The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-12
The AgitatOrs and the Union.

In view of the circumstances and scenes
which the country has witnessed during the
last nine months; the excitement and exas-
peration which have prevailed at the South J;
the impossibility of making any progress with
the ordinary business of legislation; the mani
fest desire Of rejecting, prudent, and patriotic
men of the -saveholding States that this
course Of things should be arrested, and the
obvious perils to which the peace and union of
the republic have been exposed; we had hoped
that all men would have acquiesced in the
measures of pacfcation which have been hailed
with such universal rejoicing, and which have
promised TO restore tranquility To a convulsed
and distracted country.
1t seems, however, that we are To be disap-
pointed. An attempt is making to reopen the
controversy, to renew the. excitement, and TO
plunge the country again into all the turmoil.
confusion. and distress from which il seemed
10 have been happily delivered. For the pre-
servstion Of personal power, in the expectation
Of maintaining party ascendency by the aid Of
faction and ianaticism, movement is on foot
10 make up new party issues on the great topic
Of sectional agitation in disregard Of all that We
have suffered. and in defiance of the wishes and
in contempt of the opinions Of nine-tenths Of
the American people The Wing party are
called upon to select their position in this im-
portant and impending controversy, and are 10
say whether they will abide by the Judgment
Of their old and time honored champions, or be-
come the victims Of desperate Adventures in
politics, who arc playing the game Of power
with the peace, prosperity, and happiness Of
more than twenty millions Of people.
IN the Senate on Tuesday. Mr.. CHAsE, Of
Ohio, gave notice that on some future day he
should introduce bill to prohibit slavery in
the Territories Of the United States. This
was what might have been expected from Mr.
CHAsE. lie is but laboring in his vocation
The creature of sectional and local agitation,
the representative Of the Aboltionisis Of his
State. his only hold upon his friends is by push
ing his dogrnas to their extreme results. II
Tranquil days come again, his occupation is
! gone. Pursue what course he may, he pur-
sues it a. the agent and organ Of the Free soil
party.
|
! friend from Ohio. Mr.. SEWARD moved. az an
amendment to the "Bill To Suppress the Slave
| Trade in the District of Columbia, ;" bill to
abolish slavery in the District. We propose to
examine this measure Of Mr.. SEWARD, in ref
crencc to the ideas with which it is introduced
and the extremity to which. in view Of his
present course, he is determined to urge it. For
/ this we shall have recourse TO a volume whose
title page bears his name. and for which he has
assumed the responsibility, though the publish
\ er's advertisement prefxed to it informs us that
| it was only commenced" by him, and "com
/ plcted" BY an cable writer, - "undcr his aus.
/ pieces" The work 20 which wc allude is cnti
tied Life and Public Serrices Of John Quincy
adams. From this volume, pages 30, III
272, We extract a few paragraphs which fur
| nish abundant matter for reflection to all pru,
dent and patriotic men,
THE petitions for the abolition Of the slave trade
in the District Of Columbia, Mr.. Adams consider
ed relating to proper subject for the Legislation
Of Congress. But he did not give his countensnc'
TO those which prayed for the abolition Of slavery
| in that District. Not that hc would appreciate
the System Of slavery for he was, and in fact hac
been through life, it's most determined foe. Bu
he believed the time had not then arrived for thu
discussion Of that subject in Congress. IL was hi
settled conviction that premature agitation o
slavery in the National Councils would greatly
retard, rather than facilitate, the abolition Of tina
giant evil the most salutary medicines h
declared in illustration, 'unduly administered
wer. the most deadly Of poi.ons"
Believing there vas tir< 10 pih