The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-10-08
POPULAR AGITATIONs AT THE NORTH AND AT
THE SOUTH.

interest to those who disposed speculate as to the
future cannot escaped observation that whilst the
people Of the North are victims of every species of
element and agitation which distract and destroy the
public repose the people of the South are calmly and
quietly looking the spectacle and pursuing with compo
sure and decorum the "even tenor of their way There
is something anomalous in this contrast Southern men
have usually been regarded naturally exeitabe and as
being pedsposed from their sanguine Compartments to the
eeyescences of popular agitations On the other hand
the northern people have enjoyed the reputation OF being
much stad and phegmatc and conservative in their
habits consequently less liable to those popular out
breaks with which their southern brethren have been
preached At the present time The characteristics or the
respective sections reversedhe botspur and fire.
eaters the of the North, whilst the sober dig
nifed and quiet conservatives are the southern men,
" the popular agations the North the result of
some one absorbing question: either of religion or politics.
the spectacle would excite but little surprise and produce
but little apprehension to the consequences But there
is no one controlling topic of agitation, but multiplicity
of exciting themes-sonie political religious some
social and some not subject TO classification IN former
times the fanacsm of abolitonism found aVor only win
small and contemplate number of disturbers u the pup
lie peace At present it to require the highest ehor
of and physical courage for northern men TO resist
the torrent of antslavey anatcism which is sweeping
the free States But the fanatcism OF aboohm is
sufficient supply the demand of the northern mind
with materials for agitation Questions OF morality ana
religion have only be started to put the popular mind
in blaze of excitement The obligations of longs
shed political organizations melt away before the passions
which are aroused with questions OF purely
or religious character The veriest pre,epder has
but to crusade and he finds thousands OF
clamorous followers focking to his standard
Who would have deemed it possible that degraded
wretch Judson better known "Ned Buntine," could
succeed in devising scheme of agitation which should
exceed its wild anatcsms abolitionism itself? Yet
the eagerness with which thousands rush into his organi
cation the Infatuated madness with which they discard
and repudiae the sacred principles of civil and
lgons freedom, and and practise sentiments of in
tolerance and persecution furnishes conclusive proof of
the prevalence the North reessness and evershness
in the public mind which is without parallel in his
tory.
If would take the trouble scrutnze these various
organizations and ascertain their ultimate object it would
be difficult the conviction that they essentially
political their and designs whatever ostensibe pur
poses of moral religious character they may put for
ward They have originated with politicians who look out
for sentiment prejudice which the popular mind
is readily excited and making this the basis of an
organization with professions of patriotism and morality
their banners they look political honors and rewards
the objects be secured The first object to be attained
is to destroy the standing political organizations of the
two old parties
The readiness with which the great body of the wings
have yielded the dissolution of their party and to the
fusion with the several factions which have sprung up fur
nshes conclusive proof that those politicians who have
been most efficient in getting up the agations to which
have adverted heretofore acted and cooperated
with the wing party. That they have been materially
aided and encouraged by disappointed and disaected
democrats deny 1t is true, however, that the
whole scheme may be properly regarded intended to
overthrow the democratic party The calculation that
the wings the North would denationaze them
selves by concessions the aboonsts and thus their
new sectional character be strong body to which such
democrats could be detached from their allegiance to
their party could be drawnthe whole fused together and
constituting solid organization in opposition to the dem
ocratc party In this way recruits be secured from
the democrats the questions slavery temperance
appointment in applications for office, opposition to for
eigners and hostility the Romish church-all these
were looked for help in drawing Off democrats from
their old organization and attracting them the
party be formed Of all the odds and ends and fragments
of the various factions and sms that the leaders should
be able to create.
1t is obvious that such combination of factions into
one harmonious body of opposition would be exceedingly
formidable the democracy Instead of closing
to danger have felt it duty to hold up
democratic friends the strongest nducement to them
resist the insdious efforts being made to seduce them
into new political organizations The democratic party
never exhibits its real merits strongly and clearly
as it does when asssied by these covert appeals to
passion and prejudice Such appliances may be successful
to some extent and the danger of temporary defeat
NAV thereby be increased but Of the permanent tri-
umph of an opposition made up Of coalition be-
tween having national principles the bond of
union and hanging together only in the hope of securing
the spoiis of victory have had fears We have
abundant evidence that the great body of the democrats
of oil the free States are standing frmy together on the
national principles imboded in the Baltimore platform
The dectons from their ranks may for the time being
endangcr ascendency in of the States where
party has heretofore been triumphant but have been
taught by past experience and observation TO regard such
reactions which give strength and permanency to
democracy We conccde that the trial through which
party is passing is severthat the elements of oppos
ton arrayed against powerful and that the danger
in several of the free States is imminent We trust
that the result may be reached without scenes of
violence and boodshed which shall startle the public
mind The passions enlisted in the several of