Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1857-03-17

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decided. No other question remains
Tor adjustment, because, all agree
that, under the constitution, slavery
in the States is beyond the reach Of
any. human power, except that of the
respective States themselves wherein
it exists. May we not, then hope
that the long agitation Of this subject
is approaching its end, and that the
geographical parties to which it has
given brit, so dreaded by The Father
ofhis Country will speedily become
extinct! Most happy viii it be Tor
| the country when the public mind
ishall be diverted from this QUESTION
TO other Of more pressing aud practi-
cal Importance. Throughout < the
whole progress of this agitation,
which has scarcely known.any inter.
mission for. more than twenty years,
whilstit has been productive of NO
positive good to any human being, it
has been the prolific source, Of great
evils TO the master, to the slave and
to the whole country. 1t has aliena-
ted aud estranged the people of the
sister States from each other, and has
even seriously endangered the very
existence of the Union. 80 -i. :
Nor has the danger yet entirely
ceased. Under our system their is a
femedy for all mere political evils in
the sound sense and sober Judgment
.ofthe people. Time is~a great cor
.rlctive.. Politicai subjects which but
a few years ago excited and exasper
>ated the. public mind have passed
away and are now nearly forgotten.
but this question of domestic slavery
is of far graver importance than any
mere political question, because, should
the agitation continue, it may event
uallylendanger the personal safety OF
a large portion OF our countrymen
where theyinstitution exists. In that,
eyehtno form Of government, howev-
admirable in itself, and however pro-
ductive of material benefits, can COM
pensate for5the loss of peace and do
mesti security around the family al
tar. Let every Union-loving man,
therefore, exert his best influence to
suppress this agitation, which, since
tie recent legislation of Congress, ia
without any legitimate object
1t is an evil omen of the times that
men have undertaken to calculate the
mere material value of the Union.
Reasoned estimates have been pre-
scented of the pecuniary profits and
local advantages which would result
TO different States and sections from
its dissolution, and of the comparative
injuries which such an event would
inilict4o on otherrStates and sections.
Even descending to this low and mar
row view of the mighty question, all
Such calculations are at -taalitt .- =, The
bare reference to a single considera-
ton will be conclusive on this point.
We at present enjoy a free trade
throughout our extensive and expand
ing country, sacll as the worh nev er
witnessed. The trade is conducted
on railroads and canals-on noble
rivers and arms of the sea-which-
bind'togetherthe North and the South
the Eastand the West Of our confed-
eracy. i. ~ j2sE-ss 55.-.} .e7s + ~
Annihilate this trade, arrest its free
Ercgtess by the geographical lines OF
jealous ana hostile States, and You
destroy the prosperity aud onward
march efthe whole and every part,
and involve all IN one common ruin.
But such considerations, important
as they.are in themselves, sink into
insignifieanee when we reflect on tile
terrific evils which would result from
disunion to every portion ofthe con-
federacy-to tile North not more than
to the South. to the East not more
than to the West. These ] shall not
attempt to portray. because ! feel an
honest confidence that the kind Prov
idcnce which inspired our fathers
wisdom to frame the most perfect
form Of government ard Union ever
devised by man will not suffer it to
TO perish until it shall have been,
peacefully instrumental by its exam:
pie, in the extension Of civil and re-
Iigions liberty thr6ug hout toiworld, !
Next n,itnportahce to the tmainteri-
ance Of of the constitution and the
Union is thesduty OF preserving the
government from the faint, or even
the suspicion of corruption. Public
virtue ID tile vital spirit Of republics;
aud history proves that whenthis has
decared and thelove oftfmoney has
usurped it's place, aalthough the forms
Of free government may remai in for q
season, the substance has departed
forever. H9aaAlisgF aai .hIeI ~ :.
y Our present financial condition is
without aparillel inhistory. No ma,
ton has ever before BEEN embarrass-
ed from too large a. surplus in the
treasury This almost necessarily
gives birth 20 extravigant Legislation.
-Itproduccs wildschemes5o of expendi-
lures, and begets q race Of spectators
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