The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-05

also follows that the character of the government ha
been changed in consequence, from federal republic
u originally came from the hands OF its frames and tina
il has been changed into great national CONSOLIDATED
democracy Il has, indeed, at present. all the character
stics OF the latter. and not OF the former although
still retains its outward form.
The result OF the whole of these causes combined is
that the North has acquired decided ascendency
every department OF this government and through il
ton, governed BY the will of the numerical majority, hal
now IN fact the control OF the government and the entire
powers OF the system What was once constitutions
federal republic Is now converted in reality, into
absolute as that OF the autocrat of Russia and des
potc N its tendency as any absolute government thai
AS them the North has the absolute control over the
government, is manifest that all questions between
and the South, where there is diversity Of interests
the interest OF the latter will be sacrificed the former
however oppressive the effects may be- the South poe
sesses means by which it resist, through the
tion Of the government But if there question OF
vital Importance TO the South reference to which there
was diversity OF views between the two sections, this
state OF things might be endured, without the hazard of
destruction to the South. But such not the fact There
IS question OF vital importance to the southern section,
in reference to which the views and feelings OF the two
sections are as opposite and hostile they possibly
refer to the relation between the two races in the
southern section, which constitutes vital portion Of her
social organization Every portion Of the North enter
aau anS more o less nose . y
themselves under the most sacred obligation to use
every effort to destroy it. Indeed, to the extent that
selves as implicated in the sin, and responsible for
suppressing it by the use of all and every means
Those less opposed and hostile regard it crime
an offence against humanity, as they call it, and, al
though not SO fanatical, feel themselves bound to
all efforts to effect the object;, while those who
are least opposed and hostile regard it blot and
stain on the character of what they call the naon and
feel themselves accordingly bound TO give counte
nance or support On the contrary the southern section
regards the relation as which cannot be destroyed
without subecnng the two to the greatest calamity
and the section to poverty desoaton, and
and accordingly, they feel bound BY every consideration
| OF interest and safety, to defend it,
This hostile feeling the part OF the North towards
the social organization OF the South long lay dormant,
but il only required act those who felt
uance to call it into action The increasing power of
this government and OF the control OF the northern
ton over all its departments, furnished the Il
was this which made impression the minds Of many
that there was little or restraint to prevent the gov
ernment from doing whatever it might choose to do
This was sufficient OF itself TO put the most anacal por
on OF the North in action for the purpose of destroying
the existing relation between the two the South
The first or rganzed movement towards 1t commenced
IN 1888 Then for the first time societies were organ
Zed presses esabshed lecturers sent forth the
people OF the North and inceniiary publications
tered over the whole South through the mail Tie South
was thoroughly aroused. Meetings were held every
where, and uons adopteds calling upon the North
to apply remedy 10 arrest the threatened evil and pedg
ing themselves to adopt measures for their protec
petitions poured in from the North calling upon Con
gress to abolish slavery the District OF Columbia, and
TO prohibit what they called the internal slave trade be-
tween the States announcing al the times that their
ultimate object was to abolish slavery, not only in the
District but in the States and through the Union AT
this period the number a engaged in the agitation was
small and possessed little or no personal influence
Neither party in Congress had, at that time, any sym
pahy with them or their cause. The members Of each
party presented their petitions with great reluctance
small and contemplate as the party then
both OF the great parties OF the North dreaded them
They felt that, though small they organized in ref
erence subject which had great and q commanding
influence the northern mind. Each party ON that
account feared to oppose their petitions, lest the opposite
party should take advantage OF the who might do
by avonng their petitions. The effect was, that both
united in insisting that the petitions should be received,
and that Congress should take jurisdiction OF the subject
for which they prayed To justify their course they took
the extraordinary ground that Congress bound to
ceive petitions every subject however Objectionable
might he, and whether they had had not jurisdiction
and IN ne HUase S o.
party succeeded in their first in gaining what
they proposed-a position in Congress from which agita
ton could be extended over the whole Union This
the Of the agitation which has ever since
continued, and which, as is now acknowledged, has
dangered the Union itself.
As for myself, believed at that early period, il the
party who got up the petitions should succeed in getting
Congress TO take jurisdiciion that agitation would fol-
low, and that il would in the end If arrested destroy
the Union then expressed myself in debate, and
called upon both parties take grounds against assuming
jurisdiction, but in vain Had my voice been needed, and
had Congress refused to take jurisdiction by the united
votes OF all parties, the agitation which followed would
have been prevented and the fanatcal zeal that gives
impulse TO the agitation, aud which has brought 10
our present perous condition, would have become
tnguished from the want OF something feed the flame
That the tine for the North TO show her devotion to
the Union but unfortunately, both OF the great parties
OF that section were intent obtaining retaining
party ascendency, that all other considerations were
overlooked or forgotten.
What has since followed are but the natural conse
quences. With the of their first movement this
small fanatica party began 10 acquire strength, and,
with that, TO become object OF counshp 10 both the
great parties The necessary consequence further
OF power, and gradual ainng of the opinions
OF both OF the other parties with their doctrines until the
infection has extended both and the great OF
the population OF the NORTH who, whatever may be their
opinion OF the original abolition party, which still pre-
its distinctive organization, hardly fail, when
II 10 acting, TO co operate IN carrying out their
measures With the increase OF their influence, they
extended the sphere OF their action. In short time after
the commencement OF their first movement, they had
qued sufficient influence TO induce the legislatures OF
most OF The northern States to pass acts which, in effect
abrogaed the provision OF the constitution that provides
Tor the delivery up OF fugitive slaves Not long after, pet
tons followed 70 abolish slavery in forts, magazines,
and dock yards and all other places where Congress had
exclusive power OF legislation This followed BY
petitions and resolutions OF legislatures OF the northern
States and popular meetings, exclude the southern
States from all Territories acqnirei be acquired.
and 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 ex-
pressly with the view TO the final abolition Of slavery
in the States That has been avowei TO be the ultimate
present tme and yet the great body Of both parties OF
the North with the full knowledge OF the fact although
disayowng the aboonsis, have operated with them
in almost all their measures.