there
fore, pass il by--shall l. fail TO allude up.
on an occasion like the present. to chat
which has been the fruitful source of dis,
sension in our country for gears, and las
at last arrayed section against section,
armed for the work of death? Under the
circumstances surrounding us, would it be
just TO myself, 10 yourselves and the oc-
casion, TO pass il by unnoticed? | think
not, and, therefore, assuring you that
L shall alludc TO il in no partizan spirit,
and with no intention Of tresspassing up
on the feelings of single person, 1 APP
proach the subject, trusting to your can
dor and kindness loibeieye tbat.H | err
in doing SO it is an error of tho head moi
OF The heart. Let us SEQ how far we can
agree upon this question, uAll, | think,
will acknowledge that the general govern,
ment has no authority TO interfere with
the institution of slavery in the respect
i've States, and Mr., Lincoln has assured
the South he has no wish to do so, but on
the contrary would be willing to amend
the constitution in such a manner as TO
place il beyond question. All, | think,
will agree that there are several clauses in
the constitution recognizing and protect
ing slavery, although it is not expressly
mentioned, and that recognition and pro-
lection should be enforced in good faith
by the federal government in all cases
coming within its jurisdiction, and when
called upon to actin the premises. Now
here are two essential points about which
there is no disagreement, r1but httlo, and
covering the rights and interests of slave
holders in all The States where slavery
now exists. ~ ID
AS TO the extension of slavery in the
Territories, the question is not one that
federal legislation or action can affect. -
It'has been decided by II higher law than
that Of the American Oongress----the or
dination of Providence is TO all intcnts
and purposes an 'etlectual settlement
Two eminent authorities upon this point
arc all III shall offer in support of this prop
osition. Daniel Webster in in his 7th Of
March speech, 1850, declared the ques-
tion settled by an immutabIo law, and
that TO get slavery into any Territory OF
the United States, YOU would have to re-
enact the will of God. And Willihm III.
Seward, III his speech in the Senate last
winter, virtually admitted the correctness
of the statement, and cited New Mexico As
an example, where, notwithstanding their
slave code, aud its contiguity to the slave
States, they had only in Is years sue
eeeded in planting % slaves---.ono 70 ev-
cry $4,000 square miles. Mr.. Webster
and MIR. Seward were as well qualified to
Judge of this question as any statesmen
we have ever had in this country, and L
am content TO leave this point without ar
gument, backed rs it is by experience and
the opinion Of these two men. Can this
be so? God in heaven look down upon
us in mercy. Upon n matter of form
question of pride---haying in il nothing
that ispractical--no right to be invaded
no interest to be sacrifced--no benefit
to be acqlired--no injury to be avoided
no question of policy or philanthropy
TO DO affected; upon mere punctilio
hundreds of thousands Of men arc ready
TO close in deadly combat, aud u great in
tclligent and christian nation like this to
plunge itself into a war that must carry
desolation 10 thousands Of hearts and
hearth stones. The difficulty is not one
that if settled in accordance with the
views of either of the parties, as expressed
in their respective platforms, will alter or
affect It's ultimate decision, because, rs
we have seen, governmental policy can.
not reach it. Above all human ordinances
and laws there is tho immutablo rule OF
nature, unchanging and inexorablo.
said in my opening, ambition upon the
part of the leaders, and hatred and fear
upon the part of their adherents had
caused the rebellion Tho fear and ha-
tired are the natural and inevitable effects
of the manner in which the subject has
been treated in the northern States. We
have indulgod in elimination and abuse,
-7the most spiLeful and virulent--from
the sacred desk through all intermediate
stages down TO the brolhel, we have ex-
hausted the vocabulary of invectiye and
.denunciation; we have lampooned, ira
duced and yillifed them; VIC have called
them man.stealers and pirates; we have
denounced them rs men engaged in a
business that was the sum of all villain
les; we have passed laws in different
States obstructing the operation of fede-
raj enactments and affixed penalties of fine