The Washington union., 1857-04-16
4 FEW WORDS INTRODUCTORY.

FEW WORDS INTRODUCTORY.
There has been no period during our national
reer when the public mind has been so agiated and
divided upon political, religious and social topics as
during the last few years. The perfect liberty of
speech and the entire freedom of the press, which
are so fully guaranteed to every man by our written
constitutions and laws, and by the very genius Of the
government itself, have stimulated the minds of men
to freedom of thought, to boldness of inquiry, to
a habit of daring analysis and research before
equalled in the history of our race. Men seem deter
mined to sound the profoundest depths of things in
heaven on the EARTH and in the waters under the earth
But in this process many Of them have adopted very
questionable rules. BY some, the Book of Ages is re-
jectcd What heretofore considered settled or ta
ken for granted as rules and principles of human
tion are utterly discarded and rownaside They have
set up standards and guides of their own They have
learned to read the works Of creation by new al
phabet and to interpret the laws of Providence and
Nature by methods of their own invention "higher
ia,c' than the Bible is to govern in religion and
morals; and bastard patriotism, born Of impudence
and fanaiicism lifts itself above the constitutions
and the laws, and prescribes how far, and when,
these snail De DllulnB upon tHciu SoHuoi tlCH
actions. What is the practical result of all this
Liberty in some places, has run into lcentousness.
Reason is almost dethroned. Atheistic dogmas, in
idel theories the most absurd and impracticable
doctrines in religion and politics, RIGHTEOUSNESS and
immortality in a thousand forms, propagated and
discussed with yehemence and zeal which threaten
to derange and destroy many of the long established
usages and institutions Of Christian society.
Mormonsm, abolitionsm, frce-soilism, spiritual
rappings, womens rights, socialism, free-loveism
and know nothingsm, have sprung up from this cor
rupt state of political profgacy and religious inf
deity and now, by their combined efforts, madly
bent on ruling running the country No true pa
triot no sober-minded Christian, no good man, no
peace-loving, orderly citizen, look upon this
state of things without sentiment Of the deepest
anxiety, and feeling of the most profound disgust.
The mad spirit of fanaticism and intolerance has
made itself sectional and directs its efforts against
existing institutions. and particular parts of the
Union. sAbolitionism, under its new name of black
republicanism has at last drawn to its aid every hos
tile element in religion and politics to assist it in it's
fiendsh warfare the rights Of the South. The
pulpit, and portion Of the press, in Of the
northern States have joined the unhoIy and treason
able league, and working with furious zeal
for the accomplishment of their ruinous purposes.
Even two more sovereign States yielding 10 the
madness of the hour, have not hesitated to aid the
schemes of these anatcal plotters against the peace
and integrity of the Union.
Now we recite these things here, at the very
threshold of our labors, that may declare po
\ Va ab,
justi6able and wanton attacks on our vested rights
and established law to the last extremity We shall
vindcate the supremacy Of the law, sustain the great
principles Of democratic republican government,
maintain the integrity of the Union, and defend
the constitutional rights of all parts of the coun-
try with all the zeal and energy that pos
sess. This mission we shall endeavor faithfully
TO fulfil; and to the performance of this duty we
shall adhere with irmness and devotion which
nothing but death can relax. We know that the
cause which we espouse is tho cause Of justice, Of
equal rights, of established law, of morality, of truth
of the religion Of the Bible, and the happiness and
welfare of the whole country. The absolute sover-
eighty of the people; the separate sovereignty and
political equality of the States the responsibility of
the public servant his constituents and to the laws
and the absolute right Of the people of the Terrific
res freely to select and adopt that form Of State pol
iy which they may consider best calculated to pro-
mote their happiness and sustain their own
rights great doctrines Of the national democratic
party, necessary they just, and will at all
times be maintained by us in all their amplitude and
vigor. twas upon the issues and principles spring
ing of these doctrines that the last presidential
campaign was fought. We obtained signal VIC
tory--a victory the good effects of which are al
ready visible throughout this empire Of States. 1t
was victory obtained right principles, and is
better than many victories obtained on false issues
false principles, or no principles at all.
CONNECTICUT