The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-04-24
Our Country---0ur Duty.

bayonet and cannon the enforcement of the
Chicago Platform This we want to know, and
by the grace of God and our own persistence We
,ciH kao,c. To upheld the Constitution and the
Laws every Democrat in the Northern States
will 60 as far as the farthest but we do notp
pose examining party platforms down Southern
threats with bayonets, or reasonable ones down
Northern throats; because the attempt, in the
first place, would be wicked, and in the second
place would be dangerous-uery dangerous!
Without asking any questions we will go to
our National Capital, and in its defence, will
pledge ourselves to stay there as long, at least,
as any Republican or Aboltionist there is in the
land. But if we are asked to go beyond the
border and invade sister States and let loose up
pom them the evils of civil war, and probably Of
servile instruction, conquer and hold them as
subject provinces and turn deaf ear to their
just and rightful demands, changing every pa
triotic sentiment towards our common country,
to those of hatred against it, then, before we
start upon such course we will reAect-yes we
viii reflect that if even handed justice is shown
the contest may be avoided.
Acknowledge the equality Of the South in
our common Territory-why should We not p
erase your notification liberty billsin the North
ern' States-why not?--stop preaching higher
law and enforce the fugitive slave law, and give
them, as LINCOLN said he was willing to do,
constitutional guaranty that slavery should nev-
or be interfered with by the Federal Government
in the respective States, These are all constitu-
tional obligations that the common sense of ev-
cry man, when not blinded by partizan zeal, tells
him are essential to the safety and perpetuity of
the Union. If these propositions are rejected
If the olive branch is trodden upon, no seces-
sionist leader in the Confederate States could
exist for moment before the universal sense of
outlawry. Without this our unity in the Union
is lost-yes, the Union itself; while with IL we
can make our flag once more the most honored
and terrible emblem of freedom and power that
ever Aoated from a masthead or waved over an
army in battle.
All here are rampant for the maintenance of
the glory of our flag and vindication of the
stitutional government; but while we are thus
commercially patriotic, and doing no more than
rs honest men we are bound to do, let us not be
intoxicated and mad without a "method in our
madness" For instance, land we only call at
tontion to it that profit may inure to us in the
reflection to utter suggestion that our South
crn brethren have interests ut stake, and rights
to be recognized, is now deemed to be treason in
some portions of the country, particularly in the
larger cities-ifwe are to believe the telegraph
ic reports--and men are mobbed and threatened
with instant death for speaking of Southerners
as American citizens should always speak. Is
this right? If it is, then all the hubbub about
free speech and the press is not practical.
Have not the papers North teemcd for years
with illustrations Of like import instituted by
Southerners towards Abolitionists who were in
slave States, and actually melting to insurree-
ton the slaves, or stealing them from their
mastcrs2 and with what virtuous Indignation a
comparison would be drawn between the civil
cation in the North and that of the South. If
We are right now, they also wero right in substi-
tuting mob law for constitutional authority.
That there arc set Of dcspcradocs who are
striving (and too successfully we admit) to
4" fire the Southern heart" and have succeededin
giving the tinge of rebellion to the honest senti-
ments and patriotic desires of the citizens of
fifteen of the States of this Union, we have rea-
son to believe. Then let us be reasonable, to
say the least, lest under the guise Of loyalty to
the constitutional authorities, and our rampant
ecstacics over the glorious stars and stripes, we
be made the dupes of designing politicians, as
reckless and inscriptions, to wage war of ex-
termination upon our kith and kin. In word,
to lend ourselves TO destroy ourselves.
We will remembor-we cannot forget-that
this Union was founded on the consent of the
governed, and adopted as the result of delbera-
ton, and an equitable adjustment of distinct
interests. The Union only will continue when
this sentiment shall again have place. If this
demon Of dscord is not cast out no hope of the
United States, as a nationality, remains.
If the organization and establishment of our
Union was at time when t,oelpe thirteenths of
the sovereign States so uniting were slave States,
what is the logical conclusion when the fact
stares us in the face that that Union has existed
prosperously for nearly eighty years, and not
until the United States consists of eighteen free,
to but fifteen slave States, does anarchy and
treason stalk through the land. Or is it merely
the fulfllment Of the prophecy that "This