“Under the Oaks” Memorial

“Under the Oaks” Memorial. Dedicated July 11, 1987 (Michigan’s Sesquicentennial Year). , (side one) , Few sermons have ever struck Jackson with the force of one delivered in the Congregational Church on Oct. 13, 1850. There, the Reverend Gustavius Foster preached from Titus 3:1, “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, and to be ready to every good work.” , The text is controversial enough in itself. In its application, it was explosive, for the full title of Rev. Foster’s address was, “A sermon upon the doctrine of subjection to ‘the powers that be’ in its application to the Fugitive Slave Law.” , That law required Americans to assist in the return of runaway slaves to their owners. Many area Christians were active in or morally supportive of the Underground Railway, which helped runaway slaves to freedom. , In the congregation that morning was Charles Deland, editor of Jackson’s American Citizen newspaper. He obtained a transcript of the sermon and printed it the next day in his paper. , Reverend Foster had posed the question, What position shall I take concerning this law? Shall I obey it or disobey it? He advocated bold violation of the law . . . high tides of indignation shall wash it away . . . While most northerners were hostile to the law there was no consensus on the matter of disobedience and its advocacy outraged some citizens. , Editor Deland later played a key role in organizing the new Republican Party, serving as the organization secretary for calling the citizens of Michigan to the historic July 8, 1854 meeting “under the oaks” in Jackson. Ultimately, that party sounded the death knell for all laws supporting the institution of slavery. , (side two) The 1854 Call to Convention. To the people of the State of Michigan: A great wrong has been perpetrated. The slave power of the country has triumphed, liberty is trampled under foot. The Missouri Compromise, a solemn compact entered into by our fathers, has been violated, and vast territory dedicated to freedom has been opened to slavery. , This act, so unjust to the north, has been perpetrated under circumstances which deepen its perfidy. An Administration placed in power by northern voters, has brought to bear all the resources of executive corruption in its support ... , … Such an outrage upon liberty, such a violation of plighted faith, cannot be submitted to. This great wrong must be righted, or there is no longer a north in the councils of the union. , The extension of slavery under the folds of the American Flag is a stigma upon Liberty. The indefinite increase of slave representation in Congress is destructive of the equality between freemen which is essential to the permanence of the union. , The safety of the union, the rights of the north, the interests of free labor, the destiny of a vast territory and its untold millions for all coming time, and finally, the high aspirations of humanity for universal freedom, all are involved in the issue forced upon the country by the slave power and its plastic northern tools. , In view therefore of the recent action of congress upon this subject, and the evident designs of the slave power to attempt still further aggressions upon freedom, we invite all our fellow citizens without reference to former political associations, who think that the time has arrived for a union at the north to protect our liberty from being overthrown and downtrodden, to Assemble in Mass Convention. on Thursday, the 6th of July, at one o’clock at Jackson, there to concentrate the popular sentiment of this state against the encroachment of the slave power. , Isaac P. Christiancy, Chairman; C. V. Deland, Secretary , (side three) Gratitude to memorial donors.. The land for this park honoring the birthplace of the Republican Party was donated as a gift to the people of the City of Jackson and the State of Michigan by Michael Dively and Jerry Roe. , Gratitude is also hereby expressed to the many citizens who contributed services and/or funding to make this memorial park possible. Following is a list of persons and organizations who contributed, or in whose honor contributions were made of a value of $500 or more: , Dabbert and Fleming, Architects . Francis and Janet Berkemeier . Rep. and Mrs. Philip E. Hoffman . Republican National Committee . St. Joseph County Republicans . Sanuel Higby Camp Foundation . Hillsdale County Republicans . M. B. and Jeanne Townsend, Jr. . Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Hooker . G. William and Loisjean Moody . Jackson County Republicans . Robert Beardslee Families . Senator and Mrs. Nick Smith , Ionia County Republicans . Mr. and Mrs. Don T McKone . Consumers Power Company . Darryl and Sharon Allen . Mary-Keith Ballantine . Jack and Aida Dakessian . Rocco and Maria Lodise . Charles McWhorter . Jackson Foundation . Willian J. Dowley . W. Jack Hurula . Peter P. Lodise , Benjamin Franklin Bailey . Jin Metcalf Excavating . Richard and Helen DeVos . Howard Jean Selland . Fritz Advertising Co. . Peter and Joan Secchia . Aeroquip Foundation . John and Joanne Price . Frances Joy Bailey . Richard W. Foster . Peter G. Cook , (side four is blank)