The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-26
81" See first page.
SLAVERY AGITATION.

VIZ gee ntsJ page. .....
SLAVERY AGITATION. ..
Providence has SO wisely ordered all things
that there is seldom an evil without some good
resulting therefrom; and oftentimes that which
for the moment appears to be evil is found to be
only the means which the Wise Disposer of all
things has used for effecting great good to man
kind-as destructive storms terrible in their fury,
are the means by which the atmosphere is puri-
fed and rendered salubrious and healthful and
the earth productive; confagrations, which de-
stroy large sections Of populous cities, though for
the moment considered and spoken of as lawful
much human suffering, are nevertheless blessings
to such cities, as was that of London, in 1866, by
their being the means of purifying them of the
most destructive and contagious diseases. Until
that terrible fire occurred in London, and laid
large portion of the city in ashes, the plague was
fixed inhabant of that city, but from that time
it disappeared.
But what blessing is to flow from the agitation
of the subject Of slavery, we cannot possibly
divine. To US it seems to be an evil wholly
unmitigated by any resultant good 1t has not
benefited the North, and surely it has not bene-
fitted the negro. 1t has loosened no ones bonds,
but only compelled the master to tighten them,
while it has served to plant discomfort in the mind
Of the slave, and, of course to render him less
happy and cheerful.
And while it has benefited no one, it has
engendered hatred and heart-burnings between
brethren of the same family, belonging to differ.
ent sections Of country and accustomed to differ
ent habits, usages, and modes of living 1t has
drawn broad, deep line--now, we fear, irradi.
cable-from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky
Mountains, severing the United States into North
ern States and Southern States, or "the North"
and 1.-THE South" and it has strained the bands
which hold these two sections together to their
utmost endurance. 1t has engendered hostility
between the two which half century of non-agi
taton cannot wholly eradicate; it has kept the
for more than twenty years. and it has thrown
into Congress the most disturbing elements.
noisy agitators on the one side, and fiery on the
other-fnt and steel, from the clash of which
sparks have been constantly emitted and thrown
upon the country as upon combsstible materials,
thus keeping up an endless burning
Wise, cool-headed, patriotic men have not
ceased to lament this state Of things nor to endea
vor to put stop to the evil; but their efforts
have thus far been unavailing, though we know
the time is approaching when their voice may be
heard and needed by the people, The folly and
evils of agitation are beginning to be more pal
pably realized, and the country already shows
signs of nausea when the subject is mentioned.
We have another ground Tor hoping that ag-
tatlon is about to cease, namely, the declaration
of one of the heretofore loudest Of agtators the
Richmond Enquirer, "that, as the affairs of the
nation are at present IN the keeping of the Ma
tiondi Democracy, there can be no necessity for
further dgitationi" This language implies very
clearly that so long the Democrats have pos.
session of ne spos Of office" there IL no neces
sty for agitating the subject of slavery; but that
10 case they should be turned out, neck and
heels, it would become necessary for them again
to resort to the old game Of agitation. We hope,
however, that when it once ceases, il will be
found utterly impossible to revive it,
The following closing remarks of an article on |
this subject, in the Louisville Journal, so exactly
express our own views that VIC take pleasure in |
quoting and adopting them
sin the lace Of the incontroyertible fact that
the slavery question is aud has always been and |
must ever be mischievous humbug, serving in |
the h lids OF unscrupulous politicians, almost the |
only hands into which it ever gets, simply To |
deludc the people Of both sections of the Union |
and bring them into hostile political collision on A |
point which really has no more to do with potics
than has the color of their eyes or the shape of
their noses, in the teeth Of this multiplied and
cumulative proof Of the utter emptiness and falsty
and destructveness of the whole thing, shall the |
sound, conservative portion of the Union still |
longer countenancc tho miserable farce. or shall |
il boldly strike it from its platform, and declare in
favor Of its exclusion from the politics of the |
nation? For ourselves we do not hesitate TO say, |
down aud away with it. We have had enough of |
Il. Let us return to better counsele to wiser |
measures, TO higher interests. Let US resume the |
proper business Of parties leaving the fires of fac.
ion 10 flicker and die of exhaustion Let us
agitation. Upon any other ground il
$ obviously the most transparent of folles for
,arty to undertake to become national on strictly
ectional question. 1t is a contradiction in things
I is the very flower Of absurdty If any illnstra-
ion OF so plain proposition we're needed, the
present attitude of the Democratic party would
urnish IL. A follower organization certainly
lever existed. Split into countless Earring fac
ions, with its central representative vainly squint-
ng and blinking at each in turn, how unutterably
idiculous are its sounding pretensions to nation
lily! Its DO sted harmony doesn't even amount
Q plausible hoax. 1t is glaring mockery. The
lavery question has shattered this ill-assorted
arty right and left, as t must shatter every party
hat recognizes its groundless claims as positive
lement in the national politics,
Let, however, this apple Of dscord, as frail
nd unsubstantal as the golden ones that beguiled
he footsteps of ATLANTA, be hurled from the !
political arena, and all obstacle to the union of
nc moderate and judicious men of the entire 4
'.ountfy is removed With It's exclusion, dues.
ions OF real national import will at once rise into
'osilnanoing view, the formation Of a splendid
MY possible hnt irnr;..I.i -. NNNt-eD -