The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-31

The Dangerous state Of the Country.
Within the last niue years the slavery ques-
ton has made fearful progress in this country.
1t has spread from end to end Of the Union,
has cvershadowed all other questions, and 40
sorbcd and concentrated within itself very
large proportion Of the national intellect II
breeds civil war in Kansas 1t leads to out
rage and bloodshed In Washington. It is the
handspring Of political parties, and envelopes
them in the general excitement At Chicago,
the ex Governor of Territory Of the United
States addressed crowd Of people couple
Of days ago, in favor of immediate insurrection
sgainst the established authorities of the coun-
try. He wanted an armed expedition to De
sent to Kansas for the purpose of carrying on
civil war. On Wednesday, convention OF
politicians calling themselves republicans met
at Syracuse, chiefly to den0unce one section of
our common country; and we are told that
"the sentiments which found most favor with
the assembled representatives. were those
which counselled resort to arms" Another
convention, held at the same place on the
same day, and consisting of persons self styled
radical abOlitionists, was even more violent;
the principal speaker, the notorious Fred
masters, as that was meritorious act If
accomplished in the view of obtaining
freedom. third convention held on the
same day at Trenton, N. j., and com
poeed of the same class of politicians,
talked Of the present organic of the coun
Try So one Of "turpitude and infamy," while
the principal speakers exhausted their efforts
to infame the too iafsmmable material OF
their audiences. Nor is this excitement con-
fined to the North. Southern men have allowed
party feelings to dictate to them approval OF
acts OF high handed and savage violence. We
hear of testimonials thai are about to De pre-
sented to Mr.. Brooks for an act which at any
rate was hResch of the peace and au uojus
tifanie violation of the Law.
With such occurrences happening on all
sides, the public attention could not but be-
absorbed. They have drowned all other to-
pics of conversation and debate. They have
divided the nation into two opposing armies
animated With far more hostility towards each
other than filed the breasts of the French aad
the Russians during the late war; There is
room in the American mind for nothing now
but the slavery question.
It was supposed by the fathers that they had
settled the slavery question by the constitl
ton. 1t had even then assumed the charsoter
OF disturbing topic, though all the States
contained slaves and the fathers, who were
emiDently practical men, and gave no thought
to ingenious philosophical theories Or fanati
col principles, settled it by compromise on
the sensible basis Of practical equilibrium
between the North and the South. That
settlement cannot be disturbed with in
punity. So long as the present. constitution Of
the country commands the respect ana acqu
essence of a majority of the States, the slave
holding portion Of the country ought to enjoy
equality of power with the non-slayeholding
portion, in ct least one branch Of Congress.
When this rule is departed from, the priuci-
pie Of the constitution will be thrown to the
winds. The inevitable consequences of that
event will be fearful disturbances throughout
the country, ending in the disruption OF the
Union and actual civil war.
We are now reaching that crisis. There ia
no prospect anywhere OF lull IN the storm, OF
q tendency to moderation in the language or
acts Of the political parties. There is no diff
ference between them. Pro-sIavery men and
aDtslavery men-they are all alike; there is
no moderation, or courtesy, or candor, or real
patriotism in any Of them. One and all, Oh
both sides, they are for disorder, and violence,
ard bloodshed, and rifles and cannon. Neither
allows for . moment that there can be any
other appeal than to brute force. The retro
grade movement has begun; our republican
institutions have begun to decline; unless tue
strong arm Of the people be outstretched to
save them, the retrograde process will continue
rapidly, until the nation sinks to the Lowest
stage Of barbarism, anarchy, robbery and n.ur
der.