Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-07
STATES DIsCoRDANT AND BELL
GEnENT.-TnE UNION.

producing the arguments we employed. But
there is one branch of the subject which we omit
ted 10 touch in that article, and 10 which we now
design devoting a few remarks
Suppose that every non-savcholdng State
were 10 enact law forbidJipg masters while
traveling-while IN transiia--while removing
from an old 10 a new home, to bring their slaves
along with them. Suppose that such law de-
clared that every such slave, brought should
ipso faclo, and on the instant, be manumitted.
Suppose this state Of facts, and then ponder on
lis results
II Is as plain as the sun al MONDAY that the
Union would not continue one year after the en-
actment and enforcement Of 50 arbitrary, so un-
constitutional, and so unneghbonry law
Southern men entitled TO emigrate with their pro-
pefly 10 the territory Of the United States, which
j. open alike 10 the southerner and the norherner,
TO the Shareholder and the slayehater, would not
submit TO such usurpation and injustice. They
would scorn association with the States that so
shamefully dsregarded solemn compacts and the
duties Of good neighborhood. They would (nor
would il be their FAULT be compelled TO retire
from Union having nothing but CALLING chains
But suppose (and il Is bare supposition) tlat,
unwilling 10 retire from coniederacv founded
by the sages and patriots Of the Revolution, they
should stii maintain formal connection with it
what then would happen;
Animated BY Just resentment every southern
State would adopt retaiigiory measures-instant-
ly adopt them. They would inhibit trade be-
tween themselves and the hostile non-slaychold-
tng States. They would coufscato the property
oil such northerners a. should travel through
their borders They would tar and feather or
hang every rascaly Abolitonist Or Frcesoilcr
that they could lay their hands upon. They
would not sell 10 or buy from single Northern
merchant. They would moi a single Northern
vessel. They would not permit single Northern
schoolmaster TO teach their children; they would
not grant licenses to Northern men Ia carry on
trade, commerce, or hotel business among them
They would pass tho most stringent aud rigorous
laws
But il may he said that such laws would be un-
constitutional. True; but not more unconstitu-
tional than The laws or the so-callcd free States
dcpriying Shareholders of the right uf transit
with their property through their territory. They
would hur thunder-bolt for thundcr-hoh They
would fight the devil with FIRE; and The war be-
ing forced upon them, they would adopt the most
hostile and retalatory measures.
The Union would thus be rendered uncomiort-
able--very uncomfortable. But those who would
most suffer would be the Northerrcrs. They
would feel the pinch in every member. Their
trade would languish their manufactures die.
Their places Of public resort and pleasure would
miss the generous Sontherners vino have been
accustomed to expend their means with prodiga
munifcence. Hundreds and thousand7 OF young
men and young ladies, who have been hitherto
supported by teaching school in the Southern
States, would be thrown out OF employment
Ships and steamboats, would be idle and wharves
would look deserted. Nor is this AL Tie worst
is yet TO be told. Here, al the scat of Govern
ment-in the capital, which stands on Southern
soil-the representatives Of the people would as
semble. But Government would be FORM not
a reality. Belligerent and discordant States
would have belligerent and discordant reprcsen-
tatives. Excitement, resentment, evaporation,
would characterize every speech; and sectional
prejudice, sectional hostility would impress itself
on every legislative proposition. Men would 20
armed, expecting an outbreak The expectation
Of il would bring il on. The war would begin
in the capital of the conederacy, and among the
representatives Of the people, only to spread
among the people themselves
This is a most hateful picture to contemplate;
but no daguereotype ever presented better
likeness Of the human face than this hastily
drawn picture is Of the condtion-the deplora-
BILE, the dreadful condition Of things that would
arise.
It is no sectional feeling, no local prejudice that
induces US to write in this strain. Far. far from
il. We feel impelled by our love Of the Cons,i.
tuition, BY our reverence for the Fathers of the
Republic, by our attachment TO the States, bv
our solictude for the success Of the great Amcri-
experiment Of federative Government, and
by our adherence Of sectional strife and contcn-
ton, TO write as we do.
No Northern State has the right, either under
the Constitution or by comfy, 10 nhbt Southern
travellers from passing with their property
through their territory. II is vile usurpaton
and fragrant insult. usurpation and an in.
suit that Southern men and Southern States
will never submit TO- Were the Southern States
to deny to citizens Of Northern States the right
to travel through their territory with horses,
merchandise, or any form Of property they nigh,
possess, then we should say that violating, by
such prohibitions, tho Constitution, as we'll As
comfy and good neigborhood, the Northern
States ought by all means to retire from the
Union or most vengefully re,aliatc.
We would warn our countrymcn, Of IN sections.
Of the impending danger. Time after time have
the citizens Of the South been insuled, wronced.
outraged and robbed, by citizens Of the Northern
States. Instead Of obtaining redress and res,i
tuition, the States Of which the wrong doors were
citizens have thrown over them their protecting
wings. Abolitonsm has become power-the
ruling power in most Of the non-saveholdng
States and Abolitonism is but plain dcclara-
ton Of hostility, and hatred 10 The South But
enough So far as our feeble voice viii extend,
we lift up in solemn warning to the blind BIZ
gots Of the North and their insane followers.