American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-08-18
WHO ARE 1sHsporqsxBIE?

"A fearful weight of responsibility
rests with crushing weight sOmewhere,
i'll view Of the present unhapr" condi-
ton of our country; for there Is no
intelligent citizen but must character
izc the present as troublous times
Sectional disscnsIon and distrust, ready
at all times to be awakened into vital
energy, are fomcntcd to an extent al
ready alarming to tho safety of the
Union. The black flag of disunion,
hoisted in the North has been answered
by the dark ensign of secession in the
South, while between the two extremes
prevails animositics and strifes catching
unhallowcd inspiration from these I'M
natural sources. No overt act of rup-
ture has yet characterized the actions
Of the parties to the discomfort yet, we
grant, but the alienation Of feeling and
corresponding weakening Of the fra
ternay relation arc points of solcitude,
where overt acts of rupture will begin.
What lover Of his country but has felt
his heart to throb with kecncr pulse, as
in the security of his peaceful home, he
has sought in the newspapers " the
signs of the times" since the opening
of the sealed book? And why Be-
cause when that book was opened the
slavery question was let loose from its
moorings in the harbor Of the Consti-
tution-and the flame Of discord soon
shot its red beams high in the heavens!
And wherefore his fears? We have
had sectional agitation before-thc sla-
very question and its concomitants--
and they have been hushed into silence,
and the peace Of our country has been
only temporarily derangcd. Aye and
when we have had those agitations
heretofore, we have had q JACKSON to
breast the storm-the clarion voice of
n CLAY to ring above the strife and
hush it's murmurs--the genius Of a
WEBSTER to light our path with the
beacon of the Constitutions FILL
MORE to say to the angry surgcs, thus
far shalt thou come and no farther
Where now shall we turn for succor
Jackson is numbered with the immortal
dead-the twin stars are vainly sought
in the darkening hcavens-and Fill
more, shorn Of the power he once WELD
cd so happily for international quiet
and security, has quilted the helm
Are there not in the qualifications Of
our present Chief Magistrate those a.
bilities of exalted craftsmanship that
may guide us from out the dangers that
bcset us? Alas under the guidance
Of Mr.. Pierce the ship of state has
been laundering among the shoals and
breakers until she creaks in every tim
Der. Then must VIC rccur to the con-
scrvative patriotism Of the people, III
the prudence of their sober second
thought to avert threatened danger and
provide the means Of future security.
But, who are responsible for the state
of affairs that now so unharpily exists?
We shall attempt to answer the ques-
ton, and answer it as it must be an
swcrcd to the people. President Fill
more Quilted the Presidential chair,
leaving the nation peaceful and pros
pcrous--thc elements Of discord har-
monizcd and lulled into calm reposc.
The laws of Congress had been made
the laws Of the land--respocted, OBJ
served, enforced. The people, tired of
agitation, had all their fears quoted,
and fanatics wore Influenced to stife
their unreasonable objections, because
there vas noraL as well as political
power at the head Of the Government;
and, because, further new issues and
ouarrcls could not flourish beneath the
bencfcent enforcement OF the provls-
ions of the Constitution. The Demo
cratic party, with Gen. Pierce at its