Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-04
THE FIRE-EATERs' FEVER sUBsIDING.

THE FIRE-EATERS' FEVER SUBSIDING.
The Value and Success of the Union.
1t is not to be denied or concealed, that in the
Southern States there is now, as there has been for
many years, a faction OF dsunionists-men who con-
sder the rights of the South to have been outraged
to such extent as not only to justify but actually
to demand Immediately, dsconnsction Of the North
and South Fortunately for the country for the slave
and the snti.save States, for the American Union,
and the great of constitutional liberty, this
faction, Notwithstanding the ability, energy and edu
cation of many Of those who compose il has proved,
and we trust, will continue to prove altogether in
competent to the attainment Of its end But still II
10 to be deeply lamented that it e1iststhat some oil
the most gallant and gifted men Of the South, should
devote themselves to a cause 80 unholy, so contra
diotory to that enlarged and lofty patriotism
which embraces in its comprehensive consld'
GRAFTON the interests and honor Of each State
and every section OF our common country, and
which should animate and actuate alike the citizen
of Vermont and Michigan, of Virginia and Lou
siana. 1t is nevertheless true that it s so, however
much it may be deplored And it becomes each anu
all Of us who claim to be conservative in sentiment
who cherish the Constitution for the principles II EN-
bodies and expounds, and who look upon the lh'on
as the farest fabric the proudest and most poTeiu
of all the works devised by the wisdom and eIeeu'eu
by the patriotism of man, who regard the rign'' "
the South as acknowledged and protected py ING
compact between the Statee, and The rights Nt Inc
North as equally guaranteed and guarded BY 'ne
same sacred soul of our govtrnmcnt it is the da'y o'
a such, we say, to consider calmly, the eVii WHICH
tonQn
may ultimately result from the unlirng ana insen,
GUS efforts of this turbulent faction OF Southela u'".
contento. and to taxa timely measures 10 co'""o
at lea. to it's present oroumscrbed sphere OF Sc'oD
if indeed II cannot be cried down and crushed OUT d.
together by the indignant denuncation OF Inc un'
measured and unmeasurable majority Of stali' coz
servsve, Union loving and law sliding pair'o's' u
whom the country alg;aJs turns, and never II 'o'p
when foreign and domestic dangers threaten U.s.
We have said this faction Of 6re.eaers be; 50 lar
been utterly incapable Of accomplishing its an'-
And while we heartily hope it will always be so we
are not altogether free from apprehension 'oa' ',ie
time may come, when in close contest between 'le
Abotionists and the National Democracy II may
tprn the tide of battle against the defenders OF tne
Union. Let us have another or it may be the same
E,emont opposed to the South and to the Democrats
of the North, with bis host Of fanatca followers IN
1860. and with all the strength of the slave holding
States combined with that Of opr frsnaa aud allies
in the free Ststea it rsl even then be matter Oh
doubt as TO which party will bear OF the palm OF
victory 1t is true. thls little faction is at present.
perhsps, not In the ascendant in single State, but
it may be magnihed, or, if allowed to procesd an'
checked in its reckessness, it LAY 70 euaO'sd to 90
more mschi,. iasn e.ther lis numbers or its intu
ense would warrant the world in expecting
| The attacks upon the Naturalization have, as yet
resulted only 10 indicating its enemies in ambush
and pointing out to the nation the dangerous eplrlt'
whom nothing can satisfy but dissolution OF ths
Union. But as long as there is dicsfec:ion it is wei
not to treat too lightly any assault, however r'deu
! lous in itseli il may seem
| just now there Is comparative quiet amonl
tho croakers. They have exhausted themselve
in their Kansas war upon the administration
and. failing in their first effort to disturb The equa
nimty Of the National democracy, they seem to hav
suspended operations. Though at a loss for some
thing to harp upon, they are doubtless anIious
awaiting an opportunity to unmask their batterie
again and open another furious Gre upon the Presi
den. and bis caIlseilors and friends.
1t is useless to address this faction with reasoning
or re,nonstrances. Like all other epidemics, th
freeater's fever will its scurss but II must no
be allowed to spread ts Infection far enough to
der it fatal to the bodypoltic To aneiorste its ei
fects as much as possible, it must be checked ant
treated with prompt and active remedies at ever,
stage. and wheneyer or wherever it may be develop
ed. So far as Kansas is concerned, it is well ngl
cured. Those most alarmingy affected with it ar
recovering rapidly under the treatment Of their ami
ly physicians-thelr brother Democrats Of lei
nervous and eIcitable temperament
They are looking badly, it is true after The ,pa
roxysms of patriotic ardor in which they have re
Gently INDUCED. But they are beginning to be tran
quill, and there is hope thassone of them will be
come quite rational, before they are again seized
with tho apti administration malady.
We expect recurrence Of the disease, however
and shall be the alert and always prepared to ad
minister the medicine 30 indispensable to the preser
vston of the existence of those Democratic friend
who are liable 10 it.
The confederaoy WA formed for the protection o
the interests and impartial promotion of the wefar
of all parts Of the country. Tho Constitution wa
/
Government. The Union was entered into by nfutua
agreement on the part of each and all the separate
sovereignties, and in recognition Of the necessity
the organization Of General Government for th
better performance Of general functions. None theI
denied the policy and propriety Of confsderatec
Republic; and none now deny that the interes SITS o
the States are advanced, and the principles of oui
Government more fully developed, and firmly main
tanned. by such sy i.eu. But there are those WHIT
contend that the powers vested in the Federal Go
vernment have been abused that the Union has faeC
to answer the ends for which twas designed and tina
the sovereignty of the separate States is insecure al
long as the South continues its connection with the
North. To a certain extent it may be true, thai
the General Government sometimes exceeds its
authority. But it is utterly impossible that any
institution, or code Of laws Of any human consruc.
tion, can always work with uneIceptonable har
mony and regularity. That the Union has ceased
to serve the purposes for which it was intended
that the reserved rights of the Satea are eudangersI
by the lnsidious influences and open encroachments
of the North, cannot now, we think, bs urged with
any plausibity strength of argument. 1t is true
the slave States are necessarily threatened with abso
Lutte subiugation; but by whom, and how, and when
are the institutions of the South 10 be crushed out
under the iron heel Of the Federal government and
through the agency Of the Unionl BY the abolition
ists, uhen they obtain possesson of the gorernueat
either by amending the Constitution so as to eradicate
slavery at once;or by such an assumption Of suthor
ty as so to circumscrbe and tramme the institution
that those who hold it will become vassals OF the
Federal Government. Until that time, the Union
cannot be truly said to have proved failr.e. Az
long as the government is administered upon those
principles and that peioy that control it's inter
ests and regulate its workings, it i, fanatical
to contend that the safety Of the South de-
mands dissolution Of the Union. What great grie
vance are the save-holding States suffering now,
that they should desire an abrogation Of that com