The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-11-16
THE UNIoN-ITs STABILITY.

an apprehension that the election of Mr.. Polk
will seriously endanger, if it does not infallibly
produce dissolution of the Union not from any
spirit OF revolt or disloyalty in the Wings but
IN pursuance of cherished purpose of the Multi
hers on the one hand and of the Aboltionsts on
the other. The Nulters will, it is thought, de-
mand the repeal of the Tariff and the Annexation
the Union and as they will, in all probability,
not be grat6ed in both these particulars, it ia be-
lleved that an attempt will be made to dissolve
the Union, and set up Southern Confederacy
From President sympathzing with the Multi
fiers in all their free trade and annexation views
little Executive efficiency can be expected.
The Abotionsts, on the contrary, will de-
mand dissolution of the Union, if Texas is an
nexed; and, between Scyla and Charybds, the
ship OF State, many apprehend, can not escape in
safety. But we have not despaired of the Union.
Whatever may be the state of feeling upon the
subject at the South or the North-however un-
patriotic the Nulllfiers or the Abolitionists, the
practical difficulties which stand in the way of
their reasonable projects will be found on trial
to be insurmountable and may be relied on as
the best guaranty for the permanence of the
Union.
We will briefly advert to some of the impedi-
ments which either the Nulliiers or the Adolf
tionsts must encounter before they can induce
separation OF the North and South. If South
ern Convention we're to assemble and resolve to
withdraw from the Union, and form Southern
Confederacy, it would Immediately become a
question of arithmetic with those States which
lie contiguous to the free States, whether thew
would gain or lose by the separation The ad-
vantages of separation it is not very easy to per-
ceive. They could not expect to become manufac
turers for the Southern Confederacy, as the Yam
KEGS are for the Unien at present because one
of the principal inducements to such separation
would be the establishment of free trade with
Europe. In conederacy composed entirely of
Southern States, the planting interest would so
entirely predominant over the mechanical and
manufacturing, as to shut out from the latter all
hope OF receiving the fostering protection of Gov
eminent. The Northern slave States, therefore,
would not be likely TO enter Southern Confed.
eracy with the hope of monopolizing the market
for manufactured goods. The only advantage
Gift can be so called) which these States could
promise themselves by joining the Southern
Confcdoraoy, would be the hope of wounding and
lhJurlng the Northern States, by deprivng them
OF the unrestricted, and to some extent, the ex-
elusive trade of the Southern States. Such a
feeling might perhaps operate for short time
upon an excited public mind but would not be
likely to prevail over the strong appeals of self.
interest and Of personal security which would
address them from the opposite quarter.
A separation of the North from the South
would be instantly followed by universal rush
Of the slaves of Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky,
and Missouri to the Northern Confederacy. The
laws of the Union which at present guarantee to
the Southern people the possession of their slave
property, and which require and enforce the re-
storation Of slave who escapes, with the pun.
sbment of all who assist him, would be instantly
abrogated by the act OF separation. In such
state of things, slaves would not only be permit
ted to enter the free States, but they would be
lhV1eu ana assisted, perhaps, by the Northern
Contederacy to make their escape. These con-
sidcrations, and many others equally important,
could not fail to press upon the public mind of
the Northern slave States, and they would be
mpelled by every motive of interest and safety
to spurn the Southern alliance The same con-
celebrations would induce them to adhere to The
Northern Confederacy. And not doubt exists
that the patriotic States of North Carolina and
Tennessee would do likewise
The Union, if divided at all, must hence be
severed by the line which separates North Caro-
lima and Tennessee from South Carolina and the
Cult States 1t may be questioned whether
those States could effect separation against the
wish OF the others; but supposng the discover
ance to take place, they would cut but an indf-
ferent figure in the scale of nations. They could
not unite with Texas, for the simple reason that
the Northern Confederacy would demand free
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