The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-17
From the Helena (Ark. Shield.
The Late Crisis.

In our last we announced the passage Of the most
important features Of the Compromise bill and
forebore, because unable, to make any heightened
comments on the action Of Congress.
"When the heart feels most, the lips move not"
And this was an occasion upon which we could not
speak. we regard the passage OF these measures
emphatically settling the questions in issue be-
tween the North and the South. We regard Sec
tional jealouses and sectional excitements as al
ayed. The result we had predicted has been real
lied. "The oil of conservatism settled itself in and
about and around the proceedings of Congress-
and subdued the troubled waters" The false pro-
phets who eagerly sought to prepare the public
mind for dissolution of the Union have been re-
buked. The universal voice of rejoicing that fol-
lows close upon the late action of Congress speaks
in thunder tones the knell Of departed fanatics.
The language OF Mr.. Jefferson, contained in his
first inaugural, "We are all Federalists--we are
all Republicans meets with echo in the bosoms
OF nine-tcnths of the American people. We are
Federaliss because we are in favor Of the Fedora
tive Union of these States. We are Republicans
because we are in favor of representative govern
ment fresh from the people. Our Congress is the
representation of our Federal and our Republican
principles The Senate represents the Federal Union
of sovereigntes and the House the republican prin-
ciple of direct representation of and from the people.
The conservative representatives Of the people in
both Houses of Congress have shown in their at
tachment to the Union their endorsement of the
declaration OF MIR. Jefferson, who likewise says in
the same inaugural /" Every difference of opinion
is not difference of principle. We have called by
I
Some we call Wings and some we call Democrats.
But in parrying the late blow struck at the per-
petuity ofonr institutions, unpublished to the world
that our difference of opinion was merged in devo-
ton to principle. In the present day, as in tho
days OF Jefferson we are all Federaists, we are
all Republicans"
The same patriarch of the revolution said elf
there be any among us who wish to dissolve this
Union, or change its republican form, let them
stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with
which error of opinion may be tolerated where rea-
son is left free to combat it," And so cay we now
OF the fanatics of the North and the South. In the
North, reason has been assaed with, "Down with
him, he cringes to the slave power." In the South,
reason has been sought to be senced with the cry
I" Down with him, he is an Abolitionistv But the
voice Of has been heard, and the result is,
Conservatism has triumphed, and the Union il
preserved.
In this same address MIR. jefferson says: ssI be-
leve this the strongest government on earth"
The events of the pact few months fully demon
strate the truth of this declaration If aught could
confirm the principle of the capacity Of man for
self government, il would be the peaceful settle
ment OF the questions which but few short weeks
ago seemed TO shake the Union to its centre, which
for the moment seemed To arouse all the evil pas
sions or our nature; and when, too, change of
administration-ape peaceful change of government
took place at the very period of greatest excite
ment.
The despots of the old world have have been
gazing US with anxious solictude in the earnest
desire soon TO hear the knel OF the departed Repub
lie The devotees of liberty in another hemisphere
have watched with glistening eyes the events that
have been passing amongst US, confident of the
ultimate fufment of our destiny, yet fearful that
this untoward storm might wreck the bark freight
ed with their dearest hopes. We have terrified the
first, to gladden. with exceeding great Joy the
hearts Of the latter. The national relics and the
shades of departed revolutionary greatness
yet undivided. The sun of Yorktown gladdens
alike the snow-clad hills of New Hampshire and
the fertile savannas of the sunny South. No alien
people seek TO claim common parentage. The
fires of 20 yet burn upon the altar of liberty, and
twenty-five millions of united people recur with
common gratitude to their common origin.
II such be the result of the labors, what shall we
say Of the laborers The men who sunk the poll
tician in the statesman Clay and Cass Foote and
living marble.