The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-12-10

FOR the
Local Correspondence.


Local Correspondence.
Mn. EDITOR: perceive that you have
noticed in your columns Thanksgiving
discourse, recently preached by me, in
the Presbyterian Church, in this place.
1t would have been much moro congo
NAL to my feelings had you suffered the
discourse, prepared solely for the edifca-
ton of my own congregation and those
who might see fit to unite with us in the
observance of day of thanksgiving, to
pass without any public allusion, whatov-
err, being made TO it.
While, of course, appreciate the kind
ly motive which dictated your remarks,
and mean now no reflection upon your
intentions, allow me to say that l fear a
misapprehension may arise in the minds Of
some in regard to tho DRIFT of my dis
course-from a single paragraph in your
notice. 1t would certainly be very natu-
raj for the reader to infer from it that
my discourse, either altogether or for the
most part, was simply TRADE against
Garrisonian abolitionism. hope l had
a better and nobler object in view than
this, and if any present failed to discover
what that object was, it was not certainly
because did not take pains to be under
stood. How far l alluded to Garrisonian,
or to any other type of abolitionism, will
be seen by the following extract, which /
respectfully ask you to insert in this con-
nection. Excuse its length. I do not
see how | can make myself understood
by any shorter extract. In it is contained
the only allusion 10 abolitionism.
Respectfully yours, d. M. G.
at matters very little, just now, what
may be your individual opinion or mine
concerning that most extraordinary polit-
ical and social phenomenon of modern
times, viz: African Slavery, embosomed
in this free, democratic, christian republic.
l may execrate the system as one unjust
and cruel to the black man, and demoral.
izing TO the white man, and ardently pray
for its extinction, in Gods own way and
time. You may be red-hot Garrisonian
Abolitionist-tWin brother TO a .Jfre-eat
ing Secessionist. Your neighbor may be
what, in my opinion, is far worse than Ell
thcr, a negrophobiast, negro-hater, one
who despises negro simply because he
is negro, casting contempt upon por-
ton of our common humanity, for whom
Christ died, thus insulting God, the Gre
ator and Redeemer of humanity. II
matters not, just now, what may be your
opinions, or mine, concerning slavery, as,
it has been truly remarked, I'VE have
been hurried past the place of argument
against slavery. We are done with all
that; the books and pamphlets, the docu.
ments and statistics are growing quickly
obsolete, for they have done their work
we need not DO careful Of them for our
future use. We shall not need them ex-
cept as relics Of well-fought field !
say it matters very little what may be
your individual opinion, or mine, concern.
ing slavery, just at this crisis, so far as
the final issue is concerned, since God is
dealing directly with it himself.
"Said distinguished politician, to a
gentleman, 1 frankly confess to you that
for myself | take no interest in the re-
gro; but, gentlemen, I am at loss To
conceive how any man can review the his
tory of this rebellion without clear con-
viction that Almighty Providence does.
$50, we say, whether we take an inter
est in the enslaved African or demoraliz-
ed white man, or in the progress and ulti-
mate triumph of the principles of civil
and religious liberty, or in the preserva-
ton in its integrity of our glorious I'm
ion, with its 'time-honored traditions
and precious memories, almighty Provi-
dence does, and is causing all things, even
this terrible war; to work together for our
common good. Let us in reverential awe
stand still and see the salvation Of our
God"
AFTER the present issue of the Ne,oS