Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-12-23
The Nan for the Tines.

y 81 have read the Presidents message
with great care and if the republican party
pose ad motives AZ pure as Abraham Lin
coin Icould ote with that party. He comes
down to level with his fellow men and la
bofs 18th Gliesa and for them In some
PARTS of his message there is found that ho-
illness which hreathes divinity, like that
seen in holy witt, and which gives the bi-
BE a power that cannot be broken. What
have understood as the constitutional
rights of the South kept me from voting for
Mr. Lincoln. But that does not hinder my
according to him greater degree Of good
nees ch&n 1 have known 10 fall TO the share
of any President since Washington"
The above is copied from a letter we re-
ceiyed last week from leading farmer re-
siding in the South part Of Grant County,
who always votes the democratic ticket up
on such constitutional principles as he has
been taught by Seutlesn Statesmen. His
letter shows that be pays higher regard
10 the Constitution as he understands 1t
than he does to righteousness, holiness,
Co.'s Higher Law and all that we love as
true foundation principles. We cannot cen
sure men for holding irreconcilable notions
motions that may lead themselves and
country to ruin. But if all men would
read the Constitution for themselves. IN
stead OF taking the Interpretation Of tyrants,
traitors, haters of laboring men and those
who despise the poor, they would be very
far from hitching to the car which crushes
human beings to earth whenever it moves.
The Constitution warrants no such inter
pretation as makes some men slaves, some
men shareholders. Nor could all states
men, legislators, religious councils, synods
and holy pretending powers on cath, all
combined make and dedicate Constitution
which could rightfully ordain the holding
of single slave, much less fou. millions.
This the fathers of the government knew.
and when they framed The Constitution
they so framed it as to not be responsible
for slavery, so framed it as that the courts
lawfully wipe it out any moment as a state
right. And for this neglect on the part of
unjust judges, here is this war, precipitated
as ajudgment of almighty God. Says one.
"SIayery is wrong, but it is constitutional
Says another, "Secession is wrong, but it
is constitutional" Says third, Though
slavery be wrong, it is constitutional right
aud therefore cannot be hndered in all the
territories" And so the first error affirm
in@ that slavery is constitutional is father
70 dozen worse errors than the first.
As to the message Of Mr.. Lincoln, which
our friend considers holy beyond what is
common outside Of revelation, We suppose
he refers to such parts as recognize the
hand of God and to the lofty, inspiring
thnnahis touching on duty toward the Of
tended blacks. Sa3s the President ''lp
"givng freedom TO the slave, we ensure
''freedom 10 the free, honorable alike il
"what we give and what we receive. We
"shall notify save or meaHly lose the last,
sbest hope Of the earth. Other means
"may sHcceed; this could not fail. The
"way is plan, peaceful, generous, just--a
'way which. if followed, the world will for
"e,e, applaud. and God must forever bless"
Again: "When you shall have put down
the slave, and make him beast of the field,
crushing out the soul that the almighty
gave HIM, are you quite sure that the de
mon Of tyranny will not turn aid rend
yon? lie who would be free must consent
10 have no slavep
I3ut Tor such borrowed thoughts, Presi-
dent Lincoln deserves no creGit. History
tells Us Of no slavehoding nation that did
not itself finally pass under the yoke of des
potism Those which indicated their love
OF liberty by emancipation remained free;
those which continued to traffic in flesh and
blood to the end Of the chapter wore the
manacles at last on their own limbs, as
they amply deserved, and as Jehovah had
Justly deoreed. Mr.. Lincoln merely told
over these truths of history--all Of which
laugh at Constitutions and Court inter
pretations. OR government has hereto
fose concealed these truths. aud for Pres
ident to notice them is like raising some
great treasure from a thousand wears sleep,
or like some discovery of never failing sal
walton. God bless Mr.. Lincoln fer daring
10 pnt such history Of our future into his
message.
A p,ou, IN Tla ,r;or ,,ar,har. If