The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-27
New YorK. DEC. %. 1850.


The fearful condition Of our glorious country
seems TO be passing away, and giving place to
hopes of brighter future. II Is easy to see that
among all classes there is determination TO
surrender prejudice, to act with more discretion
in short there is desire, strong and irresistible,
not to countenance agitation.
While the people of the North decidedly OPP
posed 70 more slave territory, they feel that the
Union is above every other consideration. We, of
the free States feel that the extension of slavery
will work harmfully 10 all interests, but, at the same
time, we acknowledge that feelings do not
permit TO comprehend the real condition Of the
hearts of those whose fortune il lie to be born the
evil" of which VIC complain Looking to our own
success, with free labor we wish the results pecti-
liar to our region may be enjoyed by those states
which we deem less happily organized Our
wishes our hopes strongly enlisted in favor Of
free labor every where. Nevertheless love
ae Union loo much TO desire to rriiate the SouD,
that our theory may be successful.
The terrible error of the present day seems to me
TO be simply this-that politicians in the free States
well in the slave States, find, and take advan
tage Of, the feelings of the people Of the two sec
tons, for their own personal purposes. One may
well understand how easy it ia to excite the South
when the aggressions of the North and her inter
TO understand that crusade against slavery is a
powerful lever at the North. Each is urong. The
organization Of THE Government was the offspring
Of compromises. Among other things, his matter
of slavery was then, as now, acknowledged TO be
evil, and pery great one; but no Government
could have been formed had il not been mutually
agreed that, notwithstanding the repugnonf features
OF this institution, il could not be eradioaied nor
meddied ruth. and that therefore il must be
tained. The whole fact in the case were understood
The bargain was made, the compact formed, the
Constitution produced Government, and a nation
created. One, too, if properly goponed If the people
remained true TO Themselves, was destined 10 sur
pass all others. And now, after trial of sixty
years, with unboundcd resources, and is bosom
tecming with every thing which makes wealth, it
will, if undsturbed by ILL guided and unmeaning
fanaticsm, become, in its influence upon the
hopes and happiness of mankind the Fire Cloud of
Tie World.
May God grant that misguided zeal shall
never again disturb the tranquility 30 neces-
sary to the development of our power and in.
hucnce, but that we may continue a united
people, cutivatng mutual forbcarance, a frater.
nal feeling, an anxious desire to study out and
comprehend the srea ,ooy to control our advsn-
tages thai we may unfold, by proper application
VI capital and benehcen legislation, the resources
Of our common country, without regard to soc-
tional differences upon any question whatever
We arc just beginning to bloom a nation; our
acquisitions ar0pot alone valuable for the
sures which arc found in their coil They more
valuable because they have expanded the national
m,nd IL is becoming familiar to connect, as one
town with another the most distant portions OF the
globe We are now hugging in gigantic arms
old Europe; aho IL at our very portals por-
tons OF ASIA heretofore approached by tedious