The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-24
The Coming Crisis.
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERAI

The Coming CRISIS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Isend this paper to you. l hardly know another
press in the country which Is entirely untrammelled
by party influences. Long retired from political
life, present only the views and impressions which
the spirit of the times are every day more deeply
impfessing on me, and would fain hope to inn
press others with the sense of danger which feel
so deeply. Yours truly,
CITIZEN OF TIE NORTH.
There are men living who were born before the
Declaration of Independence many who date their
bith before the adoption Of the federal constitution
Compared with the historic life Of most of the ma
tons OF the earth, we are yet in our infancy. But
planted in virgin soil, and adopting the theory OF
popular government on the largest and most lbe.
raj scale which it was possible to reduce to practice
securing to the people literally the right of uni
yersal representation, directly or indirectly in all
the several departments, executive legislative and
judicial, the world has witnessed here progress in
everything that constitutes the elements of power
and prosperity so wonderful, SO vast, so unpre
cedented, that incredulity is only succeeded by
establishment. Never, in the records Of past ages
never, in the vision of the Utopian philosopher
never, in the dream Of the most enthusiastic wor
shipper Of liberty, was such growth, such expan-
sion, such Development, such aggregation Of re-
sources, such concentration Of physical and moral
strength, such world wide influence, recorded or
conceived as the possible combination and growth
Of SO brief period. The world has looked on, and
as the vision rose in NIL the grandeur and magnii
cence Of its dimensions, kings and dukes have
treinbed like Belshazzar at the handwriting the
wall and the toiling millions Of oppressed humani
ty have hailed II as the morning star Of redemption
and of hope
The past is safe In it there is nothing to regret.
We have had our differences with foreign nations.
aid have been successful in the vindication Of what
We deemed our rights. We have had our differences
upon questions Of expedency our petty party strug
giles, but they are almost forgotten. They had their
day, and in their day stouty and manrully
tested; and in the conflicts Of popular parties gen.
eral intelligence was dused. AS the theory of our
government rested upon the virtue and intelligence
of the people, the discoveries and inventions of the
age in which we live seemed to come most oppor-
tunely in aid Of the theory. When newspaper
could he bought for penny, and bible for twenty
five cents-when, to great extent, the schools had
become free-when honest labor was everywhere
remunerative, and the laborer prosperous-whcn
any man in the country could in few hours be
transported to point where land bore only
nominal value per acre and when, as the general
rule, the demand for labor exceeded the supply, the
field for successful effort seemed clear of Allobsruc
tons Providence had done everything for our people
but repeal the primal law that declared he should
cat his bread by the sweat of his brow.
Nor has the government done anything to abridge
these proyidential blessings. Administered by
the people, its action has thus far been direct
ed successfully to the promotion Of the general
welfare. Mistakes may have been made, but none
thai have proved disastrous We may say we have
no debt no taxes, burdens, FOR what we have are
rather nominal than real.
Such is the past Of our country-such its condition
to-day; and yet we are, as nation asleep on the
brink Of prccpce, from which, if we fall, we shall
be broken and dashed into fragments; or, to take
another figure the ship Of State Is under full sail
a smooth ocean, and with iayoring wind, and just
before her in her ocean path is rock, upon which,
il she strike total wreck must instantly occur; and
more on the ook-out-nonc see it-none will be-
lievc it, The imminent danger does not consist in
the impossbility of avoiding the evil, brit of con
yincng the people that the danger exists
fonc voice could be raised loud enough TO be heard
felt by the whole people Of the country, they would
rise in overwhelming masses and avert the peril.
Bot it is among the melancholy omcns of evil, that
the tongues that could have done this silent in
the grave. There is no one man left who commands,
in surereminent degree, the public confidence.
There has been a class Of men in the country for
years who have been doing all in their power to
bring about dissolution Of the Union. speak not
of purpose ayowed but Of the inevitable tendency
Of measures. They have always claimed to be sane
men, and it is impossible that sane men could ever
have believed that the South could be coerced into
the measure Of abandoning hundreds Of millions Of
{ cir property-property recognized "a such by the
constitution-made such by law-propcrty in
slaves, ard that too, while the thing was
morally impossible. When abandonment, will
out provision for support would have been
death to the masses OF the slaves themselves. They
expect to accomplish no srch miracle. Bat, beliey.
ing slavery 10 be an unmitigated evil, crime
against humanity, damning national sim they
aim at striking down the constitution and the law
and driving the South out Of the confederacy.
This abolition party made themselves felt in va
rious ways. They never, in former years, had
controlling influence in either of the great political
parties at the North. In districts where they were
strong enough they sent outan3)ut abolitonists 30
Congress where they were moi strong enough, they
tempered with both parties, and thus sometimes
elected their men. By coalitions they managed to
ill few seats in The Senate. But the old line wings
and democrats in the free states were always
against thcm-the masses Of the people were against
them, and were sincerely devoted TO the Union, the
constitution, and the laws The free soil increment
in New York, so disastrous TO the democratic party
was not an abolition movement, had little real SYM
pathy with that class, and the fact that IL has
shclyed il leaders shows that IT was not in sympathy
with the popular heart.
The most formidable aud annoying weapon Of the
aboitonist, however. was the weapon OF agitation.
II was not the strength they could muster in Con
gress, but the offensive power they could WELD at
home, which did most to Forward the work they had
in hand. The work was 70 annoy, ilritatc, and
ALLEVIATE the South. And that work has been carried
on through series Of years, by the circulation Of
fln 4ionfi L.