Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-10-15
Union and Secession.

Union and Secession.
Amid the storms of faction, both IN the
North and the South, ii must be deeply
gratifying to the lovers of the Union to
discover that evidences are not wanting OF
the devoted at achmento of the mighty mass
es to the Union and the Constitution as
thew are. We doubt not that alter the
excitement of the moment shall have pass
ed away, and Reason shall have resumed
her throne, that many Of those who are
now estimating the relative advantages Of
union and secession, will experience
feeling Of regret Tor their past course, and
will make amends for past direIections, by
patriotic devotion to the institutions OF
their country in the future. And why
shoulL II not be TINS Are there not IN
our system Of government those elements
which should enlist the admiration, aye,
the love of every man within The broad
limits of this Confedpracy, whether North
or South of Mason's & DIXon's Line !!
Are we not living in the enjoyment OF
blessings afforded by no other government
ON earth to its subjects! Have we not
orospered under the influence Of our Re-
publican institutions to degree without a
parallel IN the history of nations Three
Tnurihs of century ago we became ma
r!on-a newborn nation; the child has
become the full grown man; the seed then
planted is now become The towering tree,
beneath whose protecting shades live In
ecuri'y and happiness twenty millions OF
freemen. The same sea which washes
he far-dis,an. shores of the CeleS ial En-
pre throws is pillows upon the golden
sands OF California, our limits thus extern
ing from sea to sea, and from the icy re-
gions of the North to the sunny clmes of
the South. The canvass Of our merchant
marine whlens every sea, and bears at the
masthead its surest protection. The ma
tons of the earth, from the Mistress of the
seas to the half civilized Mussulman, seek
our friendship and alliance. In short, as
Of old, the title of Z" Roman citizen was
a passport in every cline. SO now, that
If - American ELECTS the respect OF ev-
cry nation.
Such is our position now. Would IT
be changed for the better by a dissolution
of the confederacy, under the operation Of
which this happy stale of things has been
produced ? We think not, nor can those
even who advocate secession addGce any
argument to prove that any portion of this
country would be benehued by such
change.
But say they, we cannot remain IN thr
Union but with dishonor. Did we think
so, we too would be disunonists; bnt we
are of different opinion. We regard the
compromise measures as doing equal JUS
ice to both sections Of the country. AS
to the question Of Slavery, it leaves that
where it should be--n the hands of the
people,--the sovereign people, the ac-
knowledged fountain of all power under
our Institutions. TO deny the proPrety
or Justice of such disposition Of that ques-
ton, is to strike at the very foundation oil
our government, and 10 fa!sily our profess
sions of Republican equality.
If, in the admission Of California, there
was any informality, as is commended It
should be regarded as one of those cases
which will frequently happen in ieglsla-
ton, which will be regarded by reluctant
minority as a violation Of the Constitution.
As an example we nigh, refer TO the an
nexation of Texas, which was regarded
by the minority who opposed it to the bit
ter end. as fragrant violation of that IN
strument; yet it was acquesced IN, and
very properly. When such questions
come in conflict with the integrity of the
Union We are not long in making our de-
cision-we are for The Union--onc ami
indirisibic.
The Canal Jubilee
T.. -, ho ooo,s,o,, &C ha