The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-15
From the Deuoit Free Press
SECTIONAL PARTIES.-WHAT OUR FATHERS
THOUGHT OF THEM

From Free Press
SECTIONAL PARTIES.-WHAT OUR FATHERS
THOUGHT OF THEM.
The liberal quotations which we made Yesterday from
General Washngtons Farewell Address show how clearly
he ioresaw such state of things now exists in this
country and how earnestly he deprecated it. In contenl
plating said he O. the which may disturb our
Union it matter Of serious concern that any
ground should have been furnished for characterzng par
ties by geographical determinations northern and southern
Atlantic and soestern WHENCE DESIGNING MEN MAY ENDEAvoR
TO EXCITE that there Is real difference Of local
erest and pie0s !" and he added "YoU CANNOT SHIELD
YOURSELVES TOO JEALousIEs HEART
BURN1NGs MISREPRESENTATION ;
they tend to render alien to each other those who ought
be bound together by aternal Affection The fears
entertained by Jefferson who often gave expression
them and Jackson in his Farewell Address his cou-
ymen dwet with peculiar emphasis upon the increasing
tendency to sectionalism.
The warnings of these patriots have force
the present moment We most strenuous effort ma
king to organize great northern party animated by but
single dea and openly avowing purposes which, if
compshed would bring speedy disruption of the conied
eacy Look at the resolutions of the convention recently
held at Jackson. One of them points directly TO annu
of the constitution, and the spirit of the whole is OPP
posed to that harmony which must prevail between the
North and the South in order to the perpetuity of the
Union.
w
sons Farewell Address alluded to yesterday This great
had witnessed the first attempts at the organization Of
sectional party the slavery question, and with pro-
phetc eye he the consequences which must
less the patriotism OF the country should in all emergen-
cies he found strong enough TO counterac the machine
tons of faction. That he had abiding faith in the pa
riosm of the great of the people manifest and it
this people that he addressed his parting words
After auding the inunctions of Washington contain
ed i'm Farewell Address,
follows;
" The lessons contained in this Invaluable legacy of
Washington TO his counrymcn should be cherished in the
heart every citizen the latest generation and per-
haps period OF time could they be usefuy
membered than at the present moment for when look
upon the that passing around us and dwell
upon The pages Of his parting address his paerna
sells would to be not merely the offspring OF wisdom
and foresight but the voice of prophecy oreteling
and warning of the evil TO come Forty years have
passed since this impershabe document given to his
countryinen The federal constitution then regarded
by him experiment. and he speaks of it in his adj
dress but experiment upon the success of which the
best hopes of his country depended and all know that
he was prepared to lay down his life if necessary to
TO il full and fair trial The trial has been made, 1t has
succeeded beyond the poudest hopes of those who framed
it. Every quarter of this widely-extended nation has felt
its blessings and shared in the general prosperity pro-
duced by its adoption But amid this general prosperity
and splendid success the dangers of which he warned
becoming every day evident and the signs of evil
sufficiently apparent to awaken the deepest anxiety
in the bosom of the patriot We behold systematic eff
different parts of the United States, and to place
party divisions directly upon geographical disnc-
tons to excite the South against the North, and the
North against the South and to force the controversy
the most delicate and exciting topics-topics upon which
it is impossible that large portion of the Union can
speak without strong emotion Appeals too are constant
~ made to sectional interests in order to influence the
election of the Chief Magistrate if it desired that
he should favor particular quarter of the country, instead
of fulfilling the duties of his station with impartial justice
to all and the possible dissolution Of the Union has at
length become ordinary and familiar subject of discus
sion Has the warning voice of Washington been forgot
en have designs already been formed to sever the
Union? Let il not be supposed that impute to oil Of
those who have taken active part in these unwse and
Improbable discussions want of patriotism of public
virtue The honorable feelings of State pride and local at
achmens find place in the bosoms of the most cnlight
ened and pure But while such conscious of their
integrity and honesty of purpose they ought to
forget that the citizens Of other States their political
brethren and that however mistaken they may be in their
views the great body of them equally honest and up
right with themselves Mutual suspicious and reproaches
may in time mutual hostility, and ardl and design
ing will always be found who ready TO foment
these fatal divisions and infame the natural eaouses
Of different sections of the country The history OF the
world is full of such examples and especially the history of
republics
The first fatal step towards disunon cannot be recovered
The Rubcon crossed cannot be rccrossed 1t may be
that there those jackson the other day who ianced
chat continual dissensons might be harmless. General
Jackson against indulgng in such fancics:
"What have you to gain by division and dissension
may be afterwards repaired II the Union is severed
the line Of separation will grow wider and wider and the
controversies which debated and settled in the
halls of legislation will then be tried in fields of battle and
determined by the sword. Neither should you deceive
yourselves with the hope that the first line of separation
would be the permanent one, and that nothing but haro
ny and concord would be found in the associations
formed upon the dissolution Of this Union Local interests
would still be found there and unchasened ambition
OF the wrong of allowing pride and passion to Influence
public action and of the good intentions Of the people of
all sections, Gen. Jackson says:
@There is too much stake TO allow pride passion
influence your decision. Never for moment believe that
the great body of the citizens of any State States
deliberately intend do wrong. They may, under the inu
ence temporary excitement misguided opinions
nit Mistakes they may be misled for time by the sug
gestions of selfintcrest but in community enlightened
and patriotic the people of the United States argument
win soon make them sensible Of their and when
convinced they will be ready to repair them If they have
higher better motives to govern thom they viii at
least perceive that their interest requires them to be
just to others they hope to receive justice at their
hands"
In view of frequent attempts during the past few years
resist the execution of law Of Congress and thus to
subver the federal authority cannot too earnestly ask
every man TO ponder upon these words
But in order to maintain the Union unmpaIred, il is
absolutely necessary that the laws passed by the consu
ted authorities should be faithfully executed in every part
s,t, talI