The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-07-01
The secsianaI Excitement.

II il certsiniy to be regretted that much ex'
element exists in both the North and South on the
subject * slavery; but it seems to hardly fer
and just to pronou the excitement on both sdes
equally reprehensibie and irrational The excite
ment a. the North Is grstuitous, and unprovoked
by any upon its rig Is or interests; the excite
ment at the Soul is called forth oy systematic az
saults upon its rights, and per'svering and whole
sale spoaton of Its property. The excitement
in the one case is that of midnight robber and
incendiary who Is frlrcas because he is resisted
and roughly handled IA his attempts at arson and
plumber; the excitement on the other is that of
law-abding citizen, whose indignation is awaken
ed by the Application Of torch to his dwelling
We do not Of course pronounce the whole North
robbers and ncendaries; bu. it is there that an
aggressive party has been formed, which despoils
the Sou!l of its property. and endeavors to excite
servilln rebellion, coudagration and rapine
throughout the Southern States. 1t is no doubt
t. be sired that human nature should arrive at
such a pitch of perfection to receive with calm
mes, the most fragrant inyasons OF is rights and
Interests but as that is hardly to be expected, we
see no other mode of alaying excitement in Tie
South than in a5siaining at the North from the
crusade of war and plumber of which the South is.
the victim and which she is expected to lie still
and bear without groan or wry face.
Some remarks of late London Times upon the
duty OF the wise and good men" of country to
interpo3e activity ia behalf of peace and justice
instead of eonteuting Themselves with passive
and neutral attitude are certainly applicable to
the sectional strife now agitating this country
The "wise and good men, of the North, of whom
there are no doubt mul.tudes, ought to show their
moral force by active inerposition on the side of
the Constitution and the Laws. There are wise
and good men in the South too, but what can they
do TO arrest the evil which threatens the over
throw of the Republic No one in the South
threatens the rights interests Of the North. No
one here desires to steal Northern property Of any
description. nor to exclude Northern men with
their property from any portion of the territories
of the Union. No seetionslpar has beeu formed
here with the purpose of throwing the power of
the General Government into the hands OF a single
section There is no field here for the action of
our wise and good men, except to counsel fol-
besrance, prudence and self command, under in
jures aud wrongs which, if the North had been
the sufferer instead of the South, would long ago
have led to the ''fire and sword with which the
Southern States are openly menaced.
We, too, are III favor of moderation and for
bearsnce, bat when the moderation and forbear-
we may expec: the same virtues to disariu North,
ern abolitionism of its aggressive appetites The
wise and good men whOae influence can produce
most practical good are those who live in the
midst of the lawless and aggressive. Ii they are
unable to restrain their own community, no one
else cau, nor will any amount of Cancellation and
forgiveness Oh our part put al end to aggression
1t is slavery which provokes abolitionism, not the
spirit or department of Southern men, and nothing
will ever prevail upon it to surrender its purposes,
except surrender OF slave institutions On such
terms, we can have peace, but other.
Nevertheless, we would rejoice te see the South
calm as well as firm. We would rejoice to see
Southern representatives and the Southern press
as conciliatory in manner intiexible in purpose
But cannot in reason or justice pronounce the
excitement ia the South equally repreheus i5Is and
unpr,voked with that of the North.