Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-12-06
Watchman, what of the Nightg

be to keep up continual agitation and dis
quiatude amongst the people. They are nev.
Ter satisfied with existing laws or compacts !;
nor never have been, as the facts show, but
are forever seeking after something new some
IPhantom which appears to be just beyond
their grasp, and which, if attained, would be
destructive to the best interests of the country.
We view this state of things with interest
and alarm, and after a careful and impartial
examination of the facts. have become convin-
iced that it is time for all good citizens to
arouse TO true sense of the position of the
country, and at once put down this system Of
iagitation. And in order to arrive al cor
rect conclusion, let US look back, for mo-
ment to some Of the difficulties which this
Nation has passed through, but not without
many crises which seriously threatened the
existence of the Government
Through such crisis, says a cotemporary,
did this country pass at the time of the adop-
ton Of the Federal constitution. Had those
honest but mistaken alarmists, who so ear
nes.ly opposed its adoption, succeeded in i'm
pressing their views upon the people, and Sc
cured its rejection, who can doubt that this
country would never have attained its present
position Of grandeur and power? Who can
doubt that in the place of these States re-
volving in their respective orbits around their
great centre, the Federal Government, they
would have existed, if at all, but factious, hos
tile powers, ever suffering under retaliatory
laws and aggressive wars. without either the
security or prosperity that should give them
consequence as Peoples, But wiser counsels
prevailed Virginia followed the lead of a
Madison, and New York of Hamilton, and
the Constitution, which is the source of all
prosperity, the charmed one which has thus
far bound US and Cur destinies together, was
adopted. another fiery ordeal we passed at
the time Of the admission of Missouri into the
Union. All who remember that struggle will
remember that in it seemed involved the very
existence of the Union. Prior to the adjust
ment of that unhappy controversy, there were
men North and South. who planted them
selves upon extreme, uncompromising posi-
tions. and who sought BY passionate appeals
to infame the popular mind, and prepare it
for the maddest extremilies. But under an
overruling Providence sober counsels again
prevailed. and we weathered the storm. From
that period down to the time of our Mexican
acquisitions, the country enjoyed an almost
uninterrupted season of internal repose, and
advanced in wealth and power in degree
, Unprecedented in the worlds history. But
unhappily, with foreign peace came not domes-
tic tranquility. And are We not now, at a
!, time when we owe the most to this constitu-
ton and this Union, at time when we stand
the foremost power of the world. when civili-
cation and christianity hare entrusted to us
their highest missions, when we have the most
to hope from internal peace, and the mos: TO
fear from conyulsions and revolutions, are we
not passing through the most fearful crisis of
our history, and that too, under circumstances
most ominous of evil We came out safely
f ON the Missouri contest. not more because
of the just principle, considering the relations
lof the parties, upon which the controversy was
settled, than because the nation was wise
enough to acquiesce in the law which gave
repose. Individual opinions, North or South,
in relation to the terms of adjustment. might
not have changed. But the representatives
of these conflicting views had met upon the
middle ground of Compromise, where alone
national difficulties are adjusted without re-
course to arms and there by solemn law they
had settled the dispute. There was no con-
siderable effort to unsettle it; there was some
murmuring and cha6ng, but it soon subsided,
and the North and South again met in frater-
nal regard and confidence. We had not at
that time drifted SO far from the revolutionary
age as to forget or despise the spirit which
carrie US through that struggle. and subse-
quently gave us the bond of Union Men
high in position and influence had not then
taught US that this sacred bond was an at
trocious bargain, and IAN ill-considerad com.
pact Such language would then have bis
tered The tongue that uttered such a sentl-
ment, and the popular sense overwhelm, by
its rebuke the parricide.
Then agitation had not become the prime
element in political movements. There was
little feverish restlessness under fixed and
well considered laws. Petty demagogues, who
would rise from their natural low levels upon
popular excitements and prejudice, were sell
dom grasi6ed in their aspirations. The ma
tional sentiment was an earnest one, and pat
riotism comprehensive principle, asking no
new teachings, no different doctrines from
those inculcated by the immortal WASHING
TON It was this state of things and this SEN
timent which carried the country through that
crisis. Any less LIBERAL less patriotic, less for
bearing public opinion would then have over
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