The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-07-16
G, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA, WEDNESDAY, JULY l6, 1856

the purport is unlawful, or which are exacted
from us by one 10 whom they cannot be law.
fully taken" Now oaihs administered With
out legal authority, by persons not qualified
and under circumstances which amount to
duress; which oblige TO the perform ance of
acts inconsistent with the duties of citizen,
and which constitute the bond of nnion or
conspiracy against the constitutional rights
and equality of a portion of The people, are
as plainly within the condemnation of The
doctrines quoted, as they are hostile 10 the
spirit and nature Of republican institutions.
In word, they are unlawful and therefore
invalid, because unwarranted and against ex-
isling rights; nor can their extent, or the TACT
that those who administer and those who
take them 60 unpunished, change thelr es-
sential character.
Let, therefore, the sincere, patriotic mon
who have joined the American party without
due reflection, abandon il al once and forev-
er, without regard 10 void obligations or en-
gagements, and act hereafter with the great
national Democratic, and truly american
party, opposed to prescription and sectional.
ism, and to all new tangled notions and sms
in political action. This is the best amends
they can make for the error into which they
have fallen, and from which, as good citizens,
they should exlrcate themselves as speedily
as possible.
But another topic demands notice. We
are required 10 turn our attention 10 the &c.
osraphy of the country. For the first time
in our history formidable party appears,
located exclusively in one part OF the Union
and inspired BY resentment and distrust of
another paIt. We are required to renew our
school-boy studies on the subject of State
boundaries and location. What is predicated
OF party in one region is not true in another.
The old and remarkable feature in political
struggles OF almost every township and neigh.
borhood throughout the United States being
divided, and not often unequay divided,
between political patties,- no longer exists. -
A party appears, struggling for triumph and
presumpluous of success, without an elecio-
raj ticket in fifteen States, or the intehtlon of
forming one therein except for purposes of
bravado or Insult, and resting its hopes OF
success in prliing one section, as such, a.
gainst another All the arts by which ami
mosi,es between neighboring States and
countries are blown into fame, are resort.
ed to. And we have the impudent and dis
graceful spectacle of an attempt to destroy
the spirit Of harmony and mutual good will
which is the very lie of the Union and the
pledge of lis perpetui,y. In view OF this,
let us cast our eyes over the country and
see where the lines oil division naturally fall,
and the character Of that separation of parts
which if not formally proposed msy be re-
garded as possible.
Two remarkable mountain ranges separate
The United States into three parts, and give
TO each OF these parts peculiar and distinct
features. Sixteen Stales lie along the At.
lanlc, abutling upon the Alleghenies, and
comprise The seat of most of the wealth and
power Of the Union. They slelch through
twenty degrees Of latitude and present great
varieties of productions and striking diver
sites of race, climate and scenery. Early
settled, most densely populated, their names
connected with signal historic events, they
are the leading and dominant States of the
Union. Passing beyond The first great noun.
tain chain the richest and most extensive
valley Of the world opens out before our
vision. Between us and the far distant ac.
cliviies Of the Stony or Rocky Mountains
are inlerposed majestic rivers, broad prairies
and plains, forests, farms and plantations,
the seats of advancing civilization and pow
er. This great valley, consisting of fourteen
States and three Territories, lie entire, united
in its whole extent by The hand of nature.
the course Of settlement and the brilliant
hopes Of the future. The Pacific side of The
continent, just rising into notice and conse.
quence, consists of single State and four
territories and its leading features are The
coast range of mountains, the strip of land
interposed between it and the ocean, and
The plains and valleys inland. Thus our
country presents three great divisions, the
bounds between which run north and south,
indicating that political divisions, if they
are 10 occur, should be of corresponding
charac ter. No line of division running east
and west corresponds with natural bound
aries, or can in any event be permitted. To
break the long stretch of Atlantic coast COM
municated, divide the Mississippi valley by
cross line and sever connection between
the regions drained by the Columbia and
those drained by the Sacramento, is not
project of folly merely but of madness; nor
if entertained would such DIVISION terminate
the process OF disruption. 1t would proba-
.bly 60 on until half dozen governments
would succeed the single government of the
Union, and the country would be parcelled
out Of the advantage of ambitious aspIranls
aud the general detriment oil the people
Our own Stale from central State would
become border one, subject TO the shock
of war if it arose between the fragments of
The Union and theatre within which ma.
liona disputes would be settled by the arbit-
rement of The sword.
Far differentha hitherto been our coreer.
Instead OF divisions, extension going out
and spreading abroad of our institutions and
national power instead of contrary process;
a deepening and strengthening of the fouu-