Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-23
THE STILL FLAGRANT "EvL OF THE DAY

w men, lIts uay ulTcc WtehS ago, VIC llEOuuCc
this subject into our columns, it upon discover
ing how vain was the hope that it would dispers
and disappear, soon TO be numbered among thos
ftful dreams such as every one has experienced II
the course of his life, which may be almost alway
traced to surfeit of health or to indigestion cause'
by a too free enjoyment of the good things OF lie
The sources of the present feyerish excitement o
the public mind, and of the dreams alluded TO, arr
not indeed, without real analogy, as we could show
had we time to spare from more serious occupation
TO run out the parallel between them.
Year after year have we seen the same subject
agitated nj the annual sessions of the Legislatures
the General and State Governments, become th'
OF prolonged defamation and embarrassed
legislation in the former, and of needless and mis-
chieyous action in the shape OF Resolutions, by tht
latter, without absolutely stopping The wheels of tho
Government Of the Union, or converting the War o.
State Resolutions into conflict OF arms; both oi
which might haPpen-nay, perhaps 'oond happen
early as the first Monday in June next--if the
People at their homes were not more sedate and
more wise than the ambitious and aspiring young
gentlemen 10 whom they too apt to conhde the
grave and important function OF legislation in the
several States. In this respect, whatever degree OF
fear or apprehension the incidents of the day can
not but have caused TO every friend of the Union
and of Republican Government, we are happy in
believing that this country is about 10 exhibit a
moral spectacle more grand than any that the world
has seen that OF the waking up of the sound
sense and innate patriotism of the millions, the
Tousing Of The masses of THE People, TO compel
civil peace; 10 quell all attempts at violence; 10
command their servants in Congress and in the
State Legislatures to their discord, 10 control
their perverse tempers, TO renounce their lawless
designs where such dscord, temper, and designs
EXIST and belake themselves to the proper objects
and duties Of their legislative trusts.
The greater than usual excitement, and the agita-
ton, at the present uncture, of questions almost en-
tirely geographical and sectional in their character,
is TO minds, las heretofore hinted obvious
ly reierable 10 the anticipation of the effect of the
Census be taken this year, to change the balance
of power in this Government, so to interpose
between the Southern and the Northern interests
,hrd-the power of which will be found to be
greater, on some questions, than both unted-that
OF the Great West the population of which has been
growing. uNEHg Tie ldSt VI cdis, Will
rapidly defying all computation, and outstripping
thought itself. Though. providentally, this growth
of the West must strengthen and effectively
consolidate this Union. whilst it will add to the
general prosperity of every part of il, it is not at all
unnatural thai it should awaken some feeling in the
minds OF statesmen and ambitious men III other
divisions Of the country, that should be regard
ed with some jealousy their part. TO this cause,
we do not doubt, is in great degree attributable the
present sensitiyeness and querulousness of the
South against the North cause operating appa-
renly without i.s subjects being aware OF It, and re-
sisted by them upon grounds which a CONSCIOUSNESS
of departing power has stimulated into Fictitious
consequence.
The agitation Of the present day, should it pass
over without an esplosion-as we hope and trust
,ha, il may-will leave the country an interval OF
comparative repose from this sort OF agitation Tor
several wears TO come. Yet, unless our theory
that the taking OF every operates as quail
fed revolution in our Government-be erroneous,
similar agitation, upon some ground or other, and
more or les. extensive, may be expected TO ensue on
the approach of the time for taking each successive
census that is 10 say. at intervals OF ten years. BY
future generations, the history OF the United States
will be reckoned By decades and about the termlna
ton oG each decade the agitation of some particular
o,esfio,, will have been found to mark the epoch, anC
considered as having caused crisis Ill the aiaIrs o
the Government, though the change of the balance
Of power at each decennal period will have been
in reality itself the crisis. The historian will moi
fail 70 remark, also that the alternate decades
,ha, is Il, saw at the end of each interval Of twenty
years-,he excitemen, has been greater than at the
intermediate decades. Just twenty years ago, ioI
example, by an excitement having the same orlglr
as the present, though no apparent relation TO 1t
this country brought much nearer 10 real aIit
radical revolution than it is on an entirely dit
fereu, ground from the present. Though the same
cause so far as it is real, OF agitation existed her
- nowy-on the ground o., opposition TO prosec
tive tariff and to ,is now ii seems 10 have beer
little less than miracle that that attempt at revolu
ton was at last suppressed without drop OF bloo'
being she'd Who can doubt that now, as then, th
God of our Fathers will nerpose and stay the par
r,cd.l hand which would strike at the heart OF TIN
Union. 10 which We all owe our political being, ant
every one OF the protection OF iiie liberty, ant
property
Meanwhile. the Uiar of RESOLUTIONS goes on be
tween The State Legislatures, with reciprocal exas
per.,ion. rcacns upon the Representatives Of thos
States io both Houses OF Congress.