East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-04-29
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, APRIL 49, 1862

should be needed Ii was not, as i,
sometimes supposed, Shareholders re
bellion in its origin, for il is a matter oi
fact that the party at the South to which
Shareholders az class were attached was
not the disunionist party there.
The senstiveness which enabled the
leaders Of the democratic party in the
South at any time to unite the South, by
playing on the slavery chord, was not il
the property nerve. 1t was caused by
that morbid condition inseparsble from
the presence of diverse races in the same
community.
To the people of the Union, however
it was not so important how the result
was produced--its effect was to disfran
chise them. All power was vested in the
clique which dominated in the South. II
was to put down this dominion that the
organization which elected Mr.. Lincoln
was formed. 1t was, therefore, against
slavery as the governing power of the
country that the republican party rose a:
a national party, and not to abolish
slavery as local institution. This was
not only avowed in the platform of the
party, but it is manifest that whether the
leaders Of that party were sincere or not
the people who gave them power were
sincere. We have but to consider their
conduct is see that they at least were
sincere, and il is Of no moment to con-
slider whether the leaders were so or not.
There is no mistaking their purpose in
the matter. This is demonstrated by
their action in relation to the compromise
Of 1850. The terms of that compromise
were not satisfactory to the North. But
as, by common consent, it was under
stos1 to have settled all slavery ques-
tions, they accepted it as a means of pre-
venting slavery issues, and thereby to put
down slavery as governing power of
the Federal government. That this is
true is demonstrated by tho fact that
their public men, who truly represented
the public will, in contesting the terms
of the compromise were not counter.
anced in attempting to disturb the COM
promise, and lost their positions, and both
parties were obligel to proclaim adhe.
renee to it in the contest of 1852. So
strong was this feeling that the main
reason of the success of the democrats
in that contest was, that being the chief
authors of the compromise they were
with reason believed to be more friendly
to it than their antagonists.
had been proviso man myself from
the start, and opposed the dominion of
slavery, but believed that General Pierce,
who had been close friend of Silas
Wright, would have sense and patriotism
enough to oppose any measure intended
to make the slavery question so as to en-
able the southern clique to rule the ma
tion. l was deceived, and the country
was deceived. The universal discomfort
manifested at his breach of faith to the
nation in the repeal of the Missouri CON-
promise every one remembers; and if l
refer to his unenviable position now be-
fore the country, it is not in any unkind-
ness Of spirit, but for the purpose of vim
dicating the public judgment upon great
public measures.
know that some persons would ex-
plain the acquiescence Of the people in
the compromise measures Of 1850, and
their Indignation at the repeal of the
compromise measure of 1920, by assum
ing that the people were tickle and def
cient in judgment, thinking that those
only were logical and consistent who re.
sisted both these measures, and who
would have persisted in making issues on
those measures after they were passed.
But it is just that difference between the
people and that class of persons which
marks the difference in the objects of the
people and the objects of this class. The
people of the Union have been willing to
leave it to the people of the States affect.
cd by it to deal with the institution, but
unwilling that it should be extended, and
unwilling to have the institution made
use of to control the Federal govern
ment. The ultra anti-slavery men 90
further, and cooperate with slave inte.
rest in making questions affecting
slavery, but for directly the contrary
purpose. Now, the masses Of the people
do not participate in the objects either OF
those who wish to make the government
Of the Union the active agent to extend
or to abolish slavery, not because they
are Indifferent whether the institution
continues to exist or not on the con.
trary, they are most anxious to see
slavery extinguished, ani are ready to
cooperate generously in the work, bu,
they are law abiding, and know that by
law it belongs to the governments Of the
States to decide that question.
The slavery government was broken
down by tho election Of Lincoln by the
people Of the North, and they had righ,
to break it down, and, in my Judgment
the effect will be to extinguish slavery
not because the general government car
or will be used to decree abolition. The
effect, however, will follow, because il
will work complete change in the tao
tics of the ambitious men Of the South
No sane man believes slavery good
thing, aud the revolution in opinion or
this subject which Mr.. Hunter said in on,
of his last speeches in the Senate, had
taken place there within the last twenty
years, does not prove to my mind tina
he or the people have had new revela
ton and new code Of ethics, or different
conscicnces than the fathers whose teach
ings they have come to disregard. Al