The Feliciana Democrat., 1856-01-19

~ assailcd, are themselves the aggressors.
At the present time, this imputed aggres-
sion, resting, as it does, only in the vague
declamatory charges of political agitators
resolves itself into misapprehension OF the
principles and facts OF the political organ
ization of the new territories Of the United
States. .HT#
IF the friends of the constitution are to
have another struggle, its enemies could
not present more acceptable issue than
that of state, whose constitution clearly
embraces a republican form Of govern
ment" being excluded from the Union be-
cause its domestic institutions may not in
all respects comport with the ideas OF what
is wise and expedicnt entertained in some
other state. Fresh from groundless impu.
tations Of breach Of faith against others,
men with indubitable violation Of an ex-
press compact between the Independent
sovereign powers Of the United States and
of the Republic Of Texas, as well as Of the
older and equally solemn compacts which
assure the equality of all the states.
But, deplorable as would be such vio-
lation Of compact in itself and in all its di-
rect consequences, that is the very least of
the evils involved. When sectional agita-
tors shall have succeeded in forcing on this
issue, can their pretensions fail to be met
by counter pretensions Will not differ
ent states be compelled respectively to meet
with extremes ? And If either extreme
carry its point, what is that so far forth
but dissolution of the union? IF new
state, formed from the territory Of the Uni
ted States, be absolutely excluded from adj
mission therein, that fact Of itself consti
tutcs the disruption Of the union between
it and the other states. But the process
Of dissolution could not stop there. Would
not sectional decision, producing such re.
suit by majority Of votes. either northern
or southern, of necessity drive out the op-
pressed and aggricved minority, and place
in presence of each other two irreconcila-
bly, hostile considerations?
1t is necessary to speak thus plainly of
projects, the offspring of that sectional ag:.
tation now prevailing in some of the states
which are as impracticable as they arc un-
constitutional, and which if persevered in,
must and will end calamitously. It is ei-
ther disunion and civil war, or it is mere
angry, idle, aimless, disturbance OF public
peace and tranquility. Disunion for what I?
II the passionate rage Of fanaticism and
partisan spirit did not force the fact upon
our attention, it would be difficult to believe
that any considerable portion Of the peo-
pie of this enlightened country could have
so surrendered themselves to q fanatical
devotion to the supposed interests of the
relatively few Africans in the United States
as totally to abandon and disregard the in
tcrests of the twenty-five millions of Amer.
leans to trample under foot the iniunctions
OF moral and constitutional obligation. and
to engage in plans of vindictivc hostility
against those who are associated with them
in the enjoyment of the common heritage
of our national Institutions.
Nor is it hostility against their fellow.
citizens of one section of the Union alone.
The interests, the honor the duty, the peace
and the prosperity Of the people of all sec.
tions are equally involved and impcrillod
in this question And are patriotic men
in any part of the Union prepared, on such
an issue, thus madly to invite all the con.
sequences of the forfciturcs of their Con,
stitutional engagements 1t is impossible.
The storm of phrenzy and faction must in.
cvitobly dash itself in vain against the un.
shaken rock Of the constitution. | shall
never doubt it. ] know the wild and chin.
crical schemes of social change which arc
generated one after another, in the unsta.
BILE minds of visionary sophists and inter.
csted agitators. ] rely confidently on the
patriotism of the dignity and selfrespcct
of the states, on the wisdom of Congress
and, above all, on the continued gracious
favor OF Almighty God to maintain against
all enemies, whether at home or abroad
the sanctity of the Constitution and the
integrity of the Union.
ANEcDorE OF THE New CHApLAIy.-Th Rev
Henry Clay Dean, the present chaplain of the
United States Senate, was some years aro q
resident of Northwestern Virginia. While
preaching one day at church situated a few
| miles from Fairmount hc was annovod H. t