Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-12-14

tend evil TO the nation? or are you OF
those who laugh at danger and say.
let the elements Of conflict rage. we
are in no danger? That there are
those who entertain serious apprehen-
sions for the perpetuity Of our glorious
Union. We all know. and that there is
another class Of persons who believe
that all such spprehensions are
groundless. and who even ridicule the
idea of danger. is also evident. Both
cannot be right. Either the signs OF
the times indicate the approach Of
great national calamities, or they do
not. / am free TO confess that | am
one Of those who believe the former
to be true.
There have been periods in our his
tory, when there were dark clouds
gathering over us. threatening a fear
full storm, and when the bravest hearts
trembled. But the clouds quickly
passed away, and the cheering rays
of a peaceful sun, shonc as brightly
as ever. We have passed unharmed
through many crisis, and there is
much in this fact alone, TO give US
confidence for the future. But still il
seems to me that there is something
peculiar in the present aspect Of AZ.
fairs. TheIe was never time. sure
ly. in the history Of our country. when
there was so much sectional discon.
tent. so much ascerbiIy Of feeling
and language as at the present; never
time when this feeling spread sc
rapidly. There was never a time
when men of all classes talked with Sc
much flippancy and unconcern abou
dissolution Of the Union, an event
the very thought Of which ought TO til
the breast of every American citizer
with utter horror. If these things
are not checked, the days OF our hap
pv and glorious Union viii soon b
numbered; and when that direfu
event shall take place (which ma,
heaven savertl) no one can conceive
much less tell the horrible results tha
will follow.
Our chief danger. perhaps. oul
whole. danger arises out of single
question, e. the question Of domesti'
slavery. All agree 10 pronouncin.
! slavery domestic evil; but how 4
manage it. how 10 cure il, is the diff
Guilty. That there should be differ
ence Of opinion, as TO the measure
best calculated 10 reach the desired
end is not strange. Nor is this in 1t
self a source of danger. The danger
arises from the SPIRIT in which th,
question is met, on both sides of th'
line. And while | shall speak Of th'
spirit that prevails ia the north,
wish to disclaim any intention or de
sire to apologize for the South. Liv
ing north Of the line. ! am an observe
Of the spirit that prevails here, and 0
that profess TO speak understandingly
do not mean to express any opinion
ms 10 the measures which have recent
ly agitated the country: l only wisI
TO allude TO the views and spirit witt
which leading men, in church an,
State. are accustomed now to NEE
this vexed question.
To me. it appears evident that thos
who are mainly instrumental in caus
/ ing so much sectional discomfort, AM
in raising the cry Of disunion. are 81
blinded by prejudice or passion. tina
| they cannot take broad and charitabl
} views Of the subject, and hence the,
: advocate policy which, if carried ou
{ would involve the nation in utter ruin
; 1t is great evil they say. a curse {
the nation, il is the "sum Of all vii
lainies." What then? Why thos
who ale connected with it must aban
! don il at once, or we will never ceas,
l TO make war on them.
This is the policy which the agitator
, of the present day are advocating
and fany one steps forward 10 al
tempt to'check this rashness, or Il
! bear testimony against their mad pol
icy, he is branded at once as an apol
/ ogist for the system Of American sla
very. In vain are they pointed to tn
probableHesults Of such policy. bot
| TO the slaves and TO the free. at
the sum of all villaimes." they say
! and therefore men must abandon it a
| once. But they cannot abandon il a
: once; it would be suicidal; il would b
ruinous toa large portion Of the slave
! to turn them loose at once. / car
, not for consequences, says the furiou
zealot; as il is sin, il must he forsa
ken. Such is the mad spirit as
humbly conceive it to be) in whic
many would-be reformers Of the pres
: ent day are meeting this question.
D There are some evils which may b
, safely plucked up by the roots at once
There are others, which TO treat thu
would be death instead of q cure
You may require a man to abando
, his dlstillery, or his liquor shop, an
il is only pecuniary loss TO hin
|. while that which he abandons canpc
suffer, but only ceases TO do mischie
But require all shareholders to tur
, Loose their slaves, and you have ten
} OF thousands OF young and old. sickl
and decrepit paupers, turned loose o
the community, 10 be a hundred fol
more wretched than they ever wer
in slavery. That many OF them woul
be benefited, we doubt not: but that
( majority Of them would be in a NOR
deplorable condition. is no less evider
, Can you require shareholders to tur
loose their slaves, and yetbe respor
sIble for their maintenance and sur
port? IL not. how are they to be pre-
, sided for? But ifit be utterly i'm
5 practicable TO put an end to slavery Q
Q once, then is the spirit in whic