The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-03-09

The history Of nations seems 20 Ne TO have
taught With some dsgreS OF e@Phasis the truth
that large empires, whether the magnitude be of
territory or population, can be held together in
only two ways: firstly, BY central despotism,
which controls the whole machinery Of govern
1ent and maintains itself by the sword or, sec
ondly, by homogeneous institutions, sentiments
and manners among the people. An external
unity may be maintained by the strorg hand Of
restraint as barrel is kept together by its iron
hoops; or deeper internal unity may be ce-
nented by the attractive influence of common
desires, feelings, hopes and prscticss
II the United States wish TO preserve the mag
ni6cent dominion which position and circumstAn-
ces have given them, they can do il in one or
the other Of these two ways TO which We refer.
They can uphold it by q strong central govern
ment, enforcing its DEGREES by the pitiess hand
OF authority; or they may knit Is together in
ternally by the ties OF common convictions, sen,
timents, duties and destiniss By conforming
their institutions, local well As general, more
aud more 10 the great idea Of liberty and equali-
~, which the distinctive marks Of their pol
icy, We shall grow up into comprehensive, yet
compact and living body, which may safely
stretch its arms from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
and IRON the ST. Lawrence to the Rio GrAnde.
But II We allow any AntAgonistic element in the
and more general tendencies, We must break in
evitsbly into discord.
Fortunately, in addition 10 the typographical
features of our country, which adapt it in q
similar manner 10 unity Of national life, and 10
unity alone, We have derived from our fathers
IN all respects save one, homogeneous institutions
and kindred tastes and manners. Our people,
whatever their special origin, are yet substanti-
ally Of the same race. language, industry and
religion the mechanism OF their government
combines the amplest local independence vita
central sOlidity and power, asd gives the freest
play 10 the energies OF the people, while il pre-
serves all the essentials OF stability aud order;
and thus far in their career they have encoun-
tered but one serious obstacle 10 the benefcent
working OF their peculiar system. Slavery,
dropped into the machinery almost accidentally,
like grain of sand, 1t was supposed by the
constructors, would be ground to pieces by the
machinery itself but instead Of being ground
IN pieces IL has .s.srsrd Ine movement and al
most arrested the machine. Slavery alone, Of all
the causes of dscu ssion existing among us, de-
nying the fundamental truths OF our system, and
yet aiming al the control Of that system, has de-
Veloped AntagOnsms OF sentiment and principle
which have iufamed themselves into civil war
Defeated in its efforts TO acquire political suprem-
acy BY it's own inherent weakness, by the supe-
Tiorlty OF free society IN the production oil
wealth and numbers, it has fang down the
gage OF battle TO the government and the pso-
pie.
Now this element Of confusion must not only
be suppressed, bus cast OUT il We would main
tain the harmony Of the Union. The war itself
will cripple it, probably. but legislation must
give it the death blow. The organic Law must
be so amended to rid our system forever Of
the malignant inpOsthums which has already
psrAlyzed the vital parts. and brought us TO the
verge Of death. Ii is not enough that We free
the slaves on the grounds of military necessity
we must purify the whole body polite of sla-
very An evil which has shown itself the utter
enemy OF our peace, which is incompatible with
the preservation OF rePubleanism on this conti-
nent, and which the devoted adberents of the
rebellion abroad. like Lord Whar~lihe and Mr.
spence, condemn as disgrace to the civilization
Of the age, deserves 10 mercy at the hands Of
those on whom it has inflicted 90 much suffering
and wrongly y. Ere. Post, FEB. Is.