The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-21
From the Detroit Daily Adperfiser.
Il the Union in Danger!

From the Detroit Daily Aduerfis0.
Is the Union in Danger!
This momentous question is of almost hourly oc-
currence through the country, and the answer
which follows varies according to the confidence,
the approximations, perhaps the political or Sec
tional predictions of the party appealed to The
high state of feeling pervading all parties at the
capital, upon the engrossing topic of the day. the
admission Of California into the Union-the bitter
acerbties evolved in debate--the harsh language
and fierce denunciation habitually INDUCED in by
political managers-the movements for southern
convention, the result of the deliberations OF which
cannot be looked to without shudder-the familiar
and hourly mention, in terms of indifference, Of
disunion, Of veason-all of which things calcu-
lated to distress, discourage, and to embarrass
patriotic and good men-havc not failed to Cypress
the hearts of many such men, both at Washington
and elsewhere, with the most fearful orebodngs for
the Unions safety and to fill them with the deepest
concernment for its welfare. As necessary conse-
quence, this feeling has been deeply felt at the
of the agitation which has produced it; but it
has, nevertheless extended its infiuenceto the most
of our important cities. Receding from them, and
coming into contact with the people in sparse
y inhabited districts and in less frequent and init
mate intercourse with the capital and it is diff
cult to discover the existence the traces of any
apprehension of the Unions safety.
The proud confidence which the enlightened
American feels in the intrinsic strength, stability
and perpetuity of his noble Government and in
situations - his glory in her name, her history
and her prospects, bound up, as they are, in the
union of her States-are sentiments too common,
too universal, among her citizens, to permit doubts
of her integrity to arise and find place in their
hearts, except upon the strongest occasion. Look
ing, then, to the pervading popular sentiment
to furnish answer to the question which forms
the caption of this article, and its solution would
be prompt, cheerful, and decided No, In
irving at conclusion grateful and satisfactory
the mass of the people have doubtless given little
weight to considerations which, at the seat of Gov
eminent, have exercised strong and constant eff
feet. The social phase in the controversy-the ac-
rimonious and bitter element in the daily inter-
course between men from different sections of the
Union, and embracing different views upon the
great distinctive question, entering into relations
the most intimate, and subverting and revolution
izing the laws of cultivated society and good
breeding-has happily been wanting in the discus
sion of the merits of the absorbing question, away
from the capital, and its influence has consequently
been overlooked or disregarded at distance; ;
while, upon the spot il has exercised a strong and
unavoidable control over the opinions Of the wisest
men and the firmest misunderstanding TO invest
with gravity and weight, threats Of disunion and
reasonable menaces, which, at a distance, have
only been treated as the ebulition of sectional
spleen, the empty and impotcnt threats of parti
demagogusm.
Around the seat of Government, the political at
mosphcre has long been rife with fogs and impuri-
ties, which have been produced by the agency Of
tional little men, seeking to reach position, through
IN uy,ll
their intrinsic merits TO command, and attainable
only by sideway approaches, and through sdven-
titious aid. These petty maneuverers have been
confined TO section; they have come from both Sec
TONS and, in their endeavors to bring about their
personal aims, they have shown themselves ready
TO misreprcsent and TO sacrifice both sections. The
mists and clouds raised by these little exorcists
were fast gathering into deep and impcnetrablc
cloud of gloom, settling, pal-like, over the hopes
of hitherto bright and happy nation--the shades
Of a premature night fast shutting in upon
the glorious landscape Of the Union-the hearts Of
good men were fast sinking under its influence
when the CLEAN which kindles in the patriots eye
suddenly flashed through the gloom, and the thun-
der which bursts from the patriots tongue
heard above the storm, giving glorious assurance
TO all, that the calm which 10 follow would be
sweet, and pure, and safe, that "when the
morning stars sang together for joy' and that, in
that health giving thunder gust, the pcstilence,
with all its thronging crowd Of baleful influences,
was taking its hight-ferevn
Were TO venture a solution to the question
which we have propounded, Il would be that there
has been danger, and that there Is none-for which
a nations gratitude should be poured out before
Almighty God, who has placed in His servants the
power and the will to step forward in the hour Of
need, TO her from the hands Of fanatics, Of
fools, and Of demagogues. Our thanks due, for
this result, 10 all patriotic statesmen who have
stepped forward at this emergency 10 interpose the
egis Of their standing talents, and influence, be-
tween the Constitution and liberties of their
try, and the daggers Of her conspirators. Our
thanks arc also due TO the President Of the United
States, growing doarcr and more honored day by
day in the hearts Of his people, for having cast aside
the Establishments, and condemned the frowns,
which were intended to divert him from that course
Of duty which his sense Of justice, his patriotic
heart and indomtsble hrmness, had marked out
for him.
The great men of the nation have spoken, and
all, with one single exception, upon the side Of
moderation, Of wisdom, OF conservatism. What
ever opinions may be entertained with regard to
the merits Of the different plans or systems recon-
mcnded by those great men, il il obvious that the
effect of their speeches has been "to still the trou
bled waters" and to wrest from the hands Of fan
atics that power and influence which could never
be left there consistently with the nations we'll
being.
The deep and searching discussion which the
subject Of slavery has undergone, In the ordeal
through which we are passing, has served, II no
other good end, at least that most desirable one Of
bringing tho extremes Of our great nation into
closer contact, and into better acquaintance with
the views, wishes, and feelings Of one another.
The North longer regard the entire South as
slavery propsgandists, bent upon sacrificing ma
tionsl honor and national existence TO it's extcn.
sion while the South have been feelngly per