Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-10
NUMBER 254..
From the Louisville journal.
PermaDence Of the Union.

| ing very calm and temperate though somewhat
stoical letter upon the subject Of a pesceable dr.
solution OF the Union The writer Is kind enough
to express wish that we should discuss the quss,
'tions he propounds Wo do not perceive the es
pecial utility of such discussion at present, and
If we did we should possibly still decline TO enter
| formally upon theme so abhorrent aud revolving
TO every patriotic instinct in our bosoms as that o.
a cool reckoning of the value of the Union. We
shrink instinctivey from the bare suggestion. w
would almost as soon think Of sitting down 10 quiet
y estimate the value of our own life or honor with
view of deliberately sacrificing either, The sub:
! ject Is too shocking and repulsve for moments
contemplation. IL deserves to be spurncd con-
temptuously by every intelligent lover of his coin-
try. The simple thought is political sactIlcgc
from which every discerning patriot should recoii
with noble loathing II Is fearful desecration of
the aacrcd principle Of our national existence ssa
/ The paramount and transcendent value of sfhc
| Union is yet a matter of implicit faith rather than
belief with the people--a conviction envelopcd IN
a world ofhalowed association rather than naked
judgments vital instinct rather than deliberate
persuasion. Let il remain so. Its most judcio,,
discussion in our opinion could lead to nothing
/ but evil. IL would simply invade the elevated
sanctity which the public heart has thrown around
the mere conception Of the Union, and peryert
and poison the sentiment of patriotism in its very
fountain. 1t would tend to break, or at least ia.
tally weaken the spell Of that grand and proud
nationality which holds the Union serenely be-
| meath its sway, and leave the masses Of the nation
| an easy and perhaps a willing prey to the wild
| spirit of faction and discord II would serve to
| dsenchant and denatonaliae the whole people. In
i ourludgment the essential, momentous value of
| the Union should be as unquesioned as Il il m
questionable. II is, and should be deemed a cor.
secrated theme. Discussion desecrate It, Api-
tatoa will but detile its sacredness For heavens
| sake, within tho wide bound of our politics. lct
something be taken for granted. Let the popular
| heart rest upon at least one unchallenged fact
| Agitation is becoming the bane and scourre Of
the republic. No subject is exempt from its pollu-
ting touch, and no person seems wholly proofagansl
4 its wretched infection. IL is the serpent into
whose form the Devil Of Disunion has entered on
the border of this political Eden Let no facile
patriot give heed to the tempter Its breath Ia
coutagon. 1t is daily filling the moral atmosphere
| OF the Union with pestilence and DEATH The M.
tonal spirit is already morbidy selfconscious. and
1 this most cankering form of selfconseiousness il
eariully aggravatng every evil upon which il
dwells. II is consuming the sentiment of devotion
| to the Union as the philtre Of Nessus consumed
the flesh Of Hercules 1t is fastening upon the
public mind with a malignant tenacity like that OF
| the poisoned robe upon the skin Of the hero And
II our worthy correspondent and those who think
with him, do not wish to provoke the fate of Lichas
the unhappy bearer Of the fatal garment whom
the enraged and doomed victim is fbled 10 have
! plore him and them 10 cast aside completely the
venomous mantle Of agitation they are bearing,
and contribute their best and most strenuous ef
forts TO tranquilize and preserve their country
and themselves. But if he and they persist il
thinking and acting otherwise we can of course
neither second their suggestions nor commend
| their conduct.
As regards the immediate future of the slavery
question, to which our correspondent refe 3, we
have abiding trust in the justice and patriotism
and sterling good sense Of at least controlling
minority OF the Northern people and their Repre-.
sentatyes in Congress. II we dii not, we should
instantly despair Of the republic. We certainly
apprehend fierce and determined struggle upon
the application Of Kansas for admission into the
Union, whether she applies with a constitution
recognising slavery or not because the madness
| and fury OF sectional al such that probably
specious pretext will be wanting in either event
for the most violent and factous opposition to her
admission. But We confidently anticipate that the
struggle, however fierce and determined, and by
whomsocver provoked, viii result In the peaceful
triumph Of that principle Of selfgovernment which
is the life Of our Institutions which the great body
Of the people believe and acknowledge TO be just
and with whose defenders the heart Of the nation
will most assuredly be.
i We expect, indeed turbulent scason when
Kansas knocks at the door OF Congress, but Meth
er a conflagration nor a dissolution of the Union
yey OF the future, even our correspondent, whose
mind has dwelt on the contingency Of disunion
until he talks Of lie effect with complaccncy only
| equallcd by that with which Zeno and Antipater
dscouTsed Of all human Ills, viii see ample reason
to modify his Impressions IL resislcss proof does
not arise TO dispel them utterly. In truth, apart
from tho pretext Of fraud in the formation and
adoption Of the constitution Of Kansas which no
doubt few passionate zcalots on either hand will
be quite ready 10 raise the only principle involved
In the application Of that Territory will be one OF
such undoubted and conceded and intontestabl,
propricty that really cannot believe q solitary
Northern Southern representative viii be found
10 disput IT, We not aware that even Mr.. Gid.
dings himself denies the right Of the people OF u
State to establish slavery II they choose to do 90,
and We know that the most glowing fre-cater haa
never questioned the right 20 prohibit or abolish H.
The doctrine that the people of a Territory.
upon their admission into the Union a State, are
entitled 70 determine the question Of slavery eN-
clnsivey for themselves has been repeatedly and
solemnly approved by the most eminent statesmen
OF all sections and parties, aud, so far we know,
Il has never been impugned or disclaimcd by any
its justice is surely too palpabe and glowing Tor
demal. lts constitutional propriety Is too plain for
doubt or the shadow Of a doubt Il Is not only in
controvertible but as nearly uncontroverted any
proposition IN American poics--not excepting
the propriety of the Union itself
There il accordingly nothing left to support the
threatened wranglng and dissension but the frail
pretext Of fraud or informality in the adoption CT
the constitution Of the nascent State, ~ happened
Ia the Of California and as will doubtless hap.
pen in the case Of every Territory that hereafter
applies for admission into the Union.
| We do not doubt that this prctext viii serve to
sustain very stormy and vehement controversy
for time--it may even acquire sufficient force to
postpone the admission Of Kansas until a subsc-
qucnt session Of Congress, though We DO not be.
leve that Il will-but we have no earthly distrust
or nisgiving as to the ultimate result Without
doubt, u will be peaceful, and in substantial nc.
cordance with the principles Of the Constitution
and the just claims Of every section Of the country.
Neither the people nor their representatives
prepared to dissolve the Union upon a pretext.
The apprehension that they viii soon be driven to
this dire extremity appears to us idle and prepos
terous II is as ii healthy, sharp-witted man, IN
the full tide Of glorious thrift, should be strongly
suspected Of meditating suicide on account of the
obstnacy Of friend, or the defeat Of some favos.
/ "a IL tn;,, b.th