The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-31

New York Union Meeting.
The letter Of our correspondent in New York
refers to the meeting 10 be held in that city of
the friends Of the Mon, in favor Of the mea-
sures of Paciiication passed by Congress at its
late session. This meeting we regard as one Of
no little importance. They are sadly mistaken
who believe that the Constitution and union of
these States can be preserved in the spirit which
has OF late prevailed, North and South With
South Carolina upon one side camorous for Sc
cession and dissolution, supported by CORE
spending sentiment, 10 some extent, in Georgia,
Alabama, and Mississippi; with the Abolition
lists Of the North and West openly resolving
that they win have no union with shareholders.
:. and agitating their iayorite topics in public
meetings and in public journals, seeking TO null
lily by votes and acts the statutes of the United
States state OF things is presented which
may well alarm all prudent and rejecting men,
and which calls upon the patriotic and conserva-
tive Of all parties to combine and co operate, to
the end that the republic may suffer no detri-
ment
North and South the extremists repudiate
with scorn the idea Of ompIomise-forgetting
that the Constitution and Union are themselves
compromises, and that all society rests upon
compromises "AIl government says the
wisest and most philosophical Of English states
men, ''indeed every human benefit and enjoy
ment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is
founded on compromise and barter. We bal
ance inconveniences; we give and take: we re-
: init some rights that we may enjoy others; and
we choose rather to be happy citizens than
subtle disputants. As we must give away
some natural libertyto enjoy civil advantages,
so we must sacrifice some civil liberties for
the advantages to be derived from the com
muHion and fellowship of great empire. e .
But, although there are some among us who
think our constitution wants many improve
'ments to make ii complete system of liberty
perhaps none who are Of that opinion would
think it right to aim at such improvement, by
disturbing his country and risking every thing
that is dear to him"
Our country has been disturbed. and every
thing dear to us has been perilled, by the
course which has been pursued for the last
twelvemonth by extreme sectional men. The
convention at Nashville was 4 fit supplement
to the convention at Buffalo. When men com
bined al the North to use the slavery question
as subject Of political agitation-when they
made opposition to slavery a means Of soliciting
political power-it was natural that men Of the
South should combine TO resent and repel the
aggressions which supineness and iresolution
would inevitably invite But these ends ac-
mplished--political Abolition rebuked-thc
rights and honor Of the South secure-and
further combination with Interior objects be-
comes conspiracy and rebellion. In the same
sense and in the same manner, opposition
10 the laws Of the land becomes 3cdition
and notification in the Northern States; aad
the extreme men Of both sections, carried
away by passion and prejudice, find themselves
involved n a ruuycneat listle short Of trea-
sJnable against the Union and Constitution Of
the country.
1t is easily said, that the Abolitionists mean
nothing and that the Ultraists Of the South
mean nOthing-but il is not true They mean
nothing less than the overthrow Of the Govern
ment under which We live. This Ney mean
distinctly. Mr. GARRISON and Mr.. GxppiNGs
are no more evilly inclined in this behJ lf than
Mr.. Bear, or Alr. VEYABLE, or MryRHErT
They are all the victims u hopeless fanati-
cism. They all seek the dissolution Of the
Union. Politicians North and South whomean
no such thing are playing into their hands, and
strengthening their ability for mischief. In our
Judgment, they are playing for too large stakes
and ior interests which they have no right to
hazard. The peace, prosperity, and perpetuiiy
Of great nation are not TO be the sport Of par
iizan trcksters and gamblers The PEoPLE
must come up TO the rescue Of their own.
Hence it is that we look with interest and hope
10 al such assemblies Of citizens as this Of New
York. Their influence is felt throughout the
land for good; and We have need Of ali such in
huences