The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-24
wAat They Think or the uaassa States m
Europe.


We publish elsewhere an article from the
London Daily .Ne,cs ana one from the Paris
Pays on the slavery question in the United
States. Both journals seem to come to the
conclusion that the crisis has come, and that |
nothing can hinder disanion much longer. The
London writer thinks 1.-The die Is cast for revo- |
revolutionary deed is already
done"-"the moment of collision has arrived
and is st''-"Massachusett may hope on
Withdrawing from the Union, for &he COM
partnership Of the best Statesn-xnd so on.
These gloomy anticipations, it is right to say,
are predicated on the case of the slave Berns at
Boston, and on the passage of the personal
liberty bill in Massachusetts,. M. Felix Belly,
who writes in Pays, takes an equally des-
bonding view of matters, though, as was ma
tural in a Frenchman, with less accurate infor-
nation on the business in hand. To his mind,
the personal liberty bill of Massachusetts, APP
piled 10 ell the free States, and including of
course the notification Of the Fugitive Slave
law, would answer every purpose, and would
recall America to the true principles of Chris
tian societies and her own constitution" Mixed
with the arguments of both writers is good
deal of the usual trite nonsense about the
United States; though, we are bound to say, 1t
is less conspicuous than usual, and does not in
general interfere with the main chain Of the ar
gument.
To these two acgurs of evil we may add the
EdinJurg Reoie,o which, in recent article
marked by great ability and great ignorance,
proved apparently to its own satisfaction that
the American Union had seen its best days, and
was now going to-wreck and ruin-all through
the institution of slavery, and because Congress
would not abolish it.
1t is pity, for the sake of these counsellors
of ours, that this nation should occupy the posi-
ton it does at this time towards France and
England. For it,will be impossible for many
very well meaning persons to divest themselves
of the idea that the rumored sy mpathies of the
United States with Russia had something to do
with the dependency of our friends across the
water. Without impugning their honesty, we
all know how q man engaged in fierce strug.
gle is likely to feel towards one who appears to
give comfort to his antagonist; and how prone
he is to discover in the sympathiser moral
defects and symptoms of ruin which would
never have struck hls notice had his sympashies
leaned the other way. Hosts of people, we fear,
will come to the conclusion that the French and
English editors would never have discovered
the imminent peril in which this country ap-
pears to stand had we joined in the cry against
the Gear. 1t is also to be regretted-though
in less degree that these two transatlantic
nations should have so clear an interest in the
dissolution of the American Union. II it we're
not as obvious as it is that The United States
are slipping ahead of them and that in q very
few years there will be but one first class Pow
er in the civilized world, the prophecies of these
writer's would carry more weight. As it
is, why, one cannot help muttering to ones
self the old adage about the wish being father
to the thought; and as it is quite certain that
# this Union were divided, and the South ar
rayed against the North, the two sections
would balance each other, and the Western
Powers Of Europe might not only ethe roast
unmolested at home, but make what terms
they chose with the new republics here, it
seems difficult to exact from the general mass
of readers in this country implicit faith 10
predictions in whose fulflment the prophet is
so palpably interested.
For all these grounds Of distrust, it is not to
be disguised that the articles in question con-
tain much which men cannot do better than
ponder. 1t is unfortunately quite true that
the collision between the State of Massachu.
setts and the federation has already taken place
in law, and only waits an opportunity to take |
place in fact. It is not likely that second |
Burns case will occur, because the present ad-
ministration is pretty sure to pursue forbear-
ing policy, in order to allow the present agita-
tion in the East to subside; but if rigid |
Southerner insisted on his legal rights, the col
lsion would be inevitable. In course of time,
if 10 accident occurs, it seems probable that
returning calm, combined with the retaliatory |
measures about being adopted by the Southern
will effect change in the
New England mind; but in the meanwhile,
we sleep on the brink of a volcano. The
Union is actually at the mercy of any
otheaded slaveowner, or fanatical parsop.
Revolutions are never begun deliberately, or
win thing like full view on the part Of
the leaders of the ultimate object of their acts
Man sets the wheel in motion. Fate alone de-
cides bow long it shall turn and where it shall
stop. He would be q bold man indeed who
would say what might be the end OF any dis
turbance that might occur in New England on
the slavery question at the present time
We repeat, the comments of these foreigners,
malicious or interested as they may be- deserve
careful sorrowful study in view of the coming
Presidential election with such an arch-agita.
Tor as Wm. H. Seward already in the field as the
candid0e of the abolition party. Year by year !
the fanatical cry gains ground. In the last twen-
ty years abolitionism has grown from the watch