Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-27

question mas been growing greater
and fiercer and wilder: widening It's
circle with each succeeding year, and
increasing its virulence and vehemenee
with every new event and incident
that have arisen, upon which IL could
possibly bc brought TO bear. until the
Union shudders under its shocks. and
patriots OF all parties gaze aghast at
its reckless and ruinous revels in the
halls OF Congress. IN the State Legs.
latures and in every quarter and cor
ner Of the North. That the country
IS corrupted. that legislation in mo-
mentous matters OF national interest,
is not only impeded. but perverted
and prostiluted. that our institutions
as Republican people are immedi-
ately and imminently endangered by
The insane, suicidal agitation OF this
absorbing subject. Is painfully palpa-
bic TO every man, woman and child
IN the nation. But It is idle on the
part Of the Southern people to talk
or think Of putting nm end to it now.
The dogs Of war have been let loose
too long to be driven back to the ken
mel in day. or month. or u year
The waters are rushing over the prec.
ipice too wildly to hush the thunders
OF the cataract in an hour; and, how
ever earnestly we may desire il, how
ever earnestly we may hope. however
fervently we may pray for 1t. there is
no human hand that can turn back. nj
once, tho torrent tide Of aboliiiouisin
now so rapidly rising around us threat.
ening TO tear the ship Of state from
her moorings. and dash her to pieces
where the surf surges high. from the
continent waters Mt Mason and Dixon's
line
II Is waste OF words TO talk about
il. and II would be a waste Of time Il,
attempt il.
Subsequent 10 the election Of Mr.. Buch-
anan, and previous to the recent decision
OF the Supreme Court, there seemed to be
something like a bow Of promise in the po-
litcal sky. The angry waters raved less
loudly, the clouds looked lighter, and
sunshine seemed to be smiling the shad-
ows away. Aboltlonlsm had been baf
fed and beaten in a desperate assault up,
on the citadel defending the Constitution
and the Union. the sovereignty Of the
states and the rights of the south; and there
was high hope that Its most furious onset
might DO its last, except in feeble bands,
the scattered remnant OF routed host
But, since then, there is every evidence oil
an organization contemplated, and it may
DO begun, upon broader basis than ever
for the purpose Of placing the sceptre il
the hands Of the enemies Of slavery il
1860.
The election of the Judges Of the Su
preme Court by the people, is henccfortl
to be one Of the aims OF the Abolitionist
for acquiring the means of having thu
Constitution construed according to thei
own fanatical ideas of law. If they &C
complish that end, the strongest bulwarl
OF the South will have been swept away
the last bond of union will have beef
broken. But before they can achiev'
that dark design, the halls of Congress
will echo other sounds than the voices o
members.
Agitation in policies as in everything
else, either in the physical or moral worl,
is tho result of conflict between RICH
and wrong--an opposition Of natural b
, artificial law; n resistance of reason, jus
tice and truth, to prejudice or passion
iniquity or falsehood. And it will neve
end until tho obstruction is removed
Heap up rocks in the river, and the wa
tiers will foam and fret against them, 70
thousand years, or until the rocks ar
removed and the river rolls on its accrs
toned course according to the laws Of nr
ture. Train child to believe that ther
/, is no God, and until reason assumes supre
macy over the obstacle in its way, Their
/ will be fear and doubt-an agitation i
. the mind, arising from tho conflict Of ed
Q ucaiton with instinct. And so with tn
e slavery question; as long as abolt.onisr
' is cxtant, as long as the laws Of the Ian
are opposed, and impeded by disloyalt
and treason, as long as the rights Of tn
. South are denied and resisted by tho Mort
: SO long must there be agitation, incessant
\ increased and increasing agitation on th
S slavery question. Every patriot in tn
{ nation must deplorc it deeply; but W
Q should deprecate the cause rather tha
D the eflect--abolitionism rather than r,
suit Of resistance-if wo would expires
our real regret at the disease, rather tina
, an effect of the remedy.
If the people Of the North would coas
TO hurl thunderbolts at us from their pu
pits, 10 illuminate frebrands into our 50
: ciety through their press, to attempt |
Q intercept us In every territory, to dcfrau
= and to force us out Of our rights; IL,
other words, they would ''rendor uni
: Caesar the things that are Cesar's," cor
!. ccdc to us equality in tho Union, offer n
illegal and unjust distractions to the Q,
tension Of our institutions; II they woul
IS lot us alone and leave slavery to Il
' States. and to the same protection an
= privileges enjoyed by all other properi
D under the Constitution, the agitation Of II
question would como to an end on IL
instant. The trouble would cease simu
!. taneously with tho cause that produced
d But as long as they empty their Walls
/. wrath upon our heads. ours must DO cmpl
'. cd on theirs. II they propagate caluu
D! MICS, wo must refuto them. II they i
" cito their people to hate and assault Il
!. South, we must incite our people to rcci
rocatc tho hatred. and rcpel tho attack
IL Il.