Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-02
NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER.
FRIENDS OF THE UNION. TO THE RESCUE

the great mass of citizens OF the United States hear
che report of grave apprehensions of DIsUNIoN,
which has begun to reach them from w Washington.
The rumor is received with an adherence that de-
prives il of all credit. Many regard it as an i'm
probable reason-improbable, because they can
see no commensurate cause to produce it. Many
regard it with ridicue, as the fancy of Phrenzled
minds heated to an unwhoesome temperature by
TOO much pondering over imaginary griefs. Many
look upon it as toy of politicians, an artlul work
ing-up and exaggeration of specious circumstances
into pretext for agitation and employed to alarm
the public mind for some political end very wide
of disunion or other irreparable mischief Others
believe that it is nothing more than one of those
periodical orgasms which, from their frequency,
they have learned to reckon upon peculiarly
of our system Of government. ....~
This reluctance to believe that which it would
be rank treason to contrive, is the index to sound
and healthiul state of public opinion. Both North
and South give evidence of this incredulity. The
people canno. believe in the probability of danger
TO the Union-and especially just now. There
are so many signs Of the existence of an unprece-
deuted national prosperity around them every man
pursuing his own thrift with unusual activity ;
every mind engrossed with such an extraordinary
Snlness both of private and public affairs that they
cannot understand what motive any one could find
to break up the fabric upon which all this profta-
bic energy depends. The Panama Railroad, the
Nicaragua Canal the great overland track between
the Atlantic and the Pacific, the marvels of Cali
fornia the new Territories the ocean-steamers, the
adjustment of commerce and navigation to the new
polity of England, the wonderful growth of cities,
the telegraph, and the iron roads that in the lines
of great multiplication table, overlaying the
STATES, and welding and riveting them together by
inseverabe bonds-a these objects and undertak-
ings are just now soliciting and absorbing the at
aention OF the country. Never before has the pub
lie mind been filled with tthe of the magnif-
cent conceptions which engross it. Never
before has the Union been so uisibLy indispensa-
Die to the nation. Fable cannot exaggerate the
features which give to this and generation a
Titanic aspect, and render them the most remarka-
Bile in human annals. l. it to be wondered at that
the little discordant note which whispers "the end
of the Union should at this time rise to the gene
raj ear in key absurdly inopporune, SO mex
piicably on, of harmony with the pursuits and
hopes of the day, that upon its first accost no man,
mot absolutely glamoured by the illusions which
have begotten this phrenzyin Washington, should
be disposed to entertain it for moment!
Notwithstanding all these motives to treat this
ruuior lightly, there is sufficient substance In it to
raise most anxious concern. 1t is undoubtedly
true that there is deep and dangerous discomfort
inhabiting the bosoms of many Acknowledgements
from the zeal with which they mediate upon, plans
of redress still more dangerous from the inteli-
gence, personal influence, private and public virtue
OF those who are leading the dissatisfied towards an
abyss into which this Confederacy may be cast
and broken into atoms. The existence Of such
state of things furnishes the topic Of solemn in
vocation to every friend of the Constitution speedily
to unite in measures of Cancellation and peace.
1t is not the dissolution of the Union we have to
fear. Not even the most nurate zeal TO Destroy"
venture to predict, will ever obtain that mournful
triumph over the good sense of the country. The
ptety q use this word in its classical sense) OF the
sons of the Confederacy WILL in the worst extreme,
protect the parent from this fate. But we have
great deprecate any and every struggle to
maintain our Union when action is to supersede
argument. We may reason in safety as long as
the question is open to reason. But 1t will be
sad day, and the beginning of many days OF sorrow
to this republic, when the argument is abandoned
by temperate men and handed over to the domina-
ton of angry dsputants. Still more sorrowful
when prevention and redress shall have taken the
field outside Of the pale of argument.
Intrnsically, there is really no great difficulty in
the questions which threaten the peace Of the coun
try. mastery inactivity" would, in fact in
due time, bring all sides to happy equilibrium.
Never was there so portenous an issue suspended
upon quarrel so wretched 1t would be the ever
lasting reproach of history, that one hair OF the
head of this glorious mother of freedom-the Ame-
rican Union-should be hurt in a strife of such
small motives and petty annoyances as the case in
Its best phase, presents. Its embarrassments be-
long to an excited state of feeling, which has unhap-
PLY taken possession of the passions OF men and
complicated its simple and manageable elements
sEith prejudices that may become unmanageable.
C0nsiderae men may very easily define and
settle the constitutional powers of Government on
the whole subject Of slavery. Indeed, those ques-
aoas are already settled in the Legislative, Judicial,
and popular history of the past. The whole ground
is covered. These points of constitutional power
being once recognised and laid aside in the .argu-
snent, it is not less easy for wise and cool men TO
determine how far it is expedient just to exercise
the power which may clearly exist. The inclna-
ton of the great mass of the country both in the
free and slave States, would, doubtless, be to
=acguiesce in, indeed to applaud whatever resolve
shall tend to the harmonious and friendly termina-
ton Of all disputes. s..
Let us inquire what it is that has disturbed the
equanimity of the country, any portion of it, and
begotten a temper Of such dscordant antagonism.
The slavery question has given rise to three
parties in the nation, whose position, it is worth
our while, at this time, to review. We have some
"reminiscences 10 recall.
clique, or company, or faction of agitators,
scattered over the North and West but chiefly IN