New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-05-23
THE BALANCE OF POWER.

THE BALANCE OF POWER.
1888 >>>-- ~
Under this caption the Richmond Enquirer, Of the
18th inst. contains an interesting and sensible article.
II ia well remarked at the outset that when the in
situations Of republican people can be maintained
only by on equipoise Of sectional influence and
strength in the councils of the nation, there is some
thing radically wrong either in the government itself
or in the loyalty and patriotism Of large proportion
of the people who are protesting to support it,
These sentiments are full of practical meaning, and
are well expressed There is something radically
wrong in the United States There have been many
things radically wrong" for years; and those
wrongs appear to be increasing rather than dimin-
ishing The evil enlarges while feeding upon ITSELF
Neither are we able to discover any remedy in the
future. moral liberation peryades the North and
the few healthy exceptions left cannot hope to escape
the disease much longer. ae
Although we are regarded as united people
abroad and although the moral and physical forces
of our government are measured by the nations of
the EARTH not by sectional State subdivisions but
by the combined strength Of the whole country still
we are to all material intents and purposes, discon-
nected people. For the last quarter of a century
sectional struggle has been continually going on.
WARRIOR there are peaceable wars-has been raging
between the North and the South all the time. From
small beginning the difficulty has attained gigantic
dimensions. The people Of the North and the South
do not look upon each other as they did formerly In
stead of taking pride in the admission of States
an altogether different sort of feeling prevails The
South views the admission of States carved out
Of the welnigh imitable territories of the North
West, not with sense of gratifcaton-not with feel
ngs of pride the addition of another star to our
national bancroft with emotions of joyous exuta-
ton the expansion Of this great and prosperous
republican, with doubt, distrust and dread seeing
in every new State thus admitted another weapon
placed in the hands Of their enemies to persecute,
abuse, Cypress and crush them This is the sentiment
that anmates the Southern people at the present mo-
ment; and blind is the man, editor or politician, who
would attemptto prove to them that they have not
good reasons for entertaining it.
And the North is more than equally jealous OF the
advent of new States on the Southern borders Al
though the North has nothing to fear in the premises
although from the very nature of things if this
Union lasted for ever the North could have
to apprehend loss Of political ascendency and al
though the South has acted, and probably will
continue to act, the defensve-stl the Black Re-
pubcans of the North, controlling the governments
of most Of the Northern States, unqualiedly declare
that no more slave States shall be admitted into the
confederacy!
We will now quote the concluding paragraphs of
the Enquirers article.
1t is to be expected, in free government, that
dangers will arise from abuse of liberty. And
less there Institutions of conservative character
the people enlightened and patriotic enough to
quel the storm through the influence and exercise of
the elements which give rise to it, the Govern
ment must fall victim to its own mperectons or the
passions of the people.
Fanatical opposition to the institution of slavery is
the dangerous rock distinctly marked out in the chart
with which the American people furnished for the
guidance of their government. Whether we shall
pass it in safety in 1860, whether the Union will
break upon it, is anxious question in the mind and
heart of every patriot in the country.
If the North and South are to continue their
nection only by means of respective annexatons of
new States, to preserve the equipoise, and prevent
that section from violating the rights of this,
the other must or later be beaten in the game
Of chance at which they are playing. If the North
WINS the South will be forced to herself in
sion. And if the South loses, will the North yield
obeisance to constitutional law then any more readily
than now 1t is to be hoped. however, in the interim,
that patriotism will prevail over passion and preu
dice, and that the Constitution will still be maintained
and the Union perpetuated regardless of balance of
power.
We are willing enough to "hope y with the Rich
mond Enquirer notwithstanding we can see but little
ground on which to base hope. glance at the
events of the last four years nearly suces to Danish
hope -Four years since the Freesoilers were compar
atvely powerless now they govern the North. In
two three years four free States will come into the
Union This will give them the Senate. They will
then be able in all human probability to control both
branches of the National Legisature-andl 1860 will
most likely enable them to elect President of their
way of thinking. With all the power in their hands,
they will be apt to it without regard to constitu
tons, compacts, compromises justice or rights. Such
has ever been the conduct of fanatics, in all ages
and Aboonists and Freesoilers nothing but fana-
tics of different grades.