The Washington union., 1857-05-02
OFFICIAL.
THE NoRTgwEsrERN pEMoCRAoY.

OF its struggles, It's efforts ana lts acmeVemes 10
but the record of the contest between truth and er
ror They are always in the field, and always ready
for the fight; and whether victorious vanquished,
they never neglect their duties nor forsake their
principles That party in the great States beyond
the Ohio stands immovable barrier to resist the
surging wave of fanaticism which has more than once
threatened TO overwheln the constitution and the
Union The idea of dismembering the conederacy,
and destroying free system of government has
certainly been seriously entertained, and at times
aourshed like moral upas in regions rendered
memorable by the sacrifices and achievements OF the
statesmen and heroes of our revolutionary era. Yet
it Is no small consolation to reflect, that although the
North has been so long overwhelmed with political
abolitionsm threatening to destroy everything that
is valuable in history and venerable in our Jurs-
prudence it has never been able materially to alter
on corrupt the democratic popular sentiment of the
Northwest
Happy is it for that region that the miserable pleas
Of political expedency have failed to make any last
ing impression upon its inhabitants. The late act of
the Legislature of Ohio viii, assured soon be
repudated with patriotic Indignation by the honest
masses which it proposes to array against the a'i-
thorities of the general government This act OF
treason originally suggested and indirectly consum
mated by the very men who have lately disfranchised
and subjngated the great city of New York, is one
of those reckless attempts in the line of revolution
which invariably and fortunately, at once, develop
the weakness and mark the decline Of political
organization founded in venality and supported by
corruption. We rejoice to believe that there is a de-
mocracy in Ohio-as in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wis
consn, and Michgan-true to the sovereign rights
of the States and to the perpetuy of the Union. To
that democracy look with abiding confidence,
knowing that in the hour of uttermost peril its
strength will be renewed, and that it will shake
off the incubus of black repubcanism and cleanse
itself from the foul leprosy of fanaticsm Iowa. the
young and the strong, has already lifted herself
from the dust of her recent defeats and by her spirit
and is filing her friends with gladness and
hope. And the hour is not far distant when the de-
mocracy Of the entire Northwest will stand in one
solid column and turn back the turbulent stream of
fanaticsm and priesty to its native fountains
beyond the Hudson. The Tribune and the Liberia
tor will then be supplanted by the Bible and the
constitution. There is loyal attachment to the
Union and deep love of country in the West which
viii wage war of determination against moral,
ligious. and political bigory, whether recommended
by priestly example the fiimsy sophisry Of whin
ing philanthropy.
The majestic Mississippi binds together, with
chain stronger than iron the northern and southern
portions of that part of the confederacy. The
Northwest will never consent either to a peace
able forcble separation from the mouth of that
mighty river. The extremes are bound together
by the laws of Nature and by the immutable
decrees Of fate The people who inhabit that great
valley which lies between tho Allegheny and the
Rocky mountains, and which extends from the lati
tude of perpetual flowers to the region of perpetual
frost too wise not to the advantages of their
position and too sagacous and too patriotic, not to
preserve them unimpaired They may not accurate
ly estimate--indeed can---the full grandeur
of its future destiny; but enough has already been
developed to justify the most extravagant anticipa-
tions of it's rapid increase in population wealth. and
power. Where its inhabitants estimated by
thousands it is scarcely too much to say that they
win soon be numbered by millions and when it's
vast ouspread of lands of unequalled fertility
all brought into full cultivation they can feed the
world. The spirit of manly independence and love
of freedom which inspire those people is the great
of their progress. And when at no distant day,
the plough shall mark the vast of its beautiful
plains and its fruitful deas when its cities, its
towns, and its villages multiplied in the future,
as they have been multiplied in the past when st.
Louis, the great centre of commerce and business,
shall expand as 1t will, to the dimensions Of New
York; when bridges shall span the great rivers, and
railroads checker the land when its many uniYer
stes its colleges and its various seats of learning
and piety snail have impressed their powerful nlu-
ences upon the rising generations; then potential
democratic voice and moral power will go out from
the politically healthy, robust, teeming millions of
that valley strong enough perhaps, to control the
destiny of the whole confederaey, but which viii
certainly make themselves felt to the remotest limits
of the republic.
And it is pleasing to reflect that the great majority
of the people loyal in heart and soul; and inn
PEELED, they are, by moral and physical causes-by
the suggestions of their interests by the promptngs
of their hopes and by the ncitement of their patriot
isn,-the whole weight of their influence will always
be exerted in favor of order, peace, and indestruct
BILE unity. They have too deep stake in the com
inheritance, too profound love for free in
stitutions too proper appreciation of the inest-