The republic., 1851-09-10
From the Boston Transcript.
The Peace and Dignity OF tho Common
~H

The Peace and Dignity OF tho Common
wealth.-No. XII.
1t is proverbially difficult to pick the dust Of
self-interest out of ones eyes. The moral Vi
sion of man Of ardent temperament is often as
effectually blinded by the intense and protracted
application of whatever mental power he may
possess to one particular object. The irritating
stimulus of inveterate selfshness takes away
the power of discriminating between the boun-
dary lines of nleum and tlninl, and the furor of
enthusiasm will lead the fanatic to swear that
an ignis tatttus is the sun in meridian splendor;
and TO push forward, after the jack-o'lantern of
his burning brain with all the ardor of the tabled
calf that ran fifty miles at the top of its speed
to suck bull beyond Jordan.
There are not few who look upon Garrison
as species of devil incarnate, let out for briet
experiment of fifty years-while, in regard to
himself, he imporingly inquiries, "has not my
,cLole life been deroted to eUcfy thing that IS
| Christhke?"
wish to compare the original precepta or
principles of the abolitionsts with their present
practices. Nothing is more common, when we
charge some leading and influential abolitionist
with talking the talk of traitor, and menac-
ing the Union, or interfering with the rights
Of Shareholders under the Constitution, than
to be gravely met with a reference to their
principles, as laid down among the constitutions
or printed resolutions Of their societies. and pub
lished from time to time. Now, ii is very man
ifest, that this species of defence is precisely as
satisfactory as that of certain church members
would be who, when charged with slander and
theft, should refer to the laws of the Decalogue,
thou shalt not bear false tcitness-thou shalt not
steal. For of what greater value to the public are
the articles of faith, the principles, the resolu-
tlons of these societies, whose members can GO
forth and play the traitor, and return into the
fold in full communion, than are the prayers OF
those who return to their devotions after hav-
ing sanded their sugar and watered their mo-
lasses2
If members, and especially prominent mem
bers, of these abolition societies publish opin-
ions or propose measures which are utterly at
variance with the principles avowed by these
societies, and which opinions and measures are
not only opposed to the peace of society, but
positively reasonable, it is the duty Of these So
cietes in good faith to express their dissats-
faction in some form or other, and, not only for
the sake of the community, but for their own,
to cleanse their skirts of the pollution.
Now am not aware, though have marked
the proceedings of these societies with atten-
tion, that any member has ever been held in less
esteem for his reasonable talking or writing
on the contrary, the utmost harmony appears to
subsst among them. To be sure, Messieurs
Phillips and Qninst did not agree with their
associate, Theodore Parker, in his views of the
righteousness of perjury and this seems the
more unaccountable, since the former, having
sworn to support the Constitution, have ear
nestly urged the speedy dissolution of the Union,
and harangued the people In favor of high
treason.
If these societies have any principles, and
still profess good faith to the community, and
respect for the Constitution and the laws, and,
nevertheless, permit their prominent members
to deal with the peace and dignity Of the Com
monwealth as if it were football, to urge the
people to trample on the Constitution and vio-
late the laws, and yet pass no syllable of cen
sure or disapproval, then these societies re-
semble those Barbary powers, in other days,
who, affecting a respect for treaties, suffered
their corsairs to sweep the seas with impunity.
Let us look into this matter, and let us look
into it carefully for it has much to do with the
present subject, unless | err in the opinion
that the false position in which our country is
placed towards other nations, has arisen en-
tlrely from the preposterous course of the abo-
litionists When they volunteered to cure this
great national evil of slavery, they proclaimed
their curative process to the world-they pro-
posed course of mild and gentle Alternatives
they expressly denied all intention of employ
ing violent remedies, and particularly pledged
themselves not to thrust their physic down the
PATIENTS throat without his consent.
Wise men, though they looked upon these
abolitionists as charlatans, who cared little for
the patient, and, like all other quacks, were in
quest of notoriety and provant, were rather
dIsDOcpd IN Ian nh n tbair
seeing the length to which these impostors
would proceed
Twenty years ago, and more, they promised
the patient immediate emancipation from all
his troubles, and he is absolutely worse, at the
present moment, than when these empires first
took him in hand.
Exasperated by the protracted character of
the maady, and the apparent worthlessness of
their remedies, they have grossly violated all
their promises, abandoned their alternative
course, and, adopting the phlogistic system,
have stimulated the patient violently; at in
tervals administering the most drastic physic,
forcing it, n0LeRs uolens, down the PATIENTS
throat, and producing spasms and convulsions.
| Of late they have become apprehensive that
the malady is contagious, and, to prevent the
spread of it, they propose to blow up the habi-
tations for many miles round
Some of the younger practitioners, believing
the evil can be remedied in no other way, have
gravely proposed to blow up the whole country
Others who have acquired little property, and
are unwilling to have it blown up with the
mass, prefer not to resort to this ultima rGtio
until they can discover that safe place to stand
on for which Archimedes stipulated before he
proposed to apply his celebrated lever.
Another set OF practitioners has lately arisen,
who, of old, were denominated GtrG pop'tta-
riS captdtoreS," but who, at the present day.
are styled Free soilers. These have held fire.
quent consultations with the old empires and
though protesting somewhat mider system,
are quite as violent in their practice. One Of
this new school, in particular, is highly in ia
vor of the old mode of bleeding and blistering,
and the use of the cautery adopted in 1865.
Let us lay down our figures Of Illustration,
and take up the facts. Abolitionsts have been
The occasion Of uproar and tumut in this coun-
try from their first appearance. As early as
October, 1888, tremendous riot was excited
by their proceedings in the city of New York.
The liberties of the Republic were thought to
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