Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-03-07


The New York Herald has made the wonder
full discovery that the anti-slayery sentiment Is
predominant at the North. No man of common
sense, we presume, has ever supposed for an IN
stance, that it was any thing else. We should as
soon expect to fnd Abolition sentiment predoml-
nant at the South as pro slavery sentiments in
the minds of those born and bred upon Northern
soil. unacquainted with the practical Workings
of our "peculiar institution" and taught from
their infancy to regard it with horror. The Peo-
ME of the North ilnbibed anti slavery sentiments
with their mothers milk, and we may reasonably
doubt the honesty and sincerity OF man reared
under such lulueaces, who should set himself up
as the peculiar advocate and Champion of Slave
nv. We do not believe there is man, born and
educated north of Mason s, Dixon's line, who
does not entertain ti.Sayery sentiments, IN the
literal sense of the term, and those who pretend
otherwise are not worthy of credit.
1t is undoubtedly true that the entire Northern
people are opposed to Slavery regarded ia the abb
sract. and the people Of the South cannot and
ought not to expect anything else. The Adolf
tioniss might just reasonably expect the slave
owner himself to snatch the torch of fanaticlsm
from their hands and bear it flaming through the
Southern States, as the Southern mau exncct TT
people Of States where slavery lbs Meier existed
to advocate and defend L. But while this hos
tiIity to slayery is deeply imbedded in the hearts
of all the Northern people, it is equally true that
oil rs thano ara NOT 1icnospI IN ba noo.ypcStle A
portion Of them are content to let those hold
slaves who choose, without any interference on
their part, if they can only keep clear Of them
If is this conservative class that the New York
Herald has discovered to be in minority, while
rampant Abolitisnism is overwhelming and over
towering, then indeed the darkest day that the
Confederacy has ever seen is fast approaching
If the dire calamity of dissolution is impending,
what can avert it? If the Herald is correct, we
answer-noshing. If the Union is to be saved on
ly at the expense of Southern rights, interests
and honor, it is assuredly gone and that without
remedy. No alliance with tho Democratic par
ty, or any other party, save it, if the Gggres
sire. reasonable .abottioR power is in the ascen-
dant at the North, and the Halls of National
Legislation become filled with disunioniss and
traitors.
But we are 10th to believe that such is the
fact There is an organization pledged to rebuke
the agitators, and leave the slavery question a
lsne There is an organization, the members OF
which cannot, if we are correctly informed, agi-
tate the question IN Congress out of it, without
s,sining themselves with the guilt of perjury,
and who are bound to maintain the integrity Of
the Union ''at all hazards and TO the last eXtrem-
i.y." There is a UNION party that will save
the Republic if any party cas, and if that party
can't save it, it will tumble to the ground. That
there are traitors even among that band Of patri-
OTIS we do not deny. We are no apologists for
Henry Wilson, or any other ''higher law" Jes-
nit, who has crept into that organization like ga
wolf in sleeps clothing" and by the aid of those
equally corrupt, succeeded in obtaining office
He deserves to be as bitterly denounced as Sum-
ner and Seward, aud we presume no Know
Nothing, even, will pretend to defend him. But
we do not believe that the little leayen in this
instance has leayened the whole lump. If the
American party of the North does not embody
the conservative, National men of that section
the true friends of the Union, and the safest men
for the South-then they are all rotten and cor
rupt-the South can hope for nothng-and the
Confeaeracy must fall TO pieces