The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-07-02

or Federal, which shall in all things
prove faithful to the Constitution. and
seek under its guidance to restore the
old Union, and thus give peace, pros
perity and happiness snce more to our
people.
1. That we it deem our duty to join
with our fellow citizens Of every portion
of our common country, regardless OF
former creeds, platforms or prejudloes)
in every constitutional effort which has
or may be made by the administrator
to put an end to the present rebellion.
8. That we have no sympathy fer
disunionists South, or disunionists
North we hate the principles Of both,
and if possible, despise more than
either, those men holding Federal off,
css, who under the guise of patriotism,
and with loud protestations Of devotion
to country upon their lips, thrust their
arms shoulder deep into the Federal
Treasury, and rob unfortunately tax
payer and soldisr-Gevernment and
people.
9. That free thought, free speech,
and free press, are all that make the
elective franchise valuable to freemen.
The power that deprives people of
their rights, is despotism-the people
who tamely permit these inestimable
privileges to be wrested from them,
are only fit for the condition of serfs.
10. That the proclamation of the
Federal Executive of January /, 1868
declaring the slaves in certain States
free, and his assumption and exercise
of power to suspend the writ of ha6eas
corpus in States where war does not
exist, are acts unwarranted by the
Constitution Of the United States, and
is nothing short of rebellion against
the government he has sworn to sup
port.
IL. That the arrest of @. L. Val
landigham, of Ohio-his condemnation
and Punishment by that commission,
and the Federal Executive, are fragrant
violations of the great charter of our
liberty, the Constitution. We de-
nounce the action of the Executive in
the premises, as gross outrage upon
freemen, and free governments. Such
acts clearly define a tyrant.
IL. That we cherish the warmest
sentiments of regard for the brave
soldiers who have fought and are still
fighting to maintain our government
for constitutional liberty and laws.
We admire their courage, fidelity and
patriotism, and whether resisting trail
tors and disunionists at home, or in the
battle field, we pledge ourselves to
labor fer the accomplishment of the
same ends.
Is. That in view of the. sacrifices
the people of the North have made,
and are still making to sustain the
Government and restore the old order
of things-by virtue of the immense
treasure they are laying daily at the
feet of the enthusiastically virtue
of the blood of the many thousands of
our brethren who have lain down
their lives to secure to us, and to pos
terity the blessings of civil liberty-by
virtue of the widow and the orphans
cry, which ascends frem every portion
of the land, we implore our public SER
wants to throw aside every political
consideration which binders free, un-
biased, and cordial support of the gov
eminent as our fathers made it, and
stand by the people while they in their
power and might end this bloody war,
and save the country from disgrace
and ruin.
Can our readers tell Us what saeri-
fees Gee. B. Turner, Asa Kingsbury,
Joseph Smith, and other would be lead
ers of the Democratic party have made
to sustain the "Union as it was" and
the Constitution as it is written."I
IA. The democratic party has no
concealments It's members meet
openly they speak plainly yet firmly
its principles are clearly deined-are
we'll understood. 1t calls upon con-
sentative men of all parties to aid in
rescuing the country from the grasp of
revolutlenists and disunionists North
and South. 1t obeys law always, and
will insist upon like obedience by
others. TO this end, it invokes discus
sion-a thorough investigation of its
principles. 1t denounces as mischiev-
Gus in the extreme, all secret political
meetings by whatever name they are
called, believing that they tend only to
create distrust among neighbors, and
feelings Of insecurity for person and
property, in communities where they
exist. Principles which will not bear
the test of reason--of argument
which shuns the light Of day, should
be Indignantly frowned upon by all