Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-03-08

Union which by its constitution does not prohibit slavery
And Congress invoked to do all this expressly With the
view to the final abolition of slavery in the States mas
been to be the ultimate object from the beginning of
the agitation until the present time and yet the great
fact although dsavowng the abotonsts have
with them in almost all their measures
Such brief history of the agitation, far as 1t has yet
advanced Now ask Senator'S what is there to prevent Its
further progress until it ffls the ultimate end proposed
Has any of the which has added 70 us
from its original small and contemplate 5egnn1g until
the original cause of the movement that slavery SIN ana
" s oea paT
a have they less influence over or control over the two
great parties North in elections Or has the South
greater means of influencing controlling the of
this government now, than it had when the agitation COM
To all these questions bat one answer be given
no. The very reverse Instead of being weaker all
were in 1885 when it first commenced while all the elements
of influence the part of the South are weaker Unless
S aeaon Before and final object
aims-the abolition of slavery in the states-s t
now done to arrest it, South win be forced to choose be-
tween abolition and secession Indeed events are now
the Union Agitation itself effect it,, of which its
past history furnishes abundant proof shall next proceed
to show.
1t is great mistake suppose that dsunion be effect
ed by single blow. The cords which bind these States
together Union, far too numerous and
powerful for that Dsunion must be the work OF time is
only through long and that ns cords
the agitation of the slavery question has some OF the
Important and has greatly weakened athe Others as
The cords that bind the States together not only
but various in character Some are spiritual or eeee
benefit conferred by the Union and others to the feeling OF
duty and obligation.
The strongest of those of spiritual and ecclesiastical
consisted in the unity of the great religious denomina
TONS all of which originally embraced the whole Union An
these denominations with the exception, perhaps Of the
Catholics organized very much upon the principle OF
political beginning with smaller meetings
corresponding with the political divisions OF the country
their Organization terminated great central assembage
corresponding much with the character OF AZ
respective denominations from all parts of the Union met
to transact business relating to their common concerns
not confined to what appertained to the doctrines and
discipline Of the respective but extended 10
distributing tracts and of establishing for the ubl
cation of tracts newspapers and with view OF
trnes and creeds of the denomination.
All this combined contributed greatly to strengthen the
together but powerful they they have not been
The which snapped under its explosive
force that of the powerful Methodist Episcopal Church
ne numerous ana strong OTy when f este church
es and Of feeling attachment and devotion
they into hostile bodies engaged liti
cation about what was formerly their common property
that snapped that of the Baptsts
Of the largest and most respectable of the
of
the only of the four great
which remains unbroken and entire.
The strongest cor of political character consists of the
many strong have held together the great
the beginning of the government They both extended to
every portion of the Unon strongly contributed to hold
better than the spiritual 1t resisted for long time the
osive tendency of the agitation but has finally snapped
the remaining cords which have been greatly weak
this extent the Union has already been
by agitation the only way be- by swapping asunder
and weakening the cords which bind it together.
If the agitation goes the force, acting with in
creased intensity has been shown will finally snap every
nothing hold together
except force But surely that with propriey OF Ian
guage be called Union when the only which the
held with the stronger portion
1t indeed keep them connected but the connection will
parake much of the character of subugaon the
the weaker to the stronger than the union of
dependent and sovereign States in confederation as
only is worthy Of the sacred name of Union
Having now Senator's explained what that endangers
Union and taced to its cause and Its nature
and character the question again recurhow the Union
be saved To this there is but way by which
can be- and that is by adopting such measus as will salts
T the States belonging to the Southern section that they
can remain in the Union consistently with their honor and
their safety There is again, only one way by which tha
can be effected and that by removing the causes by which
harmony kind feelings between the sections be
and every of danger to the Union
moved The question them isby what this be done
But before undertake this question: propose
show by what the Union cannot be saved.
ever splendid or numerous The cry Of Union Unionhe
Union can no more prevent dsnon tnan ne b
physician patient lying dangerously ILL., So long
the Union instead of being regarded as protector re-
majority of States will be in attempt to
cllIate them by pronoqncing eulOgies on it..
Besides this of Union commonly from those who
we cannot believe to be sincere 1t usually comes from ou
assailants But cannot believe them to be ncere for
they loved the Union they would necessarily be devoted
to the Constitution It made the Union to destroy thu
Constitution would be to destroy the Union But the only
and certain evidence devotion to the Constitution
is to abstain hand from violating it, and to
pei the other all attempts to violate it. 1t is only BY
faithfully performing these high duties that the
can be preserved, and with it the Union.
But how stands the professions of devotion to the Un1r
by asalants when brought the test Have they alb
stained from violating the constitution? Let the many act
clause of the constitution providing for the delivery
fugitive slaves cite this not that 1t Is the only In
stance or there other but because the
IN this particular too notorious and apabe to be
have they stood forth faithfully to repel violation
of the constitution Let their in reference to tn
agitation of the slavery question: which was an
been carried for fifteen years. avowedy for the pun
pose of aboshing slavery in the Sate-an object all &C
knowedged be Let them shoN
single instance during this long period in which the
have denounced the agtators their attempts to effect wa
is admitted to be unconstitutional single whc
have brought forward for that purpose How can we
with nj these facts before believe that they sinceae
their profession of devotion of the Union, avoid beeyn
profession but intended to increase the vgor OF thel
y assaults and weaken the force of our resistance!
Nor regard the profession of devotion to the Union
on the part of those who are not our asaant as
when they euoges the Unon evidently VII
the intent of charging with disunon, without uerlng
word of denunciation against assaans friends OF tn
Union their should be to unite with us IN
assaults and denouncng the authors enemies OF Tn
Union Why they avoid this and the course they dc
70 it is for them to explain
Nor can the Union be saved by invoking the of h
usrous Souhener whose mortal remains repose on IN
western bank of the Potomac He was one OF us-a slave
holder and planter We have studied his history and nm
nothing in to justify submission to wrong On the contrf
his fame rests the solid foundation that while
and decided in repenr trust that in this
N we profted by his example.
seeding the Union should fell to fulfil the objects
which it instituted by being permanently and hopeless