Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-07-05
Qbe Autt 5lourrp Buolc.
From TIE National Era.
WILL THE SOUTH DISSOLVE THE UNION?
by GEORGE NJ. WESTON.


The Union Of the American States was formed
and thus far subsisted, by the free and voluntary
association of the sovereign States of which it is
composed. Alterations of feeling, local and nd
vidual have existed at all times and have some
times assumed proportions and exhibited symp.
toms, which have excited serious apprehcnsions.
But all these alterations have hitherto passed sue
cessively and harmlessly away, and at time,
during the eighty years Of our Independent ma
tional existence, has any single State desired to
withdraw from Confedcracy, of which the ad-
vantage to all its members is so obvious and SO
signal.
During the present generation, the most studied
and persevering efforts have been made to estab-
lish political theories, and excite feelings, hostile
to the continuance of the Union, among the pc o.
pie of the slave States. These efforts, which n
public opinion perhaps unjust, but certainly ire.
versatile, has attributed to the.disappointed ambi
ton of Mr.. Calhoun, directed first to the
inculcation of the belief that the planting States,
under our established system of custom house tax
alton, contributed great and onerous disprOpOr-
tion towards the public burdens, and subsequently,
to the fomenting of angry and heated passions
connected with the subject of Slavery. 1t is rot
to be denied that these efforts in which maly men
Of extraordinary ability have enlisted and which
have been persevered in during quarter of cen
tury, have been, to certain extent, successful
Their effects, most marked among the friends Of
Mr. Calhoun, and in the State CT which he was so
fcag the pride and favorite and political guide,
are painfully visible everywhere throughout the
South. But as yet, i'll every Southern State, the
friends of the Union have at all times outnumbor-
ed the agitatols of disunon; and they do so at
this day. whatever Appearances there may be to
the contrary.
In the case Of Texas, principally inhabited and
wholly controlled by those who had been citizens
Of the Southern States long and patiently, and at
length successfully, pressing for admission into
the Union, we have a decisive and most significant
proof that those who are urging the slave States
to go out of the Union, have not yet accomplished
their work. Notwithstanding the efforts of agia
tors the majority of the people of those States do
undoubtedly still perceive as the people of Texas
did, that they find in the strength and power of
the Union the bess guarantee If protection, and
even of existence.
1t :he discussion in the free States of Slavery,
and OF propositions for its abolition, its offensive
and dangerous to the South, il is abundantly, cer
tain that such discussion would lose none of its
freedom and none of its accrimony by n dissolu-
ton of the Union. The restraints now resulting
from the comfy due to sister States, would then
cease to exist The South, no longer having polit
ical influence in the free States, would lose the
whole body of mercenary supporters, whom it re-
crults and malntaihs in them by means of that in
fuence. 1t requires no great knowledge of the
springs of human action to perceive that the same
Northern demagogues, who now find it profitable
u CATER 10 slavery, would then vie win eacn other
in inflaming passions hostile to it, Men who be-
tray the rights and interests of their own section
OF the country, in order to earn shameful title to
bribes held out by another, are little likely to be
restrained by scruples from entering upon any
course which promises personal advantage Thus
the South by dissolving the Union, would lose Mt
the North all the supports, good and bad, which it
now enjoys there.
If the South mplains, or has reason to COM
lplain, tf'ske Imperfect and obstructed discharge
by the free States of their constitutional duty to
return fugitive slaves, it is qsito certain that
semedy for the evil is not to be soughtin disso-
luton Of the Union, which would at once render
tie rocapture Of fugitive slaves wholly Impossible
and at no long interval destroy the Institution of
Slavery in the border slave States. Wise men will
endure what is unavoidable with patience, and at
least will not rush into remedies which are worse
than the disease. Undoubtedly, the condition OF
public sentiment in the free States renders the pur-
suit within their limits, Of tugitives from bond
age, u taankless and proftless operation No
stringency Of law is likely to make it otherwise.
The instincts of human nature, which prompt sue
cor to those who are fleeing from oppression cannot
be eradicated by legislation. The obstacles which
are now interrosed to the recapture of fugtives
from involuntary service must, in fine, be submit
ted to as inevitable. The right itself of recapture
falls with the Union; and this right however OBJ
structed in its enfOrceMents still worth something
in preventing escapes.
The position of the South is critical. It's face is
bound up in that of an institution which is con-
demned by the general judgment of civilized ma
tiOns, and for the overthrow of which are combn-
ed the conscience, tne prejudices the ianaticiSm
and the interests Of mankind. Thus concentra
ting upon themselves the hostility, or if that word
is thought better, the malignity of the world; the
Southern States have absolutely no power OF az
Gression, and scarcely aEy of Defence and, if the
protecting shield of tho Union was Withdrawn
WOul1 fall n RKnSnaratn1 and
mulated enemies. This is the roal condition of
the South, and it is truly pitable and helpless to
the last degree. The bravado by which it is at
tempted to be masked, the threats of dissolving
the Uuion, made by men who hold their property
and even their lives, they we'll know, only under
the shelter of the Union; which shall we most ad-
tnipe, the calculating arrogance which prompts
them, or the amazing simplicity which is deceived
by them?
Mr. Calhoun, in his letter of August r. 1884, to
our then Minister to France, states the motives of
interest pressing upon England, to Induce her to
desire the overthrow of Negro Slavery in the Uni
ted States Let us see what those motives are,and
let us see also, if they are not certain to control
other powers as well as gleat Britain.
Mr.. Calhocn says:
"One of the To- ,,ding motives of England for de-
string it, (tte defeat =. the annexation OF Iexas 70
tho United StatesA is the ,1ope that through her
and influence NeeSo slavery may De
abolished there, and ultimately, ~ consequence
in the United States, and tArohghOut tae whole OF
this continent That is ultimate abolition through
out the entire continent is an object ardently ae-
ered by her. we have decisive proof IN the decla- |
ration of the Earl of Aberdeen, delivered to this
Department"
Mr. Calhoun proceeds to point out, for what
reasons, in his judgment England desired to abol-
sh Slavery on this continent; and he begins by
denying that it can be attributed to '.humdndy orI
phiiaatlrophy" 81 do not question:" he says, "bw
humanity may hare been one Of her leading mo
tires for the abolition Of tie African slare
enee in abolishing SiareyY in her Vest Aldia pos
sessions; but her present movement he ascrbes to
quite different considerations According to Mr..
Calhoun, England has been Disappointed in The
experiment, Of free labor in her Colonies. lie
says: