Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-20
SLAVERY AGITATION.

Ii is fast becoming but too obvious, that
there exists in this country neither PATRIOTISM
enough, sense enough nor honesty enough, on
any side, to permit this perniclous question,
incapable as it is Of anything but mischief 20
sfau settled, even when it has been settled. The
faith given between section and section, at any
such adjustment holds no longer than blasts
the immediate alarm, the 1--WE fear) selfish dread
Of commotion, which, only when catastrophe
is in no other manner to BIO avoided, and the
least card of political tricksters and dema-
gogues is played, rallies to the call Of public
duty never regarded until the last extremity.
That extremity once ayerted, and the moment
airy panic past, the old game is instantly re-
newed; the shallow multitude resumes its &C.
curity, and dances upon the volcano just
ouieted beneath its feet; while the very engi-
neers, that laid the mine and lighted the COM
bustibles, shift their parts pass themselves for
the men that prevented an explosion, and con-
yerting the whole short-lived dismay into a
new fund Of lying influence for themselves,
begin afresh the same incendiary practices;
carry them on with success build up their
own personal fortunes upon the agitation; and
bidding high and fast for public favor, against
crowd of eager competitors, soon bring back
all the excitement, the passions the public
phrensy, which had but the other day been so
nearly fatal.
We live, in short like those people lately
blown up at Ravenswood, in p0wder-house
where it is everybody's business to make car
tridges where powder strews the floors, and
men shod with iron walk upon ii; where it is
handled alongside of spirit lamps; and where,
full in the midst, stands that ten plate stove,
the Presidency, all the while flaming, and at
every four years blown to red heat, upon
whose top any one that likes may amuse him.
self with setting off explosions, at his will, to
attract attention. All this is, no doubt, excel
lent pyrotcchny, and most prudent, rs well as
pleasant. Now and then, when the danger
becomes too apparent, or some more riotous
youth insists upon clappiDg fire to everything
for the general benefit Of Q grand blow up, the
inmates, one and all get enormously frighten-
cd, and some sober and good old fellow, with
much ado, and at no little hazard of getting
scorched himself, sweeps out the powder from
the floor, cools down the stove snatches his
match from the pyrotechnic hero, and averts
for the time, q defamation. But what then {!
No sooner do they find themselves safe than
they all 90 on again at the same hazardous
trade, the same wicked tricks; the lamp, the
etove, blaze up again the floors, the seats, re
sumo their former discreet condition; the
youths that have fancy for fireworks return
to their eports; when 10! in the midst of the
fun, q vapory flame darts from the template
or the lamp, to some pinch of powder nigh
leaps from that to the fo0r--sejzes the car
tridges--qnick as lightning, catches the whole
combustible mass; and with burst like thun-
der, a jar like that Of an earthquake the fac
tory and its ingenious artifcers are blown into
atoms and shot to the sky
Ne,c Orleans Crescent, february s.
OYSTER LIFE.--An imaginative naturalist
has pictured the life Of an oyster as one of the
happiest of destines. He has described him as
carefully lodged in dwelling of pearl, fed with
the rich produce of the swelling tides, growing
delcatoly corpuent with Injuries which he
receives by the mere trouble Of opening his
mouth, soothed to slumber by the gentle rip
pie of the waves that roll above and around
him, and checred amid the intervals Of his al
most continuous dreams by the consideration
that his death even is to be glorious as that Of
the white bull sacrificed to Jovc, or the tender
virgin who saved her country by her passage
down the throat Of the Minotaur. Faint ideas
Of discomfort are suggested by such traditions
as those Of tho "Oyster crossed in love" but
on the whole, the lot of the oyster is a glorious
one He swims in sensuous paradise until
the crash of the oyster-kni comes laundering
in to put an end to his life: and then he lies
white, succulent, and resigned, ready TO be
offered up an unressting sacrifice to the gas
tronomic sensiblities of some refined palate.
AN ANCIENT REcoRD.-At recent meeting
Of the Syro. Egyptian Society, Mr.. Sharpe ex-
hibited o drawing of a sculptured slab from
Khursabad published by M. Botta and Mr..
IA A,a &c Dbcor ,osa
timber ships carrying planks Of wood from a
CITY ON the coast. The timber is brought down
to the coast from hill The Assyrian winged
bull accompanies the ships, and the fish god OF
the Philistines is on one side. Mr.. Sharpe's
conjecture was, that there were ships Of Tar
sus in the service of Sennacherib, carrying the
timber Of Mount Lebanon, from the city of
Tyre, to bc used by the Assyrian army at the
siege Of Potassium, where Seunachcrib's army
was destroyed The Second Book Of Kings
does not mention tho siege Of Potassium AZ the
spot where that celebrated event took place;
that information is added by Herodotus. Again,
neither the Book Of Kings nor Herodotus tell
us that feet was there in attendance on SEN
nacherib's army; but the circumstance Of the
case make it probable, and in tho forty eighth
Palm where thanks are returned for the CITY
of Jerusalem not being besieged by the Assy-
rams we arc also told that the Lord scattered
the ships Of Tarsus by an east wind. The
three writings, namely, the Second Book Of
Kings, Oh. viii and CHI xix, Herodotus, and
Psalm forty-eight, make il probable that SEN
nacherib had at that time fleet of PhGnician
vessels on the Mediterranean Sea, and this
sculpture seems to be the representation Of that
feet.
DouoLAs.-The speech Of Hon. \. p. Chase,
which we commence this week, will be COM
pleted in our next paper By universal con
sent, the Ohio Senator crushesO the little
giant to powder; showing up his perversions
Of fact and distortions Of history. We have
concluded to issuc 10000 copies of Senator
Chase's reply on half sheet extra, for general
circulation. A copy should DO in the hands Of
every man in the State and il should be care
fully read by every man who desires to under
stand the most momentous question ever yet