The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1866-01-17
The Rubicon Passed.

Slavery is dead-foreyer abolished. 1t
is fixed, unchangeable fact--a written
history. Its prohibition for all time in
this country is part Of the fundamen-
tai law. Slavery or involuntary servi-
tude, except for punishment for crime, is
thing Of the past. We feel thankful
that the Rubicon is passed, for two rea-
sons: We feel thankful because the evil
is forever removed from the land. We
feel thankful because q lever of great
power has been stricken from the hands OF
corrupt and designing men. The north
ern people have had a just adherence Of
the institution Of slavery, aud bad men
have taken advantage Of this fact, and
seiziDg upon it rode safely into place and
power, only TO work evil and disgrace to
the country.
The sympathies Of the people have
been adverse to slavery, and that sympa.
thy has been most sadly perverted from
its legitimate influences by political dem
agogues who only used it rs a means Of
selfaggrandizement and promotion. 1t
was clean weapon in dirty hands, and
we are thankful that il has been stricken
from their grasp.
The democratic party has been de-
nounced rs Pfo.slayery party, not be-
cause those most bold in making the
charge deemed it true, but because they
wanted au exclusive monopoly Of the an.
ti.slayery feeling in the north. That
many OF the more ignorant Of the follow
ers Of these men thought the charge true,
we have no doubt, but that tho more in-
telligcnt believed il, can hardly be deem
ed probable.
The Democrntie pnrty, Rs M national
organization, never adopted n resolution,
one line ~ letter Of which, was 10 favor
Of slAyefy. IL never, through It's repre-
sentatises, supported 10 Congress Any
measure 10 extend or psrpoiuate slavery.
That party was 10 tbe aseendancy When
the ordinance Was adopted Nhich made
the Nohhwestofb territory iree. u Wa
IN ihe ascendancy ~ New York, Wben
slavery was abolished there. II Was The
Democratic Party n Peonsylssnis, that
abolished slavery n thai State; 10 also
IN Nss jersey While The Democratic
I Party bal control ~ National affairs che
numtef ~ ffes States Was Increased ifDm
one 20 niasfssH. snd ths slave states FROM
fpsips 10 ToWrfssa only This is tbe 20.
cord u fhs Democnie Party sbirh
has been so bitterly denounced Ny the de-
s.gn.na. a, q poo slagsrl rsfiy.
EBt iha Dsmoeatie Pany sas guilty
n iIhs siot if sas aiillng slavery .ho q
o. aislishs.l. bat i dsmsadei shat thai
end .liaali l.a rrsrhei boz legitimate sol
lessi aaf-is ils aay 10 hss been fearh
fhfsssh State ffiiao lt 1s. .snded
that tf.a raasiHai.8u iio8Il ie eauial Dgf
TLn aas ii.a hssd sni ifoni n lts ~
fss,lrr lt $50 nai adm.i ihai slavery
rss.i ~ HrBii o. aia.isiei by eaiiing
o. siatriatisfs r1tfhfasts aHf fi'.aias
BE- aas HHHnr Ia .ssFs fha frafls io d.
ris ar fhsmssifrs cd fts h.siorf "A 'hs
saaaifg fsHf fiairafei .fs faf.f.aa .g ih.
...f-a.s n 90 ifes stsfss ffam pee fs
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sfsffs .s Ie61. sss aaiy foo m0fs ihas
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at tfFf fffanri go malf1rl afff tl.s
srnsssaaa n co. sisfs Fessf De i
y asfsrtsisss fastei apea q faifIf'
tsf.stai ftn nsf s3ma ~ ~ 80
nsst tH ~ Rspstiess Psiiy hss'