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

added fourteen free States 10 the Union,
through the aid of the war, the most ter
rible and devastating that ever swept over
any country, the sacrifice Of half mill
ion Of lives and billions Of money, does
it prove it TO be the party Of freedomi
The Democratic policy added eighteen
free States TO The Union, withom the toss
ofa single dollar in money, or the aid of
a single man IN arms, and yet the Dem
ocratic Party is the pro-slavery party
This is history, 1t can not DO refuted.
Bot after all the war and bloodshed,
and all the sacrifice Of life and the expen.
dture of money, it had TO come down TO
the Democratic policy, and abolish slave
ry through tho peaceful and legitimate
action Of tho people. Lincoln's procla-
nation never freed slave. President
Johnson admitted as much when he said
that slavery had been abolished by the
friction of the war. That proclamation
was a
- tale told in idleness.
Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing"
II was brutena tulnaen, and so the Repub-
lcan leaders tacilly admitted when they
asked the States 10 amend the Conslitu-
tion. If the proclamation abolished
slavery, there was no necessity Of any ac-
tion on the part Of States with view to
abolishing it again. Lincoln pledged tho
entire civil and military power of the gov
eminent 10 sustain his proclamation.
Was not that cnoughi No! By no
means. 1t was well understood that the
assumption Of the President that lie cod,
by proclamation, change or abrogate the
organic or statute law of State, would
be ridculed by any court in the Union,
as soon rs the day Of sober sense return
ed, and hence tho sure and legal process
Of changing the Constitution was resort
ed to.
But to-day il is all a dead issue, and
we feel thankful that it is so. The ne
gro is TO be the chief sufferer, in couse-
quence Of the violent and rapid manner
in which it has been accomplished, but
that is not our fault. One element of
discord is removed from the politics and
councils of the nation; an element of
power has been struck from the bands Of
those who were welding it for venal and
corrupt purposes, and the sutferings Of the
liberated slaves are of far less considera-
ton than the dangers which were threat
ening the nation. The old Jeffersonian
reqoisitiou Of honesty aud capablity in
the selection Of men for lawmakers, and
judges Of the law, were being lost sight
Of, and the only question asked WAS as to
the aspirants views in regard TO slavery.
Many men wholly unworthy Of any trust,
seeing this. became rampant anti slavery
nen---noi from principle, but from policy
and were aL once elevated TO positions
where they were corrupiing the halls Of
legislation and closing the avenue Of pub
lie justice.
We are thankful-wo feel TO rejoice
that these things are TO have an end,
and that We hfo To- have higher stand
ard of morals 10 our legislative halls and
under the ermiBo Of our judiciary. Those
Who formerly agreed in tho great essential
/ principles Of the Democratic party, but who
have become separated in this ubDatuAal
discussion about slavery, will agAin pin
hands around the good old Democrats
banner, and bear il Aloft 20 battle and 10
victoy.-Port Huron Commereioi.