Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-01-08

I.
tn. al year has been one Of he most eyensinla
Al ~ kis,ory oil our eouniry. The repnblic has
49, i1tourk sp,ne IL fhe most tEyiax scenesfes
IS ionnd RECORDED by thesfaihtul pen Of tie hirofi
1n:~-tnd even nov The angry biilows q excessive
y.rtrzpiris and misgnidsd patriotism which hare
oniy been subsiaed for 4 time, are rppareiiiy re-
sruising their forces and gathering nrw strength 10
~ Tie searpouhinessofihc Ship Of Stale
A individuals, Il becomes ua.ai ,he opening Of
~ new year 70 examine ourselves and reTiew the
kiSiory Of he past, % with nations y maj b bot
u.sfsl and Instructive 70 take retrospective vieS
u heir past policy With regard 10 internal Affairs
and also with reference 70 their ohseFyance Of inter-
national iaw.
L mar nct b improper then, 10: consideration Il
ikeresponsibis once We hold as public Journalists.
pEDisssiBg 20 have the interest Of our beloved
country Al heart 70 glance At The principal events
u ne past twelve mpnthst
sThe agitasidn Of de Subject Of disunion and Sc
cesson in sone Of the confederaled stales Of this
: Rspnblic q andpubiedIYfhe most monenious occur
rebce ef ~. Ano other period Of our history have
such doeirines been promulgated as have been
preached with ali The enthusiasm Of The Crusaders
'cfthe eIden time and sowing broadcast as il WERE
Throughout The length and breadth Of onr widely
-eriended and happy land, ike destructive peace
gldangsrilg seeds Of treason and rebellion against
the highest authority or Law. This state Of things
! s doabiy aggravated when we remember that The
Compromise measures were already adopted by
Congress, and that fle peeplc BY their Represena-
tYes In Congress assembled, had tkrs virtually re-
buked this foul spirit Of anti-lawisn.
Dut let Us turn TO the brighter side Of the picture
for dark rs Il is there issome sunshine 70 be found
, reelected too from he summer-elad fields Of the
sunny South. notwithstanding the efforts at the
preysniion Of the execution Of the Fugitive Slave
Law a The North; mauger the Boston, Syracuse
and Christians ouFages against the feelings OF the
South, whefe not only property was at stake, bur
even life itself offered to this Molock OF fanaii-
chm yea, in the lace of all these circumstances,
lowell calculated 10 goad the South to desperation,
the Union party was eminenty triumphant In
this result there Is the foundation OF hope that all
sueh attempts will hereafter meet wish the same re-
bake by that great lever Of republican institutions
the ballot bar.
The Cuban invasion is adother item in the chap
ter Of events, This affair stands Gus in bold relief
without parrabel Ia the past as most unbiush-
Ing attempt upon the soil Of another friendly power
Against its government. Rebellion at home, and
stirring up and aiding rebellion abroad, seemed to
be theprder Of the day. Happily ioru us tie Govern
Eneni was 10 the hands Of one whewel knew his
responsibility and acted to deserve khe graft
tude Of his Counirymen.
Cleaf OF this dangerr We have another in the
shape cf the Ex-Governor of Hungary and others,
whes arrived on ourfshores, are stirring up our
sympaihfes In behalf 81 The oppressed Of all nations
The same spirit Of Intervention, aye, armed inhr-
rsnfsH II II needbe, is openly proclaimed BY those
Apostles Of liberty. Ii is sought to involve This !
Ration in the intestine broils Of Europe, for the
purpose Of aiding the progress Of democratic prin-
ciples 10 Germany, Hungary and ether counieies. !
The doctrines so faithfully inculcated in Washing
tons farewell address, seem slumbering with their
immortal Proclaimer in the grave. and their spirit
seems Is poweress for good, as the cold hand of T
him who ever pointed oai path to US clear from
foreign influence and foreign broils.
Bat we have unwillingly heightened what was
intended to be, but short article. The end of
these ihingsis not yet. We most deyoutly pray i
that the beautiful sunshine we are now enjoying
aker the rigorous inclemehcy Of the past, may be
the type Of that change for the BETTER that Provi.
dence has in store for usl