The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-05

dangers of disunion that are involved in this
critical Kansas issue upon Southern slavery
Thus, for example, the same Information which
was published in one of our Seward cotempo-
raries on Wednesday, we find in another Sc
ward abolition organ-the Ne,u York Tsi6une-on
Thursday, in the shape of the following extract
Of letter from Washington
Am Informed good authority that one OF the most
distinguished OF the Southern Senators remarked few
days nee, TO Sepstor from Tree Stste-n COW
Kansas cared nothing for they we're convinced
thai The Interests of both North Soah required
SEPARATION, and thy determined bring !, about
that dissolution 81 the Union is the real object aimed
under Of zeal Tor the Iecompon constitution Soma
tor Masons vemarx in debate yesterday refers the
project There 10 systematic plan Of Operations already
agreed TO be carried into operation upon the
lection OF Kansas,
We have limited at such things heretofore !;
but here they assume a palpable and definite
shape, This precise information at last comes
from black republican agent at Washington,
and is promptly circulated through our hitherto
most incredulous black republican organs. And
why? Simply because our Seward contemporaries
are at length convinced that there is something
more than mere empty clustering in these al
lege6 Southern goclivities and movements to
disunion. We have reason to believe that there
is good deal of truth in the foregoing ex-
tract, and that the uppermost thought now pre-
vaiing among Southern politicians is not the
perpetuity of the Union, but the ways and
means best calculated to meet what they believe
fac contingencies Of dissolution.
Ii is in this view Of the subject that the
sectional contest upon this LecOmpton con-
stitution assumes its most alarming pro-
portions 1t is in this view that the
present crisis becomes the most momen!ous
OF any in the country's history since our colo
NAL revolution. We believe that the bulk
of the Southern people are still attached to the
Union, as we know the bulk of the Northern
people to be. But these Northern aati-slavery
crusades of thirty odd years have been produc
tive of their bitter fruits in both sections Our
most popular Protestant churches have been
torn asunder upon Mason and Dixon's lire; our
ancient sectional reciprocities Of social harmony
and confidence have given way to Southern vigi-
lance committees against abolition emissaries
and Northern underground railroads. Worse
than all, the good old political principle of sec
tional concessions is fast giving way to the law
Of sectional supremacy and coercion.
Such is the existing state of things when the
North-already possessed Of sixteen free States
against fifteen slave States, and with two new
free State constitutions awaiting the action of
Congress-still threatens the useless, and worse
than useless insult to the South, of the rejection
of the Kansas State constitution because of the
mere abstraction of slavery. Within six months,
in any event. Kansas will be free State and
thus, with nineteen free States against fifteen
slave States, and with two or three Of those un-
dergoing the transition to free States the reader
will detect some method in this disunion mad
ness of the Southern pro-slavery ultlas.
The very existence of the white ard the
black population of the cotton States depends
upon the absolute integrity and security Of
their institution of slavery. But what security
will they have for the future against Northern
aggressions If from Northern prcjudices against
the South Congress shall refuse 10 recognise
even the abstraction of slavery in regard to
Kansas? That is the question.
To make the matter worse. so intense has the
fanatcism of our ultra Northern aboiitionists
become since the election of Mr.. Buchanan by
the solid vote of the South against Fremont
that our abolition societies have been fused into
general Northern disunion faction, upon the
simple ground that the North should cut loose
at single blow from all its debasing associa-
tions with slavery. This is something but the
overwhelming pressure of the general Northern
anti-slavery sentiment, resulting from the Kan
sasNebraska bill, is much more. Thus the
Northern vote of 1856 has alphabetically wasaed
the South that the day Of compromises upon sls-
very il forever gone, should this small conces-
sion Of the Lecompton constitution be refused
Upon this test question, therefore, the solemn
and momentous Issue Of disunion may depend,
with all its Unreasonable disasters to the peace,
prosperity and industrial interests Of the coun-
try, and especially Of the North.
Granted that leading Southern politicians be-
lieve that "the true interests of both the North
and the South require a separation, and that
they are determined TO bring II about" what
better provocation for deliberate action could
they have, under the state Of things described
IMAM the rcJectlon OF uns Lecompton COnsttu'
tion? Let it be rejected, and We may expect
as the next step the secession of the Southern
representatives from Congress in body, and
an appeal from them 20 their State Legisla-
lures for immediate action in behalf Of a
Southern cenfederacy.
The times are out of joint" The senti-
ments Of fraternity, concord and mutual con-
Citation which have existed between the North
and South exist no longer. Distrust hatred
and fanaticism, North and South, have sue
ceeded; and in every respect, among politicians,
parties and people, unsettled, confused and
revolutionary ideas prevail. To the mischiefs
Of the prolonged agitation of slavery, we find,
at this crisis, the demoralizing effects of the
late financial revulsion in full play among all
n