The organizer., 1850-11-16
by r. o. ID.
No. |.

At the time the Federal Union
was formed, we were just en-
barking upon an untried experiment
of selfgovernment. Constitutional
liberty was then new idea in the
world, and there were TO persons, or
perhaps but few out Of our own coun.
try, who believed in the stability and
practical working of such a form of
government. And it must be admit
ted, that there were many difficulties,
besides that Of its novelty, to contend
with in the course of its progress
among which, the immediate and
most formidable influence apprehend.
ed against it by our lorefathers, were
the antagonistical system, and un>
friendly feelings and power of foreign
nations and mainly to guard against
that, the Federal Union was construc.
ted. II is true, there were other
considerations. arising out of the in
ternal condition aud necessities of the
country, which had their influence in
producing the peculiar organization
Of our federal system; but those things
were merely secondary in importance
compared with that just mentioned.
And having thus secured themselves
and their system against all danger
from without, the founders OF repub-
lican liberty in our country, we have
every reason to believe, entertained
the highest confidence in its permanent
and glorious success. They had no
fears OF failure, either from the na>
tnre OF its principles. or from internal
cOmmotion and strife among the peo-
pie. Nor is there now any-not the
least-danger Of failure Of our spe-
cies Of government among mankind,
It's principles, like those Of other sci>
ences, when once discovered cannot
be lost to the world; they are as sure
and lasting as the earth itself
But, TO the great astonishment and
profound regret Of many persons here |
In the South, an alarming and destruc.
tive element Of strife has gradually |
arisen in our midst, not connected |
with the principles Of our political
system, nor springing out Of foreign
aggression and force against US, which
In my humble opinion, from its strange
nature and malignant influence, mus,
soon sever the strong ligaments Of the
Union The Northern and the South
ern sections Of the country are hostility
auayed, the one against the other,
upon a question which has no connec-
ton with antagoEistical sectional
views with regard TO the policy, in
teFnal and external, which should be
pursued by the General Government;
nor yet. with conflicting local interests
among the people Of a political ma
ture. Party feelings & conflicts which
are as natural 70, and inseparable
from our Institutions as the growth Of
vegetation and the earth, IL is true,
are slightly mingled with. and impart
some coloring and aggravalion to the
between the sectional par
lies but this ingredient is as nothing
compared with the main cause Of dif. |
ference. And yet, while Il must be
admitted that there is no political
difficulty existing between the North |
and the South, Of sufficient magnitude
10 endanger even the peace. much
more the existence Of the Union the
national legislature for nearly year
past has been rent and torn By fierce /
and unceasing conflicts
among is members, and the whole
eountry has been & is correspondingly |
excited with alarm and apprehensions /
Tor our present peace and future seeu-
riiy. Nov, what Is the cause Of this