Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-03-19

everything of a practical value has
been decided, and no other question
remains for adjustment, because al
agree that under the constitution
slavery in the States is beyond The
reach of any human power except ol
the respective States themselves
wherein it exists. May we not ther
hope, that the long agitation on tbi.
subject is approa ching its end, and
that the geographical parties te
which it has given birth, so much
dreaded by the Father Of his Coun.
try, will speedily become extinct
Most happy will it be for the country
when the public mind shall be d.
verted from this question to others
of more pressing aul practical i'm
portanCe.
Throughout the whole progress ol
this agitation, which has scarcely
known intermission for more than
twenty years, while it has been pro-
ductive of no positive good to any
human being, it has been the pro-
life source Of great evils to the
master, to the slave, and to the whole
country. 1t has alienated and es-
tranged the people Of the sister
States from each other, and endan-
gered the very existence of the u
MON, nor has the dang er yet entirely
ceased. Under our system there is
a remedy for all mere political evils
10 the sound sense and sober judg.
mept of the people. Time is a great
corrective.
The political subjects, which but
few years ago excited aud exasper-
ated the public mind, have passed a.
way, and are nearly forgotten. But
this question of domestic slavery is
Of far greater Importance than any
mere political question, because,
should the agitation continue, it may
eventually endanger the personal safe
ty of alarge portion of our country
men where the institution exists
In that event no form of government,
however admirable in itself--however
productive of material benefits-can
compensate for the loss Of peace and
domestic security around the family
altar. Let every Union loving man,
therefore, exert his best influence to
suppress the agitation which, since
the recent legislation of Congress, is
without any legitimate object. 1t is
an evil of the times that men have
undertaken to calculate the mere ma
terial value of the Union.
Recent estimates have been pre-
sented of the pecuniary profits and 10
cal advantages which would result to
different States and sections from its
dissolution, of the comparative inju-
ries which such an event would
in0ict, on other States and Sec
tions; even descending to this low and
narrow view of the mighty question.
All such calculations are at fault
The bare reference to- a'single con-
sideration will be conclusive on this
point. We at present enjoy a free
trade throughout our extensive and
expansive country; such as the world
never witnessed. This trade is con-
Quoted on railroads and canals, on
the noble rivers and arms of the sea,
which bind together the North and
the South, the East and the West Of
our confederacy.
Annihilate this trade, arrest its free
progress by geographical lines ofjeal
Gus and hostile States, and you de-
stroy the prosperity anc onward
march of the whole and every part
and involve all in one common ruin
But such conside atoms, important al
they are in themselves, sink int
insignifcance when we reflect on thu
terrific evils which would result from
disunion, to every portion of the con
federacy-to the North not mor'
than to the South, to the East no
more than the West. These | shal
not attempt to portray, because Ffee
an humble confidence that the kim
Providence which inspired our faith
ers with wisdom to frame the mos
perfect form of government and un
. ion ever devised by man, will no
suffer it to perish until it shall hav
J been peacefully instrumental by it
example. in the extension of civil an
:. religions liberty throughout the worlt
Next in importance to the malr
tenance Of the Constitution and th
} Union, is .he duty Of preserving gov
D ernment free from the taint or eve