The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-28


was Withdrawn, and the highly attractive and po-
pular, though not novel, anti-slavcry opera was
brought out in Philadelphia, with an entire change
Of performers, and new scenery and decora-
lions. The Roman Lucrena, by the wrongs she
endured, and the tragical and suicidal death she
suffered, kindled the flames of rebellion, changed
The form of government In her day, and foundeda
republic. Our Yankee Lucreta is, no doubt, am
bilious tofollow the example of her great proto.
type and impelled by the overbearlng insolence
of the Southern Tarqulns, can no longer restrain
herself from ringing the ocsln of revolution, dis
solving the bunglng constitution of our forefathers
and abolishing the present national confederacy.
Lucretia the first raised a republic. Lucretia
the second Is bent on running one. In these days
of political volcanic eruptions. we would serious
y recommend the friends of the constitution to
keep their eye on Lucy, and see that she has no
suicidal dagger concealed under her clothss for If
she should take it into her head to complete the
parallel, there is no knowing but she might get "a
Brutus, or brute of some sort or other 10 avenge
her wrongs and involve us IN all the horrors of
anarchy and insurrection.
These movements, However, whatever rdicule
and apprehension they may excite, from the sero-
comic combination of characters engaged IN them,
involve the abandonment of former party lines, the
entire disorganzation of all the existing political
connections, and the adoption of such a course and
such policy that must, if some me ans of proven
ton and moderation be not taken by the rest Of
the country, eventually lead to the destruction of
the fairest fabric of republic which the sum- from
the first day of Its shining, ever yet enlightened
According to the appearance of things In the
present Congress, and the development of public
opinion in the free States, there seems to be no
rational probability that there will be, during the
present session, any government established in
New Mexico or California; neither Is it at all pro-
bable that there will be much expedition in legis-
iation, with regard to the slave population In the
District OF Columbia.
Beyond these points, the compromises of the con-
sttution restrict the action of Congress- The
ultras OF the North, however, want to amend the
constitution In order to reach the slaves of the
South, while the ultras of the South contend
Tor such construction of it the representatives
OF the free States will, probably, never sanction
under the present Development of public opinion
among their constituents. The recent organiZa-
ton OF free soil party, under the auspices of
disappointed politician, Is merely step in the
progress of that fanaticism and utraism which are
beginning to develope themselves more fully since
the recent Presidential election
But the friends of the constitution as it exists
OF the government, as it has been conducted-of
the new administration, when 1t shall develope Its
future policy will be called upon in the event of
this movement assuming more formidable aspect,
to meet such startling issues and menacing aglta-
ton with frmness, resolution, and moderation.
Tosuppose, this enlightened age, that such glo-
rlOus m ma fob Of r,,,n
the confederacy of the United States, will, in
consequence of the political contentious OF two
great parties, be dissolved like dream that every
element of civilization in the country will be at
uprooted, and the thirty great component
parts OF this vast republic be torn asunder and
given over to the horrors of intestine war; on ac-
count of the social position of the three millions of
colored population In the Southern States, Is to
suppose that the world has reached the most ad-
vanced point of human progress, and that on this
continent We are ready, under the influence and
promptings of disappointed men and ill-con-
dltoned women, to 60 back to the habits
of barbaric life, and the contests of the
early and savage ages Of the world. These men
and women-Oor the women in the North, to the
shame and scandal of the sex, always mixed
IN such agitations, )-may be very respectable, in
social point of view, in the neIghborhoods
where they reside; but the intelligent and really
respectable portion of the community at large,
must be made aware of their dangerous machina-
tions IN order to estimate them and their projects
IN the proper light, and form correct Judgment
of those movements which, If not nipped in the
bud, may lead to much national injury and degra-
dation.
Slavery in the Southern States may be an ano-
malous condition of that race of human beings
among whom 1t exists but have the humanity
mongers, and the broad phylactered hypocrltes of
the Van Buren, school. and the notorlety seeking
ilne rants, with Lucreha Mott as their yripa dom
ma, no commisseraton nor bowels of compassion
for the white slaves of the North-the slckly,
hare. wrought and ill-pad needle.women of all
our great Northern cities and the thlnly-clad,
badlyfed, and mlserably- floating porula-
lion that is to be found at all our large factories
and manufacturing establishments In the North;
and in the employment, perhaps, of some of those
very people who are making such an cutlery about
the condition of the slaves Such sympathetic
movement would not probably serve the pur;
pose of these agitators well. 1t would re-
qulre something more than mere expression Of
cheap benevolence and would not touch the
tender hearts of pious old women with half
the sensibility that welltold narrative of the
effects of slavery, nicely garnished with whips
and wheals, usually excites. Besides, it would
be impossible to rally party on such plat
form. There would be no bone of contention-no
piece de resistance on which to fasten the tooth of
faction 1t would never give any claim to the pot
house politicians and the corrupt place-hunters for
the favor and patronage of the federal government
And as for poor Miss Lucy, she would probably find
that, like the "rghts- of-woman" movement, it
would not draw
The condition, however, of the British West In
dies, from the abolition of slavery, ought to induce