Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-09-20
Geographical Lines.

SitiOnS from Mexico. But the compromise
had no charms for Northern men. SEWARD,
CHASE and HALE, and the Free-soilers gener-
ally could see mo- propriety in making an
equitable division Of common property and
when the admission of California was oppos-
ed, these very men were most earnest in pro-
claiming tie sovereignty Of the people as the
republican doctrine applicable to that
territory; and they repudiated the idea OF
compromise. Now their tune is changed.
1t is to be deeply deplOred that climate,
soil, and productions have pointed out the
South as the only part of Our country where
the African race IS required.
Is would be better for the harmony and
fraternity Of the Union that the free and slave
States should be intemixed and fnterlocked
so that the respective inhabitants might know
and appreciate each other. II Massachusetts,
and South Carolina were side by side, the
welfare of both would be promoted; the alb
surd mixture of knavery and visionary fanat-
icism which distinguishes the first would be
moderated and toned down by the high
sense of honor, and the aristocratic conServa-
tism of the other; while the spirit of enter
mise and the intellectual activity of the de-
scepdants of the Pmitants, would quicken
into life the lethargic genius of the sons OF
the Huguenots. Mutual good offices would
result from neighbOrhood social ties would
be formed, and prejudices which, in most
cases, are the effect of ignorance, would van
ish before mutual knowledge. These con-
siderations are of themselves sufficien: to
show the impolicy of a geographical line;
and all who wish that brotherly love should
preyail throughout this Union, should seek
10 bring men Of the North and South into
closer contact.
Nature has unfortunately created barriers
TO perfect freedom Of intercourse; but to add
the restraints of law to those of locality Is
madness in the extreme.
Mr.. JEFFERsoN's letter to Mr.. HOLMES on
the Missouri Compromise and a geographical
line has often been quoted, and we will not
republish it as it is familiar to all. But on
several other occasions he has expressed SIM
liar sentiments. In a letter to Mr.. NELSON
(vol. z, p. 1917 he said:
al thank you, dear sir, for the information
in your favor of the 4th instant, of the settle
ment, for tie present, of the Missouri question.
lam so completely withdrawn from all atten-
ton to public matters, that nothing less could
arouse me than the definition of a geographi-
cal line. which on the abstract principle is TO
become the line of separation of these States,
and to render desperate the hope that man
can ever enjoy the two blessings OF peace and
self-government. The question sleeps for
the present, but is not dead"
The question sleeps for the present, but IS not
dead. This idea, which was also contained
in the letter to HOLMES in stronger language,
seems to have taken painful possession of his
prophetic vision.
In a letter to WIN. SHoET (vol. Z, p. 1881
he repeats the sentiments of the HOLMES let
ter with slight variation.
although I had laid down as a law to my
self never to write, talk, or even think of
~politics. to know nothing Of public affairs,
and therefore had ceased to read newspapers,
vet the Missouri question aroused and filled
me with alarm. The old schism of federal
and republican threatened nothing, because it
existed in every State, and united them to-
eether by the fraternism Of party. But the
Coincidence of a marked principle, moral and
political, with a geographical line, once con-
ceiyed. | feared would never more be Oblit-
Grated from the mind; that it would be re-
curing on every occasion and renewing irri-
tatious. until it would kindle such mutual and
mortal hatred, as to render separation prefer
able to eternal discord. | have been among
the most ~sanguine in believing that our
Union would be Of long duration. l now
doubt it much, and see the event at no great
distance, and in the direct consequence OF this
question; not by the line which has been so
confidently counted on; the laws of nature
control this; but by the Potomac, Ohio and
Missouri, or more probably, the Mississippi
upwards to our northern boundary My only
comfort and confidence is, that | shall not
live to see this; and l envy not the present
generation the glory of throwing away the
fruits of their fathers sacrifices of life and
fortune, and Of rendering desperate the ex-
pertinent which is to decide ultimately
whether man is capable of self-goyernment?
This treason against human hope, will signal
ize their epoch in future history, as the I'll
terpart of the medal of their predecessors"
In a letter to Mr.. P~INoKNEY, (vol. Z, p.
l79,) he writes with more cheerfulness, aud
charges most truly that the agitation was a
struggle for power with no philanthropy in it.
''The Missouri question is merely q party
trick. The leaders of federalism, defeated
in their schemes of obtaining power by rally
ing p~artisans to the principle of monarchism,
a principle Of personal not of local division,
have changed their tack, and thrown out
another barrel to the whale. They are taking
advantage of the ~virtuous feelings of the peo-
ple to effect a division Of parties by a geo.
graphical line; they expect that this will
ensure them, on local principles, the majority
they could never obtain OF principles of fed
eralism; but they are still putting then
shoulder to the wrong wheel; they are wasting
Jeremiads on the miseries OF slavery, as If
we were advocates for it. Sincerity IN their
declarations should direct their efforts to the
true point Of difficulty, and unite their coun-
sells with ours in devising some reasonable
and practicable plan Of getting rid of it,
Some of these leaders, il they could attain
the power, their ambition would rather use it
to keep the Union together, but others have
ever had in view its separation. If they push
it to that, they will find the line of separa-
ton very different from their $50 of latitude,
and as manufacturingsand navigating States,
they will have quarrelled with their bread
and butter, and l fear not that after a little
trial they viii think better of it, and return
to the embraces of their natural and best
friends"
That the movement was one OF power and
not of principle, is confessed by the arch-Ab-
olitionist, HnDRETH, in his History of the
United States, vol. 8, p. 692 and I'll:
"The late discussions on the extension of
slavery beyond the Mississippi had reused up,
as from a long sleep, the anti-slavery senti-
ment of the North. The American oonven-
ton for promoting the abolition of slavery, in