The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-03-13


As for myself. believed al that early
period IL the parry who got up the peii-
lions should succeed in getting Congress
70 take jurisdiction, that agitation would
follow. and that Il would ia the end, IL
not arrested, destroy the Union. 1 then
so expressed myself in debate. and called
upon both parties 70 take grounds against
assuming jurisdiction. bui in vain. Had
my voice been needed. and had Con-
gress refused 10 take jurisdiction, BY the
united votes Of all parties, the agitation
which followed would have been preven-
ted. and the fanatical zeal that gives inn
pulse to the agitation, and which has
brought us to our present perilous con-
dition, would have become eItinguished
from the want Of something 10 feed lhs
fame. Thai was the lime for the North
10 show her devotion 10 the Union but
unfortunately both Of the great parties Of
that section were so intent on obtaining
or retaining party ascendency, that oil
haher considerations were overlooked or
forgotten.
What has since followed are bat the
natural consequences. With the sue
cess OF their first movement, this small
fanatical party began TO acquire strength;
and with that TO become an object Of
cou. tship to both Of the great parties.
The necessary consequence was, ID
thor increase OF power, and gradual
tainting ofthe opinions Of both Of the o.
thrr parties with their doctrines, until
the Injection has extended over bo'h land
the great mass Of the population Of the
North, who, whatever may be their o.
pinion Of the original abolition party,
which still preserves its distinctive organ
ization, hardly ever fail, when il comes
to acting, to cooperate in carrying out
their measures. With the increase Of
their influence, they extended tbs sphere
Of their action. In a short time after the
commencement OF their first movement
they had acquired sufficient influence to
induce the Legislatures Of most Of the
Northern States to pass acts, which in
effect abrogated the provision Of the
Constitution that provides for the delivery
up Of fugitive slaves.
Not long after, petitions followed to
abolish slavery in forts, magazines, and
dock yards, and all other places where
Congress had exclusive power Of legls-
latioh. This was followed by petitions
and resolutions Of Legislatures Of the
Northern States and popular meetings, to
exclude the Southern States from all ter
ritories acquired, or TO be acquired, and
10 prevent the admission Of any State
hereafter into the Union, which, by its
constitution, does not prohibit slavery.
And Congress is invoked to do all this
expressly with the view to the final abo!i-
tion ofslavery in the States. That has
been avowed TO be the ultimate object
from the beginning Of the agitation until
the present time and yet the great bo-
dy ofboth parties Of the North, with the
full knowledge Of the fact, although dis
avowing the abolilionists, have co-opera-
ted withthem in almost alltheir measures.
Such is efhistory Of the agitation,
as far as it has yet advanced. Now |
ask, Senators, what is there to prevent
Its further progress, until it ful6ls the
ultimate end proposed, unless some de-
cisive measure should be adopted TO
prevent il! Has any one fthe causes,
which has added to its increase from Its
original small and contemplate begin
ming until it has attained its present mag
nitude, diminished in force! Is the o.
riginal cause ofthe movement, that slave
ry Is sin, and ought TO be suppressed,
weaker now than at the commencement
Or is the abolition party less numerous
or influential, or have they less influence
over, or control over the two great par
ties of the North in elections Or has
the South greater means ofinfuencing or
controlling the movements ofthis govern
ment now, than it had when the agita-
tion 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 elements in favor of agitation are
stronger now than they Nere 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, before whit
is to stop this agitation, the great and
final object at which it aims-the aboli
tion of slavery in the States-is consum-
mated 1t is, then, now certain that if
something decisive is not now done to
arrest it, the South will be 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 it.
self effect it, Of which its past history
furnishes abundant proof, as / shall next
proceed TO show.
1t is great mistake to suppose that
disunion canbe effected by sfsgle blow.
The cords which bound these States to-
gether in one common Union, are far too
numerous and powerful for that. Dis
nnlao Y,,s,cf L. al