The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-24

raj Union has struck the points and defined the
limits of this mutually as nearly as human Wis
dom has as vet demonstrated the theory.
We tbink that dissolution Of the Union, or Sc
oession of particular State, for the reason that
the institutions and civil and social system OF any
of them are not conformsble to justice, is a mis-
take in policy 1t is equivalent TO rsJeoung al
confederatops of distinct States and nations; and
IL nushed 10 its extent, involves the dismember-
men, Of individual States, counties, and towns
it breaks up the family of nations, and indeed us
solves all the social relations OF men, Whatever
considerations do, or are capable Of doing Tor the
maintenance of the wrongs and evils Of their sew
eral members they compensate amply oy their
influence for amendment Of the evils IN ~hicn
they respectively differ. Extreme opinions indl-
cate this: the scrupuOus conscience OF the Nor'h
would secede to repudiate the SIN OF the slave
system. and the fanatical South would secede TO
escape the mischief which the opposite interest In
the u MON is constantly working in their darling
system. Neither Of these parties which thus agree
and thus differ, are fools. Both are just so far
right that they may balance each other, ana leave
the true level between them The Union, IKE
the Bible Is working for the right; and construe
and abuse them as men may, they will yet accom-
plish the redemption each contributing in its own
way II half the Scripture were strained into
the support Of slavery, the other hall, confede-
rating with reason and the natural goodness Oh
man. would At last prevail for the right; and the
Union, abused and perverted though it be to the
service of this mighty wrong, is yet the surest
agency in the world for its final overthrow. II
the slave States could get out Of the Confederacy
to all intents and purposes, then'they could maln-
tain the system forever; for serVile revolution
| is a mere absurdity, and all action OF the free
States would be excluded But Ia the Union,
with its constantly growing balance Of wealth,
population, and power, and the whole weight
of over mastering interests, and untrammeled
morals, repugnance, against them, the end is sure
for the action is incessant, perpetual, and IRE
sistible
Secessionsts may talk as they will, but geogra'
ply and necessity are more than match for
scruples and policies. IL is all matter of elo-
quence and temper, and there it must in any case
abide for If every tribe in our Israel betook it.
self to ita QUO 20 - ss>Ss<Ou tn" Ths9lute nat
ural, and inevitable relations remain just as
they were and the talk and temper only would
be varied; and that most lamenraOly for the
worse, too.
The conscience of party to national confed-
Grafton is no more burdened by the evils, wrongs
and injurious institutions of another than in the
case of treaties Of smity and commerce. The diff
ference between the intercourse which is unavoid-
able among nations, and the nearest connection
which they can contract that still leaves them re-
spectively sovereign and independent is one Of
degree only, and not of principle partnership
for unavoidable purposes does not involve par
ticipstion in the distinguishing sins Of the con-
tracing parties. And, furthermore, to divide
from the South because they hold men in bond
age is to abandon those bOndmen to their fate by
mrrendering the best methods of influencing their
condition for good while the Southerners' rea-
son for secession is about as sensible and as avail
able as any other mere protest against the sys-
TEN of the world the ideas of the age the current
Of events, and the manifest destiny Of the race
SENIOR.