The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-12
DIsUNION.

The ultraists of the slave States find them
selves checkmated, at every step they take to-
ward disunion, by the conservatives. The ma
jority of the people of the South are sagacious
enough to perceive the danger there is to them
and all their institutions, in leaving the Union
But the ultraists, if in very decided majority,
are exceedingly active. Their orators are al
ways upon the stump, and are always fearless.
1t Is In Alabama where we find the feeling OF
disunion strongest, and its great champion
there is the Hon. Mr.. Yancey. Coming further
north, we find many protested Pro.Slavery ul.
traists, but they are more cautious. The Rich.
mond South is one of this class. 1t is in its
sympathies with the Disunion party. It's eGi-
torials all squirt toward disunion. 1t always
copies the speeches of the disunionists, and
gives the fullest accounts of their meetings.
Yet it is cautious about uttering any decided
disunion sentiments in its editorial columns. The
South copied Mr.. Yancey's recent speech, and
commented upon it. The Richmond Enquirer
notices the article in the following style:
"The great fault of Mr.. Yancey's scheme
does not consist in the premature, character
of his attempt, but in the fact that it intends a
blow against the integrity of the Union The
enterprise In which he is embarked is one in
which the people of this State will take no part
They regard his plan for committees of safety.
and the plan which he attributes to Mr. Rufin,
for league of United Southerners,' with
equal Reproduction. They both involve disloyalty
to the pledged faith of Virginia. They both
contemplate disunion. They both intend that
immediate disunion ID desirable, and are pro-
posed for the purpose only of rendering it prae-
ticable. They are both adapted to 'beget a
sentiment of envious mistrust among the
States OF the Confederacy and they are equal.
y insulting to the Southern people. They pro.
claim that the South is dishonored by the con.
tinuance OF the Union; and yet that Southern
people are so ignobly unconscious of the re-.
quirements of honor and patriotism, that they
cannot act openly and directly through the
State Governments which they have erected,
but must resort to the intrigues of an irrespon.
slble league to prepare the disruption of the
Union, even while they consent to be partakers
of its benefits
md the dlsunion faction consistently pur.
sues the same despicable course of action which
they would impose on the Southern people,"
This is pretty plain talk, but there follows
palmer and still more truthful which we will
quote
The most ravenous of all the intriguers for
Federal office are to be found among these
same politicians. Pretending q most deadly
hatred to everything which opposes Southern
institutions, these men have shown the utmost
willingness to strike hands with Aboltionists
whenever they could thereby attain place OF
power. PerpetpallY rubbing the sore of sec
tional irritation, they are the first to betray the
South on every matter of actual importance to
her interests. If all the mock enthusiasm
which all these gentlemen evince were genuine
and loyal, they could long since have secured
southern independence beyond the possibility
Of invasion, without resort to the pihfnl farce
ct Committees Of Safety, and Leagues Of
United sopthsrnerG.' It VII be tenfold easier,
snSS lees expensive, to finish the James river
-ho scsgha canal. Let the disunionists,
60 p.osonu -eeh eagerness to risk life and
fortune Tor the Safety Of the South, spend their