The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-07

1s
We, s.sv z: wv: ssss, :.s' x.
lsngs ju0S&p A. thA b4a<hs ~ msuabars AZ ne ls-
gslatass IN ~ q ~ speakss - ~ s,s in Tie
chair. wemlA ePFeAr e b. gradually invading The
very insss ahsinA ct ~ Constitution. Having
done ueliee % ~ sisesssae ard purity Of moraia
which dia1imgu6aa na~y NJ the moro sstsled por-
tons Of The Continent, cannot bs concealed, that
the reckless 'uosieas aud habits Of the vagunt po-
Ofshe Vice., avsncsd - these are by the prac
tees Of gambInGs dsiaking, aad licsntiousnsss by
an habitusi disrsgard Of The Sabbath and by more
else, fsarfulIy dishgurs that great valley Of the
Missiasppi. destined inevitably, at no distant day.
TO be the prsponderating section Of the entire
Union. Il il 1t this day impossible to 90 into any
socisty. especially Of the older and mors thoughs-
fal mses some Of whom may themselves have
borne "a eminent part in The earlier struggles and
service Of the commonwealth, without hearing The
dsgsnersey 81 modern times, and ths downward
tendency 81 al things. despondingiy insisted upon
At the period Of my visit, besides the nunerous
instances Of individual bankruptcy and insosvsn-
CIV, not, alas peculiar TO the world. the doc
trines reputation, officially promulgated by
sovereign States, had given an unpisas'ng conhr-
nation 10 what 10 perhaps the prevailing tendency
among retired politicians. have reserved TOR the
last topic Of anmad version the browning evil, the
capital danger, the moral piaguespot-savery. l
have no, Unclaimed Inc original responsibility Of
my own country ia introducing and rivettng u
upon her dependencies; do not disguise the por-
tentous dinculties in the way Of adequate remedy
to the great and lowing disease; but what can
not shut nv eyes on 10, that while Il lasts, II must
still continne, in addition to the actual amount OF
suffering and wrong which It entails on the en-
shaved. 70 operats with terrible reaction on the
dominant class; to blunt the moral sense; 70 sap
domestic virtue, to degrade independent industry;
TO check the onward march Of enterprise; to SOW
the seeds Of suspicion, alarm, and vengencs IN
both internal and external intercourse; TO distract
q : national councils; 10 threaten the permanencs
OF the Union; and to leave-a brand, byword,
and lest upon the name OF freedom. Cloud APP
Having thus endsavorsd, without consciousness
Of an vthing misstated or exaggerateds though Of
much that IL wanting and incomplete on either
side, TO sum up the good and the bad 4 leave my
hearers 70 draw their own conclusions from the
whole. There are large materials both for APP
provaI and atiack--ample grounds both for hope
and fear. q Causes are occasionally at work which
almost appear to portend disruption Of the fede-
raj Union: At the same time, strong sentiment OF
pride about II, arising partly from an honest pa
triotspa, partly from feeling of compiscency IN
lie very size and extent, may tend indefinitely 70
most one any such pregnant resultsi but whntev-
r. NAV Do lie solution OF that question. whatever
the issue Of the future dsstnes assigned 70 the
American Republic, il 10 impossible 20 have con-
templated her extent, her resources the race That
has mainly peopied her, the institutions she has
derived or originated, the liberty which has been
their lifs-blood, the industry which has been their
Offspring, and the free gospel which has bs.n pub
lished On her wide plains, and waited by her
thousand streams, without nourishing the belief
and the hope that il reserved Tor her to do much
In the coming generations, for the good OF man
and the glory or God. THE noble lord resumed
seat amidst loud and long continued applause ]