Washington sentinel., 1854-04-30
THE HOsANNAs OF THE ABOLI-
TIONISTS.


THE HOsANNAs OF THE ABOLI-
TIONISTS.
When man hailing from the south speaks
on question involving the equality of the
States, and the protection due under the Con-
stitution to slave property in the southern
and that speech is condemned by the south
without distinction Of party; when the speaker
is warmly applauded by abolitionists, free
soilers, the various isms, and all the federasts;
when all the newspapers holding these various
heresies join in lavishing on him warm and
clamorous laudations, it is high time for him
to grow suspicious, if not to feel convinced,
that he has done a great and grieyous
wrong. We never knew man to be taken up
as pet by these people, to be praised by
them, to be approved by them, for doing
right and proper thing. We never knew
man to receive their censures and abuse, who
had not done good, virtuous, and proper
thing. If man but squints kindly towards
them or their doctrines, the whole pack raises
a joyous bark of welcome and encouragement
1t becomes such person to ask himself why
he Is praised by them, and why censured by
the good, true, constitutional men of the north.
Too much credit cannot be accorded to those
gallant men of the north, who at home, in the
Senate, and in the House of Representatives
have stood up manfully for the equal rights Of
the States, and, as an incident thereto, for the
doctrine of congressional non-intervention in
reference to slavery in the Territories. We
say too much credit cannot be awarded tc
those gallant defenders of the Constitution. II
may be answered that they did but their duty
and no man deserves praise for doing his duty.
We will not here involve ourselves in meta
physical subtleties in regard to this moral prob
lem, but would simply say, that if to do ones
duty be virtuous, and if virtue deserves com.
terms of eulogy. They have, in many in
stances, solitary and alone, resisted and con
trolled the rapid and swollen current of fanati-
cism. Politicians themselves, and animated
refused, and refused Indignantly, to sell them.
selves and their principles to the pestilent gang
of howling fanatics around them. They have
scorned to get promotlon ny FORMING alliances
with men whom they know to be enemies of the
Constitution of their country. Hence they are
denounced, viifed, and prosecuted by thes,
men,. Such are those noble and patriotic sena
tors from the free States who about the breal
of day, on the 18th of March last recorded thei
votes in favor Of the Nebraska bill. That da,
our country. 1t will stand out as great his
torical epoch.
After having acted thus nobly, honorably
and generously, they cannot feel otherwise
than panied, mortified, and chagrined at tn,
refusal of some of their southern brethren-fev
in number, we are glad to know-to act will
them. 1t must be gratifying to them, however
to know that the great bulk of their southern
brethren appreciate their services and sacrif
ces, and are cheerfully acting in concert will
them. When southern politician is found
separating himself from the great mass of tn,
southern people on a great question involvin,
their dearest rights, and refusing to act ais
with the sound constitutional men of the north
and when the abolitionists, the freesoilers, an,
fanatics come focking around to congratulate
and bespatter him with praise for SO doing, i
is high time for him to feel at least doubt a
to the propriety of his course. He shoult
know that they would not praise him and hi
views unless they regarded those views as ia
vorable to themselves. II they think so, if tho
sound men Of the north think so, and the grea
mass Of the southern people think so, it is bu
fair to suppose that there is some foundation
for the opinion. Modesty would at least sug
gest that he might possibly be wrong, when SC
many men, such large masses, differing SC
widely in regard to other things, yet agree in
this.