The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-02-25

"Watchlnan. What Of the NtgIft"
Never was there q period In our history
whrh % deep sssted an anxiety pervadsd the
hearts Of the people as to the complexion Of
the ptiltical sty; and with an occasional
giimmev Of sunshine across tho clouded end /
ahrsa.rninr heavens. Ire in0stints6ss desire
Ne asanltested to know "whst the signs or
promise are" Within the last thirty years,
questions have arisen and been presented
forthe consideration OF our National Con-
cress, Which sorely threatened, on two or
hreeoccssions, the peace Of the country, and
,hs overthrow Of our cherished Union; bu,
never, we honestly believe, did thre atenincs
Of national dismemberment loom up before
us 20 terrible a. st present We know
that the 'dis union" cry has often been ban.
di.d from lips which On:y uttered it for the
purpose Of subserving partisan ends; but
rnaHy base heart gave il echo whose every
'hrob was wish foe its unholy consumma-
tloN. In sseh Of the trying times, when
national disruption was threatened, there
were found men pstriotic enough to forget
their sectional prejudices, and to merge their
partisan feelings In desire to sec all differ.
ences reconciled. Each section, too, Wed
with the other in patriotic concessions. -
Masssciusetts remembered that she held
the |consecrGted spot Of Bunker Hill, and
Virginia that she contained the patriot shrine
Of Mount Vernon. They could not lsavn
the Union, with whose glory these spots
were 90 Intimately blended. All Of New
England and the sunny South-Pennsylva.
Nia, Delaware and Mary land-had csutribut.
cd from the rich treasures Of their blood to
cement the national bond and could no,
willingly sever it. Kentucky shook hands,
across the beautiful Ohio, with the States
whose southern boundary it washes. ant
pledged them to the Union and the Compro
niEts; while Tennessee held the bones ci
"Old Hickory" and dared not foster dia
union for fear the old hero shsuld arise :ror
his grave and mathematics her people wit
the "By the Eternal.' with which Ls wa
wont to srash in6delity to the Union in tn
day Of his power. Upon each .rying occs
sion-Whcu the nulltdGation storm passe
ever us with its fearful threatenings; whe
Missouri gave her virgin knock at the Unio
door; when the Compromise Of 1850 sen
healiugs on its wings to q disturbed psopl
patriots were found to forget ali else saw
the restoration OF confidence and security I
oil sections Of the Union.
Shall we Cad the same spirit of patriot
concession now? VIII the South, havin
taken the decided stand on the Kansas quea
tisn, be willing to tuccrmb to defeat whic
seems inevitable TO her! Isthe threat mad
BY several Of the States, that in the event q
the rejection OF Kansas under the Lecomr
ten Constitution, their Legislatures vii
hs convened and steps will be taken to 90
eses from the eonsederaey, mere idle can,
or 10 there q deep meaning in it' II Il.
South 10 successful in forcing this measurt
90 obnoxious to the people Of the NortI
through Congress, will the North quietl
settle Iown under the inAction Of 80 grea
vrORg. And will the Democracy Of Ii
Esr,h, With their honor tarniShed end the
plsdgss violated. BY tho faishlesshess Of the
seatbar1 bEe,heru. be desirous of concill
aling them? These are few of the quea
iioss which suggest themselves, snd whic
must be answered before truthful yespon'
can bs given BY the watchful sentinel to II
inquiry--"What Of the niSht!'
The hour is . dark ose--the storm threat
eninR--but our faith in the intelligence, ps
triOtism and virtue Of the American peOp
is 90 great. that we are impsllsd TO the bell
that that old and peaceful calm mEst retur
and pnivsrsal tranquility. as the bow Of prs
mise, bs sseA once more on cur nation
Ssy. -