The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-26
The Great Question or the Day-Whcre IRE
we GoIng9

we Going!
Congress has not been in session a month,
and already the slavery sore has been re-
opened and probed afresh.l AS might have been
expected, Gerrt Smiths Congressional debut
was violent onslaught on the institutions of the
South and though the forbearance with which
he was heard, and the temperate tone in which
he was answered, establish satisfactorily that
he will enjoy monopoly Of appeals to fanati-
csm, intolerance and passion, we cannot
reasonably expect that such eloquence as his
will contribute to strengthen a friendly feeling
between members from the different sections of
the country. Even without the light which the
spread Of secessionism throws on the tendency
fpubiic opinion in the Slave States, we should
not be at a loss to deineate the inevitable con-
sequences of the agitation which is going on
around Us. The persevering efforts of the
agitators Of the North must bring forth their
fruits both here and elsewhere. Some of those
fruits are already before us. The compromise
is CONTEMPORARY shorn off its leading provi-
sions by the government at Washington. A
fresh lease of power is awarded to William II
Seward in this State. The anti-slavery organs
throughout the country are preparing to renew
the struggle with more zeal and activity than
ever. Van Burenism revives in New York,
and the National Era prepares to issue
daily. Throughout the South-in Georgia, Mis-
sissippi, and Alabama public confidence is
denied to politicians who are suspected OF
fidelity to the Union. Every sign distinctly
tells US that the slavery question is coming upI
anew in a more formidable shape than ever.
1t first entered into the politics Of this coun-
try at the formation Of the constitutions but its
dangers were then averted by the wisdom and
patriotism Of our ancestors. For half century
it NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. rising to the surface
in political debate-but never interfering
seriously with the peace of the Union until
some twenty years ago, it was seized and
brought prominently forward by the anti-slav
cry factions Of the North. 1t was not in its
origin what we see it nova moral and reli-
gious crusade against slavery. The moral
wrong of the Southern institution is quite
new discovery Slavery was not abolished ia
the North in consequence of its moral iniquity,
but simply because immigration supplied free
IhDOT at u lower cost IndH slave IhDOr involved.
1t was abolished here as soon as it became un-
profitable; and at the time the anti-slavery
movement was commenced the bulk Of think
ing men regarded it's existence in the South as
a temporary state Of things destined to cease
as soon as the increase Of population cheapened
the price of free labor. This was we venture
to say, the light in which slavery was viewed
throughout the Union some twenty-five years
ago.
The abolition leaders adopted new view Of
the matter. They took high moral ground
against slavery, and enlisted the fanatical SEN
timents Of many religious bodies in the North
in their crusade They assailed the South with
the yirulence Of personal enmity, and aroused
q susceptibility on the part Of cur Southern
fellow citizens which had been unknown be
fore. Hence, in a very short while, two en-
tirely new parties were called into existence !;
the one, demanding the immediate abolition Of
slavery, in obedience to their fanatica instincts;
he other, insisting on it, preservation, as much