The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-12
The Asitators and the Union.

The Agitators and the Union.
1t cannot have escaped the attention Of
any one who has read the recent debate
in the two Houses, how earnestly the
ultraists of all sides have disclaimed the
idea of dsunion, while they have used
language, and pursued a train of remarks
and of argument, calculated if not de-
signed to produce sectional excitement
and evaporation. This disclaimer we
consider merely the homage which is
paid by violent men to the prevailing SEN
timent of the country in favor of the
Union. Say what they will, they feel
that popular opinion revolts from the me-
mace of separation; and they labor conse-
quently under the difficulty of gratifying
personal and partisan feelings, by the use
of harsh and hostile language, and of re-
conciling such language with due regard
to the relations which ought to exist be-
tween the members of great republic.
Such reconcilement cannot be made of
insulting speech and becoming reverence
for the Union. A habitual insolence and
recklessness Of language; the supposition
of contingencies in which the Union
would be dissolved; the profession of in
difference and disregard to consequences,
if this is done and if that is left undone-
all this is well enough for the stump and
the bar-room, but is unbecoming states
men and Legislators, assembled to delibe-
rate for the interests of mighty, pros
porous, and fortunate people.
The American people do not respond to
their representatives in the State legisla-
lures, or on the floor of Congress, when
they indulge in this extreme harshness
and acrimony of speech. There is too
much truth in the remarks thrown out by
Mr.. HALE, in one of his recent speeches.
There are too many men who seize upon
the topic of the day to signalize them
selves by extreme opinions and recon-
mendations. Politicians are too apt to
forget the interests of the nation, in look
ing after their own interests They look
too steadily TO neighborhoods and districts,
and forget that their nation stretches from
ocean to ocean; and that they are called
to legislate not for local and sectional
interests, not for local and sectional opin.
ions, but for the interests and opinions Of a
continent.
There is no prudent and patriotic man
in either House of Congress, who is mo-
panied and shocked by expressions which
he is daily called upon to hear, proceed
ing from ultraists of the two extremes Of
the country. Disappointed men, men Of
one idea, ill-tempered men, fanatics, mis-.
chievous men, are to be found in all the
walks Of life. Itwould be strange if some
such men should not find their way into
Congress. When there, it would be
strange il they did not make their nature,
manifest. They must seek some suitable
expression of the devil that is within them
and make themselves as troublesome anc
vexatious in their public conduct as they
are in their private relations. Men o
this description may do great deal o
mischief, as their sphere Of action is en-
larged Instead Of being merely the pes
of families, they may become the pest o
a nation. II they are permitted to hav'
their own way, they toiH become the curs
of the country.
But when bad men conspire, goo'
men must cooperate. The number O
factionists and agitators is comparativel,
small. They can do nothing, if thei
! schemes are met, as they ought to be, wit
! manly frmness and independence. Whel
they put forward an extreme measure 70
! the purpose Of agitation, and when ever,
moderate and wise man knows that sue
is the only purpose-when it is put for
! ward to force premature and unnecessar
: action---to embarrass, to wound, to irri
tate, 10 inHame, to exasperate--it is tn
right and the duty of all patriotic and OF
! der-loving men to crush il in the shell
and their constituents will uphold and sus
tain them in such action, whatever ma
. be their general prepossessions in regar
to the alleged ultimate object. All al
tenpts at cornering and gagging, fror
, whichever of the extremes they may pre-
coed from Abolitionists or their ant
Q podes-ought to be met in the same spirit