The North-Carolina standard., 1850-03-13

Congress invoked
the view to the final abolition Of slavery in the States
That has been avowed to be the Ultimate object from
the beginning Of the agitation until the present time
and - the great body Of both parties Of the North
with full knowledge of the fact. although disa-
vowingthe aboitionists, have co-operated with them
Such is brief history of the agitation as Ear as It
has yet advanced. Now, ask Senators. what is
there to prevent its further progress, until It uhs
the ultimate end proposed, unless some decisive
measure should be adopted 10 prevent 1t Il as any
one of the causes which has added to its increase
from its original small and contemplate beginning
until it has attained its present magnitude diminish
ed in force Is the original cause of the movement
that slavery is sin. and ought to be suppressed
weaker now than at the commencement! Or IS the
they less influence over or control over the two great
parties of the North in elections Or has the Soutn
greater of influencing controlling the move
ments Of this Government now than 1t had when the
agitation commenced! To all these questions but
one answer can be given: no, no, no! The very re-
verse is true Instead of being weaker, all the ele
ments in favor of agitation stronger now than hey
were in 1885, when it first commenced, while all the
elements of influence on the part of the South are
weaker. Unless something decisive is done, again
ask what is to stop this agitation, before the great
and final object at which it aims-the abolition OF
slavery in the Sates-is consunmated! Is IT, tnen'
certain that if something decisive is not now done
to it, the South will he forced to choose between
abolition and secession! Indeed, as events are now
moving, it will not require the South to secede to
dissolve the Union. Agitation will Of itself effect
it, Of which its past history furnishes abundant proof
as shall next proceed to show.
1t is great mistake to suppose that disnnlon can
be effected by single blow. The cords which oino
too numerous and powerful for that Disunion must
be the work of time. 1t is only through long pro-
cess and SUCCESSFULLY that the cords can be snapped,
until the whole fabric falls asunder. Already the
agitation of the slavery question has snapped some OF
the most important, and has greatly weakened all
the others, as shall proceed to show.
The cords that bind the States together are not on.
many, but various in character Some are spiritual
ecclesiastica some political; others social Some
appertan to the benefit conferred by the Union, and
others to the feeling of duty and obligation.
The strongest of those of spiritual and eccesastl-
cal nature consisted in the unity of the great religious
denominations, all of which originally embraced the
whole Union. All these denominations, with the ex-
cepton perhaps of the Catholics, were organized very
much upon the principle of our political institutions
beginning with smaller meetings corresponding with
the political divisions of the country their organ-
cation terminated in one great central assemblage,
corresponding very much with the character of Con-
gress. Atthese meetings the principal clergymen
and lay members of the respective denominations from
all parts of the Union met transact business rela
ting to their common concerns. 1t was not confined
to what apperained to the doctrines and discipline
of the respective denominaons but extended to plans
for disseminating the Bible, establishing mission
aries, distributing tracts and of establishing presses
for the publication of tracts, newspapers, and period
Gals, with a view of dffusing religious information
and for the support of the doctrines and ceeds of the
denomination. All this combined, contributed great
ly to strengthen the bonds of the Union. The strong
ties which held each denomination together formed
strong cord to hold the whole Union together; but
as powerful they were they have not been able to
resist the explosive effect of slavery agitation.
The first of these cords which snapped. under its
explosive force, was that of the powerful Methodist
Episcopal Church. The numerous and strong ties
which held it together are all broke and its unity
gone. They now form separate churches; and in
stead of that feeling Of attachment and devotion to
the interests of the whole church which was former
~ felt, they are now arrayed in two hostile bodies,
engaged in litigation about what was formerly their
common property.
The next cord that snapped was that of the Bap-
lists, of the largest and most respectable of the
denominations. That of the Presbyterian is not
tirely snapped, but Of it's strands have given
way. That of the Episcopal Church is the only one
of the four great Protestant denominations which
mains unbroken and entire.
The strongest cord of political character consists
Of the many and strong ties that have held together
the two great parties, which have, with some modi-
6cations, existed from the beginning of the Govern
ment. They both extended to every portion of the
Union, and strongly contributed to hold all its parts
together. But this powerful cord has Jared better
than the spiritual. 1t resisted for long time the
explosive tendency of the agitation, but has finally
snapped under its force-if not entirely in a great
measure. Nor is there of the remaining cords
which have not been greatly weakened To this
tent the Union has already been destroyed by agita
tion in the only way it be, by swapping asunder
and weakening the cords which bind it together.
II the agitation goes on. the same force, acting
with increased intensity, as has been shown, will
finally snap every cord, when nothing will be left to
hold the States together except force. But surely that
can, with no propriey Of language, be called union,
when the only means by which the weaker is held
connected with the stronger portion is orce may,
indeed, keep them connected but the connection
will parake much more of the character of subjuga-
ton, the part of the weaker the stronger than
the union Of ee independent, and sovereign States,
in one confederation, they stood in the early
ges of the Government and which only is worthy of
the sacred name of union.
Having now, Senators, explained what it is that
endangers the Union, and traced it its cause and
explained its nature and character the question again
recurs, How can the Union be saved To this l
answer, there is but way by which it be- and
that is by adopting such measures will satisfy the
States belonging to the Southern section that they
can remain in the Union consistently with their hon
or and their safety. There is, again. only one way
by which that can be effected, and that is by remov
ing the by which this belief has been produ-
ced. Do that, and discomfort will cease, harmony
and kind feelings between the sections be restored
and every apprehension of danger to the Union re-
moved. The question then is, By what can this be
done But, before undertake to answer this ques-
tion propose to show by what the Union cannot be
saved.
1t cannot then, be saved by eulogies the Union,
however splendid or numerous. The cry of "Union,
Union, the glorious Union!'' can no more prevent
dsunion than the cry of Health, health, glorious
health - on the part of the physician pa
tient lying dangerously ill., So long as the Union
instead hei rdoda a IL. III