The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-06-06
Our Triumph and IFS Blessings.

Eight months ago this Union was the theatre Of
m intcrnccnc quarrel that lacked only the military
element to give Il the horrible dramatic interest Of
II French revolution. The Northern and Southern
divisions Of the republic arraycd in fierce an
tagonsm without parallel in the history Of American
parties Aholitionsm never was more formidable"
and phrcns'od. Collecting n numerical strength Of
which II had been supposed incapable the territorial
organization Of Kansas had given il marvellous
accession OF power: for the new government was
contiguous to Missouri Missouri was pouring in her
planters upon the soil, and aholt'onsm shrickcd its
hymn Of conservation to chimcrical freedom. For
awhile. Frcesosm seemed TO occupy the vantage
ground. For the first time. in its national political
conflicts, that faction had presidential candidate
whose personal prestige gave no little influence to
the cau.e of his extraordinary cspousal. lie was
man Of ,citnco and talent he had "done the States
gone service" in the tented field ly his daring
plorafons and hv his contributions to learning He
WINS by birth. South Cnro'inian. and this
small boast with lie shrewd fanatics who knew how
to turn all things TO account in political contest.
Such the aspect Of a faction, grown to the mag
nituhc of party. about eight months since. Rcso-
lutte and implacable the indications of the day gave
scmblance of success and the true patriot tremblcd
before the mcnacng peril.
Another party stood before the country Ike
cowlcd monk, denouncing the nquistions Of long
ago yet itself mos. inquistoria pryins ruacly
into every mans secrets but preserving lis own
mysticism consulting in midnight concave, yet
keeping occult its councils and having no utcranccs
for the public ear. but holding communion with IT,
self in the silent symbolism which il had adopted.
I'm Lii fail IN
obnoxious religious creed. and tel the white man Of
foreign soil thai for him Columbia had no freedom,
no hospitality. 10 Judgment.
A third party asked popular support for its candi-
dates in the name of old principles, such as the faith
crs Of the Revolution approved; of an intact Consti.
tuition. and of IA co-cqua Union of the States They
were denounced at the North, as the pro slavery
men and among modern fanatics no more odious
designation could have been applied These slavery
propagandists had met in Cincinnati, re-alimng
their principles, and conided their success once
more TO 1.-THE yrture, the Intelligence and the dis
eliminating patriotism of The American people" In
that patriotism their faith had been ever steadlast.
and always justified by the result Never did ii wa
until the Fall of $50, when Democracy had to con-
tend with abolition fanaticsm, on the one hand, and
knownothing intolerance and Vaccination the
u olhcr oIich during The Mostly contested ght, inc
battle was doubtful; and II seemed rs though this
Confederation were fate1 soon to go through the
disastrous ordeal Of abolition asccndancy and free.
soil chief magistrate. But an all-wisc Providence,
ever protective of this country, ayercd a crisis
which must have quickly consummaied the dsrup-
ton of the Union and rendered forever imperative
that constitution which was the single achievement
for which the colonies of q continent had struggled.
us patriotism heroic and incorruptible only will
}, struggle through long and gloomy years. DcmOc-
racy trumphcd.
: We look around and behold on every hand the
illustrated blessings of that triumph If faction is
not literally .erushcd out" it is subugaed into
, obcdicnc to law Driven with trailed banners and
reversed from the national arena of conflict, it
is being vanquished in the States, and the majesty
of the 'sober second thonglt," is irradiating the
: American mind and shaping to deeds of patriotic
i conservatism American action. Philanthropy and
l. insanity are no longer synonymes, us in the contest
S from which the whole people have so auspiclouslJ
I emerged Wild fanaticism is being tanned down tt
J. the level Of reason and pactcability. Men who
= blindly hung upon the brink of overt treason, hay
reused from the trance, aghast when surveying will
# lucid eye the abyss into which they sought to pre-
: ciptate the country and themselves, and have made
prompt aonemcnt by giving their sutragcs and NOR
t al countenance to Democratic principles. Our tri
/ umph was not ephemcral. 1t was not popular yer
dict of oday to be revoked on tomorrow. Its per
= mancncc is being demonstrated Ivy the contnuou