The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-25

spirit which seeka to disparage one section of the
country in the eyes Of another. But, he is un-
just in charging this spirit without disorimina.
ton, upon the anti-slavery press. A few Adolf
ton papers seem animated by sectional feeling,
but, such a feeling is more prevalent among Wing
and Democratic anti-slavery journals and the
reason, we suppose, is that they are in the habit
Of regarding the question of Slavery primarily as
one of political power
For ourselves, while we desire always to deal
plainly and thoroughly with the subject, We
would not discuss it in q sectional spirit.
Towards the South, as a part Of our common
country, we cherish national feelings. Her Peo-
pie are American her institutions Excepting
slavery are American she has contributed her
full proportion of the ilustrious men Of the ma
ton; she has displayed on many occasions jeal-
ousy Of its renown, devotion 10 its interests,
unsurpassed in any other section. Not word
would we say to infame prejudice against any
State Of the Union. We would rather do all in
our power to bring the States into closer
Union-to make them understand one another
better-to correct misrepresentation allay
prejudices-to direct attention to whatever of
good each contains--to do honor without partial.
| ity TO the distinguished men Of the whole Es-
pecially while freely discussing and cSndcA1ning
an institution of any section, would we be al
pains to show that it is against Prmeple not
People, that our hostility is directed
Still, no prOmptings of a liberal spirit should
lead us to overlook or suppress the Truth. We
would not, like Daniel Webster and Truman
Smith, try to SHIFT the responsibility of the war
against Mexico, from the Slave Power, to the
Democratic party. However criminal the CO.
operation of the Northern section Of that party,
Northern Wings in the prosecution of that war
it is violation of the truth Of history to sup
press the fact, that Shareholders, acting from mo-
tives having special regard to their own section,
were its originators. Nor is Mr.. Webster just
or truthful, in holding the North equally GEN.
surable with the South, for the hostile demon
stration on Cuba Can he be ignorant that the
social condition of that island is regarded with
peculiar interest by slaveholders-that the Sla-
very Extensionists Of the South secretly, but ar
IDENTIFY, long for its annexation to this country
that the measure is constantly advocated by the
: SsasSsfatriSts' on the ground specisat eco. :.
would give increased security to the slave system
Of. Cuba..thst the revolutionary, movements
against it, have received their chief sanction and
support in the South, meeting with no favor in
the North beyond a small class of foreigners
chiefly in the cities Of New York and Philadel-
phia2 1t is wrong and pernicious to attempt to
relieve the real actors in these piratical move
ments from the responsibility that justly belongs
to them.
We have glanced at some of the principal
points in Mr.. Webster's speech. That it has
added to his reputation as statesman, or that il
has increased the strength of his position, that
it has made or will make single convert to the
Compromise bill, we suppose nobody believes. 1t
is cold in spirit, poor in thought, when we con-
slider the affluence Of the great intellect from
which 1t emanated vigorous only in style Mr..
Webster is in a false position and his intellect
has too clear perception Of Truth, Is too strong
ly bound by the law Of severe logic, to put forth
its mightiest energies in the work Of making the
worse appear the better reason.