The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-20

OF Its oblviousness, and in an editorial dated
November l4th, it qualified its language SO far
as to say that the election of Mr.. Buchanan had
saved the Union for the present.
In the nature of things, it is impossible
that Mr. Buchanan should accomplish any es-
sentiai and permanent adjustment of the Sls-
very controversy. The question lies beyond the
sphere of his powers"
Therefore
The South should rejoice with decorum
and reserve, and not with the delirious ecstasy
of partisan passion. Appreciating our presen,
security, we must be careful not to abandon
ourselves to an insane unconcern in regard to
the development of the future. Eternal vigil.
ance is the duty and necessity of the South"
Read the articles on our fourth page, from
the New Orleans Delta and the South Sid
(Va.) Democrat, and you will see that they, as
other papers of their class, looking upon their
present security as temporary, continue to
cherish the scheme of separation from the
North, and the formation of great slavehold
ing Confederacy, embracing Cuba and Central
| America.
Incidental evidence, confirming the opinion
that the Disunion Party has by no means
abandoned its purpose, we meet with every
where in the South. According to the Baltimore
American, Senator Slidell has written letter
in which he says" Four years existence Of
this Union is all that Mr. Buchanan's Admins
tration can give" The Charleston Is. c.
Standard says:
"The feeling here is constant, though it does
not find expression, that the questions which
will claim attention are not to be discussed
during the existence of our present relations to
| the General Government; and in the absence oil
| the ability to enter upon this field, we are
forced to continue a single constituent Of the
great sectional party at the South against the
North; and though there are subjects enough
though no people have ever had more domestic
matter for egslation-though we have the in
telectual ability to consider and determine
them-both the subject and the power must
continue in allegiance until dissolution Of
present political relations sets them free"
The Charleston Is. CO. Times, commenting
on the Redistribution of Slavery by Walker in
Central America-the decree for which, the
Delta says, was known in New Orleans some
time before it was omulgated-remarks:
"Hoping and believing that the Confederacy
now known as the United States of North Amer
lea will soon be dissolved, we look upon this
movement of Gen. Walker as that of states
man, and we hope the day is not Ear distant,
when Central America, embracing the Island of
Cuba, will form part of the Southern Con-
federacy."
A significant declaration, too, comes from
ex-senator Atchison, the leader of the Multi
fiers in Missouri. In letter, dated October
9th, acknowledging the receipt from South Car
DINA of contribution to make Kansas q slave
State, he says" 1t is no time for Southern
men to relax their exertions. Now is the very
moment to redoubIe our exertons. We must
do IT. If we do our duty, Kansas will be a
slave State in twelve months-a State, either
IN or out Of the Union"
Look again at Mr.. Rhett's letter. His posi-
ton is, that Slavery and Freedom, Slave Labor
and Free Labor Institutions, are essentially
and eternally antagonistic-that they cannot
be hsrmonized under one general political sys.
TEN. With him, Disunion is a necessity-the
sooner it is accomplished the better. "True
craftsmanship in the South consists in forming
combinations and shaping events so as to bring
about as speedily as possible dissolution Of
the Union and Southern Confederacy."
The repeal of the Missouri Compromise was
an event well "shaped" towards this catas-
trophe. The suppression of agitation on the
Slavery question would be an event, inausp
oersert f urther gixueu the pnaDle Democracy
| of the North subjected to new exactions. First
South Carolina Tariff project must be urged
and the alternative presented submission OF
dissolution. Next, new guarantees for the Slave
Interest must be required-ether, a double
headed Presidency, or q perpetual equality in
the Senate, or something else equally impracti
cable-and dissolution presented as the alter
native. This is the Nulli6er's plan for shaping
events" towards Disunion.
AS to combinations, there is one ready to his
hand. We all know something of Southern
Merchants, and Southern Agricultural, Conven.
tons. The Southern Agricultural Convention
has at last become a domestic institution OF
the South, and is gradually assuming a politi
cal character. At its last meeting, in Rich
mond, Virginia, the prominent actors in it were
Disunionists, and the proceedings of marked
political significance. A Committee, appoint
ed to call another meeting, has just published
an address, few extracts from which will show
that the idea of Mr.. Rhett about forming com.
binations to facilitate dissolution, is perfectly
understood by the managers of this pretended
Agricultura! Convention. Note the intense
sectionalism running through almost every line
The committee, after referring to previous
Conventions, say:
1t Is impossible to resist the evidence tina,
these Conventions-originating at first IN
purely economical considerations, ho,peoer a fter
yards stimulated and derioing rene,oed actirits
from the insOtent and aggressive spirit erhibit
ed at times by the free States, sufficient in otae,
countries TO haze led to open hostilities. and
,ohtch has threatened, and ONLY been arrested
upon the threshold Of disruption of the Fed
erdt Union ase!f-have contributed largely to
a consolidation Of Southern sentiment, to q
better understanding of our condition and ne
cessities, and have also been felt in the general
development now everywhere msnifesting itsel
at the South"
This is the language of Disunion partisans
not of peaceful agriculturists. Again:
Z" 1t was declared at Richmond, that the OBJ
Jects OF the Convention were, to secure to the
Southern States the utmost amount of pros
perity, as an integral part of the Federal MON
or TO enable them to maintain their rights ana
distributions an any event,' that is out oil
the Union, and that matters were all germsns
which related to the development of our soil
the enlargement of our internal improvement
system, our domestic trade and direct foreign
commerce. mines, manufactures, and the arts
the social system and institutions Of the S,uti
our schools, colleges, and the press"
The Committee proceed to enlarge on eaol
of these topics. Internal improvements, TO