The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-02-14
From the st. Louis Intelligsncer.
The West.---IiS Position on the Question Of
DiSuniOn.

We, at one time, hoped that the discus
sion of the question, whether or not it
would be wise and polite TO dissolve the
Union, would not be tolerated in any part
Of the confederacy. In our sim plicity, we
supposed that the Union was, on all hands,
to be forever conceded 10 be, not only the
surest guaranty of our national prosperity,
but that it was in fact political necessity
without which we could scarcely exist as
nation. These however, it seems, were
but the fiattering dreams of distempered
fancy. We have lived TO see the day,
when the value of the Union is not only
discussed in newspapers, and debated IN
private circles, but when it is the subject
of grave deliberation with some, and of
angry debate and violent denunciation
with others of our statesmen in the halls
of Congress. The srbject has now as
sumed form so grave, as to demand the
attention of every citizen who loves his
co untry.
We need not refer to the moving cause
of this unfortunate movement. 1t is suffi-
ciont 10 say, that on the subject Of negro
slavery the North and the South do not
agree; ard many politicians, both at the
North and the South, seem to regard this
disagreement as a sufficien: reason for dis
solving the Union. Thus northern par
ty and southern party have grown up,
maintaining dramatically opposite opin-
ions. on the question of slavery. So fierce
has the conflict of opinion now become
stimulated as it has been by fanatical and
infamatory appeals on both sides, that all
questions of public interest are now, in d
great degree, merged into this one exciting
and angry contest. Heretofore the West
rn,.States, (by which we mean Ohio, Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Mis-
souri,, Iowa, and Wisconsin and some of
the Southern States, for example, n orth
Carolina, Louisiana and Virginia, have ia
ken no very active or decided part in this
contest. But if we must have parties, 50
designated by geographical limits, it Is
time for the Great West'..t decide wheth-
er she will Join the North in forcing upon
the South certain distractions. such as the
Wilmot Proviso, which are OF no practical
value, even though they were conceded to
be right in principle, or whether she will
JON the South in resisting these abstrac-
tions, with force of arms, and even to the
shedding of fraternal blood For ourselves
we think The West should do neither the
one or the other. If we must have sec
tonal parties, let US have Western party
equally exempt from the fanatcsm Iof the
North and the violence of the South, devo-
ted, not to the propag alton of mere abstrac-
tions, but TO the preservation OF the Union
in all its integrity. In our judgment, the
time has arrived when the West should
make itself heard and felt upon this sub
ject. She should say to the North
"You may entertain whatever opinions
you see fit, upon the sub ject of slavery in
the abstract, but we, not only will not join
you in any crusade against Southern rights
or Southern preJudices, if you choose TO
term them such, but we are resolved to
save you from the consequences of your
own folly; the Union must and shall be
presergd. 1t is our property as much as
yours-it is common fund belonging to
us all, bequeathed to US as common inhe-
ritance from glorious ancestry. 1t is too
precious a treasure to be wasted in idle
disputes, or frltted away in unmeaning
discord. We, at least, cannot afford to
dissolve the Union, and shall mot permit
you to do il"
She should say TO the South-"Howev.
er Justly you may complain of the North,
we are well assured the grievances you
have suffered OIL are likely to suffer, require
no such desperate remedy as disunion,-a
remedy far worse than the disease. At al
events we will not aid you in resortng to
SO fatal poison as a cure for the malady
Ii you are resolved to become felO de 81
we, at least, will not be accessory to the
crime. The great outlets to our trade, are
through your territories. We cannot con
sent therefore, thatyo shall become aliens
10 US in feeling or in fact. So far from
aiding you in your crusade against the
Union, we shall take especial pains tc
check your fiery ardour, to curb your
impetuous temper, to reduce your indig.
nation within reasonable bounds. We
shall scrupulously endeavor to prevent the
North from infringing on your rights; bu
we do not intend that you shall dissolve the
Union.n
Let the West speak this language with
one voice, let leading western statesmen
whether they be wings or democrats, pro-
claim il on the floor. of Congress, let the
nation from Maine to Florida, distinctly
understand that the West in its whole
length and breadth, is resolved to stand by
and defend the Union against all assailant
whether from the North or South, and We