The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-03-03
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VIII thaY do tip

Slave Power, there will be dissolution
Of the Union. 1t is not urged on any
principle Of justice. but because the sac
ra6ce Of tho interests and rights Of thrse !
few thousands is necessary for peace.
If this were the first time such conditions
had been made there might be an apology
for entertaining them. But the same cry
of dissolution has been ringing in the ears
Of the American people time whereof the
memory Of man runneth not to the con-
trary. Nor has it been barren Of conse-
quences. BY this means has South Car
OHM for long term Of years been able
to dictate the general policy of our
government. To avert the awful
danger that was affirmed to exist COM
promise after compromise has been made
and invariably with large odds in favor
Of the South. Shall this same course of
things continued Is there any need of
it We are firmly pursuaded there is not.
We have no heart to contemplate the
probable, the certain consequences of
rupture Of our federal relations. We
know not how much of pride, of interest
and Of right we might be willing to sac.
rahce, if the sacraice were clearly dem
onstrated to be necessary to the prcser-
vation Of the Union, and the perpetuity
Of the blessings the founders of our gov.
eminent designed to secure to themselves
and to those who should come after them.
But believing as we do that such sacra-
fcss as we have made and are now called
upon to make are not dictated by enlight-
ened patriotism, that they are certain to
promote the evils we deprecate we protest
against them. We believe that every
yielding TO this kind Of pressure makes re-
sistance more difficult; that every success
thus gained by the enemies of liber,y is
an ovation which makes their final tri.
umph more certain and speedy. if the
aame course is by both parties persisted
in On the other hand we have the most
satisfactory evidence that when these
olamorous threats Of disuuion are met BY
Arm determination to MAINTAIN the right,
10 the same degree does the threatened
danger subside.
The South values the Union as highly
As the North,-they have reason to place
much higher value upon it, and when
the danger really threatens they will mag
nifty these reasons.
The extravagant proceedings by the
ars-saters Of few months past have de.
veloped more Of the conservative element
of the South, than has appeared for a
long time past Southern politicians show
decided symptoms Of returning reason,
and come Southern journals estimate the
Union above the triumphs of Slavery.
Tbs Nashville (Tenn,) Burner thus dis
courses
Are these the true friends of the South
these fierce and relentless 6re.eaters
This is fatal delusion. No sadder mis-
take was ever made than that of the
Southern people who place their reliance
in the hre.eating, disunicn.plottiug dema.
gogue. No more terrible calamity could
bsfall the South than q rupture with the
North. The Union and our present Con.
stitution are the South's true reliance, and
therefore whoever would dissolve the
Union, and overthrow our present form Of
government, is the worst enemy the South
could have.
Such policy On the part of the South is
not wisdom, not craftsmanship. 1t is fol.
ly-madness. We have nothing to gain
By quarrelling with the North. We have
been following after distractions long en-
ough. We have been led long enoug h by
unprincipled and reckless demagogues II
10 time now that we should give ear to the
voice Of wisdom, and Of enlightened pat.
riotism. The 6re-eater is not the trus
friend Of the South. The test Of South.
ern devotion is not hatred of the North.
Our true friend is the Unionist-be who
would preserve this fabric of our fathers,
and perpetuate it to all time.
Sentiments like these are every day
making progress in the South, and they
progress in proportion as the North shows
determination to maintain the right Al
AL hasards.
The Union has never yet been put ts
any very severe test. We would not be
avsrse to seeing q nearer approximatior
to It. If the bonds that unite US are o
the tenuous character which many fear
Hit /. indeed rope Of sand, it may b,
better To know the worst and to provid,
for It. If to do justice to the people o
Kansas must bring on the final catastro
pbe, lot rs meet it now. But if we hav,
all our life time been subject to the pain
Of dissolution through fear of it, it is bet
Ter to be disabused of that error.