The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-07-13
THE NEBRASKA QUESTION.

Democratic parties are fast dying away and
new ones are being substituted. As We
glance back few years, We observe sever
al questions that formerly possessed an all
absorbing interest, and upon the correct
solution of which the destinies of our coun.
try seemed to rest, gradually assuming a
less important ASPECT, until now some Of
them are scarcely alluded to BY politicians.
There were those OF National Bank, the
Sub-Tre asary system, Tariff for The pro-
lection Of home industry. Internal Improve
Inen,s. distribution of the proceeds Of sales
of public lands. etc. all Of vital interest TO
our country during the tine of their agita-
ton, hu; eventually forced aside BY circum-
stances occurring in the rapid progress Of
our nation.
When we look back upon those exciting
questions, and the vehemence with which
men contendea for and against them, assert
ing and believing that the prosperity, i 40
the perpetuity 0. orr country, depended up
on the manner in which they were solved
We are taught . lesson with regard 20 the
pernanencr OF American institutions; we
are ins.ruetei that no simple question Of
political economy can ever shake, lei alone
DESTROY, the union Of the States. Based
upon q rock, our republic will endure while
ether nations shall rise and fall, and though
traitors may breathe treason and incendi-
aries plot disauion, re, It viii stand proud
monument oil the wisdom and sagacity OF
those who founded and with Amos, inspired
vision predicted lis progress to greatness
among the powers Of earth. Sc jealous
were its trainers Of lis prosperity and so
fondly did our forefaihers watch over ii, as
gradually il unfolded its resources, that the
bare mention o! the word "cisuniCn" startled
them as I term Of import direiul to their
cherished hopes. Nov the word is pro-
noGnced finpantly on the tongue and IA
military as though il did NJ, betoken a
disrupturs Of the great American republics;
the tearing asander Of those tes that bind
Us together IS one common people; the De-
str.eticn OF those elements which contribute
Questions have arisen which in their in
ception men pronounced the forerunners of
the dissolution Of the Uhion. A few years
since and the mere mention of the word
.lapery was with many as applying torch
10 combusii5les; their feelings were aroused,
their pulses beat quiek, the blood grew
warm and bounded ilnPetuously through the
veins, and the man became the eG,sajment
OF excited human nature. Then the word
disunioa was one Of fearfu! import to Us. q
horrible phantom that caused shaader, and
slavery was the medium through which we
viewed il. So fearful did the word become
and SO pregnan, with i'll, that both Of the
great political parties introduced strong
condennatory resolutions Of its agitotion
into their platforms. Yet there vas fac,
ton existing in tie Union which lived, mor-
ed s,d had is being by the agitation q
this question; gradually, however, THU fac.
ton was being weakened ty an ameiiora'lon
OF The idea for which II contended,
As thu bursting Of bomb-shell over q
city while all is quiet came the explosion
Of the principle adopted into the Democrat.
ie platform and the renewal with rigOr &C.
quirea IN the long pen. up power, Of tn.
slavery agitation in Congress. Violating
their pledge as party and emulating the
rankest Aboliiionists as agtators, after ;
turfulen, session Of several months, the
faith Of the south has been broken the Old
est compromise Of the Union has been sew
cred, and tiie incubus Of slavery has been
enlarged
Tor years the north has yielded quietly "a
the south and even submitted to indignity
rather than arouse the latent fires Of discord
Scoring her passyeaess, and, strange as
i,may seem, led Oh by northern Democrats,
the south has transcribed ali precedent by
violating solemn compact which her own
statesmen had formed FIJI ths settlement o.
ycxed and threa. eaing question. Human
nature, though il may suffer long, will al
length reach point Wbers endurance
ceases TO .e virtue. That il las arrived
al that climax we d. net believe, yet there
are those possessing faf greater influence
who are strenuous in the opinion that the
north should At unce dissolve the ties %h ich
bind her to the south. That great wrong
has been committed ard the rights Of the