The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-06-13
THD DANGEROUS STATE OF THE
[From tae n. Y. HERALD

|
COUNTRY.
[FrOm tae " Y Herald,I
Within the last nine years the slavery
question has made fearful progress in this
country. 1t has spread from end to end Of
the Union, las oyershadowed all other ques-
TORS, and absorbed and contracted within
itself very large proportion OF the national
intellect II breeds civil war in Kansas
! 1t leads to outrage and bloodshed in Wash
ingtOn. 1t is the handspring Of political par
ties. and envelopes them in the general ex-
element. At Chicago, the Ex-Governor of a
Territory of the United States addressed a
crowd of people a couple of days ago, in IA
vor of immediate insurrection against the
established authorities Of the country. He
wanted an armed expedition to be sent to
Kansas for the purpose Of carrying on civ
il war. On Wednesday, convention Of pol
iticians calling themselves republicans met
at Syracuse, chiefly to denounce one section
of our common country; and We are told
thai "the sentiments which found most ia
vor with the assembled representatives were
those which couneelled a resort to arms
Another convention, held at the same place
on the same day, and consisting of persons
selfstyled radical aboihonists, was even
more violent; the principal speaker, the noto-
rious Fred Douglass, Openly exhorted slaves
to kill their masters, rs that was merito-
rious act If accomplished in the view of OBJ
tanning freedom. A third convention held
on the same day at Trenon, N. j., and CON-
posed of the same class Of politicians, talked
of the present organization of the country as
one of "turpitudo and infamy," while the
principal speakers exhausted their efforts to
inhame the too nfannble material of their
audiences. Nor is tits excitement confined
to the North. Southern men have allowed
party feelings TO diaatcto them approval of
acts of high-handed and savage violence
We hear of testimonials that are about to be
presented to Mr.. Brooks for an act which at
any rate was brach of the peace and an
unjustfabe vohtion of the law.
With such occurrences happening on all
sides, the public attention could not but be
absorbed. THY have drowned all other top
les of conversation and debate. They have
divided the ntion into two opposing armies,
animated win far more hostility towards
each other han filled the breasts Of the
French and the Russians during the late
war. Their is room in the American mind
for nothingn now but the slavery question.
1t was supposed by the fathers that they
had settled the slavery question by the con-
stitution. 1t had even then assumed the
character Of disturbing topic, though all
the States contained slaves; and the fathers,
who were eminently practical men, and gave
no thought to ingenious philosophical the
cries, or fanatical principles, settled by a
compromise on the sensible basis of practi-
cal equilibrium between the Nerth and the
South. That settlement cannot be disturbed
with impunity. So long as the present con-
stituton Of the country commands the res
pect and ae9uiescence OF majority of the
States, the save-holding portions ofthe coun.
try ought to enjoy equality Of power with
the non. slaveholdng portions, in at least one
branch of Congress.
| When this rule is departed from, the prin-
ciple Of the constitution will be thrown to
the winds. The incvitble consequences of
that event will be fearful disturbances
throughout the county, ending in The dis.
ruption of the Union aud actual civil war.
We are now reachin! that crisis. There
is no prospect anywhere Of a lul in the
storm, of tendency y moderation in the
language or acts of tie political PARTIES
There is no difference between them. Pro.
slavery men and antis livery men-they are
all alike; there is no moderation, or courtesy,
or candor, or real patriotism in any Of them.
One and all. on both sides, they are for dis
order, and violence, and bloodshed, and rifles
and cannon. Neither allow for moment
that there can be any other appeal than to
brute force. The retrograde movement has
begun; our republican Institutions have be-
gun to decline; unless tie strong arm Of the
people be outstretched to save them, the
retrograde process will continue rapidly, un-
til the nation sinks to the lowest stage of
barbarism. anarchy, robbery and murder.
ST. LOUIS, June 6.
The Kansas City Enterprise of the I'd inst,
says that Mr.. J. NJ. Baward left ST. Bernard
for Westpor, on Friday last, and has not
since been heard Of He is supposed TO have
been murdered by tho AboIitionists ID. II.
Hamilton and John Lux, who went in search
| of him have hnen talaa hu tho Ahaliiianisis