The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-07-03
WAR OR COMPROMISE.

In looking over the several PROPOSE
tons advanced, suggested and acted upon
during the last session of Congress we are
impressed and burdened with the evidence
of the madness of political partizanship.
In reading either one of the propositions
for adjustment of our national difficulties,
and any true lover of the Union would
heartily say 81 accept this rather than
live under present horrors and prospect
i've miseries, the result of its rejection.
We strive by feverish expectancy TO
crowd out of mind the ills and woes that
have so soon besieged us, rs the result of
representative infatuation, and are thirsty
for blood-the blood of our countrymen
as the specific for national prosperity.
But surely we have evidence enough
around US, if we will only realize it, that
we are on the verge of the fate of former
republics; and the people must demand
of their representatives in Congress that
peace must take the place of war. Let
us call to mind that even JEFF. Davis
and Tombs, of the Committee of Thir-
teen, would accept Mr.. Crittenden's pro-
posed terms of compromise. Mr. Crit
tendon and Mr.. Douglas land who daros
doubt their patriotism0 plead for their
adoption, and when they asked Republi-
can Senators "If the Chicago Platform
was of more importance than the preser-
walton of the Union9" they were answered
only with silent sneers or with impudent
abuse"
What is our condition to-daya And
let each man realize his own condition
and strive 10 array the inevitable future
as arguments to force us back TO rational
thought and action. Every branch of
business is paralyzed. The merchant is
almost without customers, and the little
money ahoat is subject to ruinous dis
count. Farmers are without market
for their produce. Lumbermen are stag
gering under financial depletion. Me-
chanics are without job, and laborers
are fortunate if they secure bare subsis-
tonce. Business men in all departments
are rapidly being drawn into the maels-
from of bankruptcy and insolvency, and
this is only the beginning of the end, if
this war continues.
We shall be burdened with n national
debt. Farmers, your labor, and your
children and their labor, is to be taxed to
pay this. Merchants, your largest per-
centage of profit must 90 into the public
treasury TO fatten treasury teaches.
Read the following as our doom-un-
less common sense and compromise takes
the place Of partizauship and warfare. 1t
is from the pen of Rev. Sidney Smith,
of England, who drew it forty years ago,
as a warning to this country:
"Taxes upon every article which enter
into the mouth, or covers the back, or is
placed under the foot--taxes upon every
thing which it is pleasant 10 sec, hear, feel,
smell or taste-taxes upon warmth, light
and locomotion--taxes on everything on
earth, and the water under the earth--on
everything that comes from abroad, or is
grown at home-taxes on the raw mate
rlal-taxes on every fresh value that is
added TO il by the industry of man
taxes on the sauce which pampers mans
appetite, and the drug that restores him
TO health-on the ermine which decorates
Judge, and the rope which hangs the Grim
inal--on the poor mans salt and the rich
mans spice-on the brass nails of the
coffin, and the ribbons of the bride-at
bed or board, couchant or levant, we must
pay, The schoolboy whips his taxed top
the beardless youth manages his taxed
horse, with taxed bride, on a taxed
road and the dying Englishman, pour.
ing bis medicine, which has paid seven
per cent, into spoon that has paid 6f.