The Placer herald., 1856-07-12

hcho du Pocifquc, a French paper published
in San Francisco, as we find it translated in
an exchange. Its chief interest consists in
exhibiting the dangerous position to whiclr
we have arrived in the United States, as re-
viewed by intelligent men of foreign BIRTH
a disintcrested citizen strips the issue of all
party consideration, states the facts clearly
without prejudice or rartiality. No good
citizen can read it without feeling renewed
sense of his obligation to act with iirmncss,
zeal and Judgment. The ARTICLES headed
Situation Of the United States.
1t will be seen by the news published by
us yesterday, that the United States of Ame-
RIGA are placed in a remarkable crisis. The
fermentation extends to the very bottom.
Civil war between the North and the South
almost exists, on the subject Of slavery.
Kansas is in flames, on account of the fiery
question between the Free and the Slave
States. Seen from an exterior view, the
United States have arrived at that outside
limit where a single step in advance may
change them from a state of peace to a state
after it, not only for humanity in general,
for those who perish, but for the best in
terests of all those who survive the conflict.
Let us look into the causes which have led
to this condition Of affairs.
Upon the terrible question of Slavery there
can he bnt one opinion amongst persons out
side Of the strife, or who know how to rise
above the preiudlccs and the material IN
terests which grow out Of it; there can be
but one opinion among men inspired 10y
generous and really liberal sentiments
Slavery is horrible sore, which covers the
humanity of our era with shame; whilst, on
the other hand, it must be admitted that
slavery as it exists in America, does not pre-
sent those odious features which it formerly
possessed.
Although we should be the first to admit
that the American slaves are more happy,
speaking, than our European
laborers; although we are as we'll convinced
rs the master, that he has all interest to treat
his slaves kindly, to preserve them in good
health, and that this species of labor is dear
est, still slavery may he condemned in prin-
ople, whilst at the same time, beside the
ilulldliHN VUtNtlpi, dHOtItl ollc 'l'0co hl"-
tcrial in its character and we'll worthy of
public attention.
1t is undeniabic that the slave owners of
the South have paid dear for what they pos
sess in slave property, and for those pIanta
tions which at great cost they have created,
and these are we'll worthy Of consideration.
Blinded by generous idea, and disregard
mo the most sacred RIGHTS there is no act,
however ruinous, that the aboiitionists would
not commit against the slave owner. There
eNistsa law which protects these propretors;
when slave escapes to free state he
should be restored, and the free State ought
10y right to do it by force. This law is a
federal law; it is the result Of an agreement
between partners, like that in simple con-
tract of partnership. But this contract, this
agreement which ought to be held sacred, is
very seldom respected. Not content with
employing chicanery against the owners
who pursue their slaves, they resort to all
sorts of subtcrluges to facilitate the flight of
the slave and the loss of the owner. They
sometimes go into the very bosom of the
slave States to preach mp revolutions, enfran-
chisemcnt, and the destruction of property
legitimateIy acquired. There is in all this cvi-
IDENTIFY great abuse on the part of the aboli-
tionists, and they are so much the more irri-
tating because they touch property itself, as
well as expose the lives of their victims.
This abuse has been pushed to the extreme
in many cases, and finally in Kansas the
question has assumed sanguinary charac
ter.
In all this we are merely historians. We
state public facts in order to designate the
point at which the question has arrived. The
United States in this Slave question has
reached the borders Of violence. They no
longer respect themselves even in the public
assemblies, as we have seen in the affair of
Senator Summer beaten almost to death by
Mr.. Brooks, in the Senate Chamber. If this
goes much farther, an argument will be re-
piled to in open session, by revolvers and
bowie-knives.
HONE PRorEcroN.-Passing by Lafayette
Square last evening, we heard two fellows,
who sat on bench, discussing very profound
ly the party political measure Of the country.
"You is in favor of home protection isn't
you Jim!" said one of them.
"Wel reckon | is Bill but that what
the wings tell about home protection is all
gammon-there aint no home protection.
Does you think if there was, that my old
woman ud give me goss as she does! No,
Bill, all that ere about home protection is a
vague idea. There aint none for telers like