The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-16
THE LIGHT BREAKING IN.


But there are now daily indications of a change
of opinion, at least as to the strength and inAu-
ence of the fanatics. We may indulge the
hope that ere long they will cease to regard
them as enemies, but as friends. The follow
ing article from the Southern (Alabama) Times
shows that the first rays of light, as they break
in upon the darkened understanding, serve only
to bewilder and confound. The writer sees
men as trees walking" now, but we predict
that all will come right with him:
FANATTCIsM.
If the old world has been convulsed by the
moral, social, political and religious throes of
this huge monster, so has the new.
The Atlantic presented no "wall of fire "
against its spread. Those who fled from per-
secution, to find an asylum in this declared land
of religious liberty, brought with them many OF
the heresies of their prosecutors, and kindled
from the embers of Smith6eld the fires of
fanaticism upon the plains of Salem. The
descendants of the Puritans, like the Reformers
of the Reformation, in turn, became intolerant,
and the prosecutors of their kind.
Gathering strength from the pabulum upon
which it fed, and fury from the fame by which
it was famed, that which was at first but a
speck upon the horizon grew to an overshadow-
ing cloud. When first seen, it was regarded as
an omen of harmless significance. Prudent,
nay, many sagscious men considered these
fraught with no serious consequences, and be-
lieved they would pass off with the hour, or be
confined to the few. They saw no thunderbolt
in the angry sky, but battered themselves that
the little storm would soon give way to serene
and healthy atmosphere-that the sober sense
and patriotic feeling of the country, acknowl-
edging the supremacy of constitutional obliga-
tions, and planting itself on the side of country
and fraternal relations, would not only arrest,
but would successfully put down this disorgan-
izing element The prevailing opinion among
conservative politicians and statesmen was, that
beyond the church it would not go. The idea
that Abolitionism would mix itself up with the
politics of the country, and become the test of
qualification for Office, was regarded as thing
barely within the range of probabilities; and
hence, at the inception of its movements, no
concerted or formidable action was taken to
oppose its advance. Having secured a lodge
ment in "holy Places" propagandists were
sent out to instruct and convert. True to their
mission, with hearty good will have they
performed the functions assigned to them.
Untiring zeal and continuous effort, directed
to the religious prejudices of the masses,
gained for the cause an influence which was
not long in bringing under its dominion the
political aspirants for place. Demagogues first
courted its support, and, receiving and impart-
ing strength, the current went on, gathering
force and volume, until it drew within its sweep
men who for long time stood aloof, but were
finally forced to surrender to power which
they could not control or direct they had either
to ride the whirlwind, or go down before it.
Thus the circle enlarged, and thus it enclosed
a mighty host.
Abolitionism was no longer confined to set
of religionists merely, but its voice was heard
through petitions on the floor of Congress.
There were then strong men to speak in their
behalf, and to vindicate their cause. In them
they had faithful opponents and able and elo-
quent defenders; foremost among them was
John Quincy Adams. Their petitions were,
after struggle, received and laid upon the
referred to a committee.
Every step in the Legislative proceedings was
a growing importance to the Abolitionists and
they have gone on, step by step, making enact
ments one after another, in rapid succession,
until their heavy tread is now heard invading
the very ramparts of civil and religious liberty.
Emboldened by their success, and fatally bent
upon the attainment of their object, they invoke,
through the leading minds of the North, the
best talent and highest character, to push for
ward the work of demolition. Church and
State are wedded-fanaticism religious and
political, has extended into bands, for veal or
for woe, for better or for worse, to advance the
standard. Another crusade is on foot, which
falls little if anything short Of that inaugurated
by Peter the Hermit. The banner is spread.
The champions are in the field. The fiery
harangue of Theodore Parker, the frenzied
eloquence of Wendell Phillips, the smooth and
polished speeches of Charles Sumner, the ram
pant appeals of Henry Wilson, the able dis.
courses of Edmund Quincy, the thrilling lecture
of Henry Ward Beecher, the great power of
Horace Greeley the vigorous efforts of Lloyd
Garrison, and the cool philosophical craft and
strategy of William III. Seward, with multitude
of kindred spirits, have enlisted for the war,
and the battle cry is, "Delenda est Carthago.'
The fact cannot be denied, land it is worse
than folly to undertake to disguise it, that the
North stands arrayed in direct and active
antagonism to the peculiar institutions of the
South; and if success does not follow their
efforts to overthrow them, irrespective of the
most direful consequences, the fault will not
be theirs.
The editor of the Wheeling Gazette thus de-
fines his position:
"AIying ourself to neither North nor South,
on our own hook we adopt the following plat
form, as our platform on this question, from
which we never have and never will recede.
We may fall on 1t, bit scW nerer leare 1t!
"The severance of the General Government
from Slavery.
"The repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law.
"The repeal of the Nebraska. Kansas Bill.
"No more Slave Territories.
I" The purchase and manumission of slaves
in the District of Columbia, or the removal
of the seat of Government to free territory.
"This is, in our opinion, the only national
platform, the only one on which the question
can be settled, the only one that expresses the
nature and character of our Government and
institutions, and on that we are willing to sink
or swim.
ave really hope we have raised no ones ire
by this candid expression of our opinions, for
it is too hot to indulge in hard words or works,
and we should pity any one who had it to do. y
The editor of the Richmond Enquirer e1
presses his regret, horror, and astonishment, q,
this expression of free opinion, on the soil Of
Virginia. But the leaven is at work, and We
may hope that in few years it will pervade
the whole of West Virginia, if it does not pen
citrate east of the mountains. A new era is
dawning upon the Old Dominion, the era Of
real Democracy. The days of the Slave Oil
garchy are numbered. G..
FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE IN prussia. - De
cision in faror Of the right Of the Opner to re
tain his Slduc.-Extract of letter to the State
Department, from a correspondent in Dresden
in Sa1ony, dated the 18th Of last month:
81 have taken the liberty to acquaint You
with a most singular decision which was given