The Washington union., 1858-03-25
THE FEDERAL UNiON-ITS POLITICAL, SOCIAL,
AND INDUSTRIAL ASPECTS.

THE FEDERAL UNiON--ITS POLITICAL, SOCIAL
AND INDUSTRIAL ASPECTS
We leave to the careful observer of American pei
atics 10 determine, whether our political union Is
used by the factionsts Of the country to derapee
and pervert our social and industrial anfop. II win
be conceded by every enlightened statesman-by
every man who is at all able to comprehend the ma
ture, character and purposes of the government
clat the great objects which were sought TO be at
tanned by the creation of our Nderative system,
were the promotion Of closer social and friendly
intercourse of the people, and more judicious
and effective development of their industry.
Itis mpossible to recognise in the Union po-
lticai alliance looking solely to the consolidation of
power regardless of the special ends to which have
referred. If it is 30, our national government be-
comes mere engine of strength 1t created
for such distinctive purposes, Our geograph-
scal position secured to us the ampiest means of de-
fence against foreign aggression. Our industry
isolated and productions, beyond the wants
of our people, extremely limited. We had
few manufactures, little commerce-notbing indeed
which could excite the cupidity, the rivalry the
fear of the nations of Europe. Even our democratic
system of government regarded harmless
experiment which few years would be sufficient to
overthrow.
Under such circumstances the constitution Of the
United States was framed and adopted 1t created
government of the people. Its avowed object was
to establish Justice" ENSURE domestic tranquility
to provide for the common defence In order to
achieve these ends the States united themselves into
one federative government. Domestic tranquility
peaceful brotherhood--was evidently the first great
object which was sought to be accomplished. BY
the terms of the compact free trade secured 10 all
the people Of the government. This principle Of the
Union was vital to the of industry and
powerful stimulan to social and friendly intercourse
Having thus laid the foundations of the system upon
basis SO broad, liberal, and fraternal, one com
merce, one revenue, army, navy, with cen
trail authority sufficient to enforce Them were natural
and inevitable institutions give effect that great
law ct American society.
We contend, then, the primary object of the Union
to promote the general welfare of the people
by maintaining domestic peace and concord and
that therefore political government was means
to that end.
Now, we submit to the representatives of the
ton, if they do not find in the conduct of the repub
licans attempt to subvert the government in these
respects Do they seek domestic tranquility? DO
they so act as to harmonize conflicting opinions, to
remove prejudices, to keep in subsection the poti-
cal power and to promote the higher ends of social
and industrial union? We see them only in efforts
to divide and estrange the parts from each other.
Political concentration of power is not only their
paramount object, but it is sought to be welded ex-
clusvely to subdue the social and industrial elements
of the various States composing the confederacy
They avow war Of industry between the labor of
the North and the labor of the South They do all
that do to WELD the authority of the nation
to destroy and parayze that industry to poison the
fountains of brotherly intercourse and to drive the
parts into irrcconcilabe hostility
Nor is this effort the result of momentary passion
the fruit of ful canvass; is the settled policy
of powerful organization contending for supreme
control Of the administration of the government It's
rise has been the signal of bitter controversy 1t has
spread dismay and CONSERVATION throughout the
country; and now, when its forces have been re-
cruted and its capacity for mischief corrcspondngly
increased, we have no sign of disposition the
part of the crusaders to rcnquish their fatal and de-
structvc policy. If there is a man in the whole
country who fails to the tendency of these things
we can neither admire his wisdom, commend his pa
triotsm, nor endorse his sanity.
The great crror-and it is one which was most
likely to find its discipless to be in the effort
Of American politicians and place hunters to build
up an exclusive political power which shall be in
dependent of the objects for which the government
was created. We have no need of such an engine
in our society. The Office of government is widely
different with us. We have no ambition to see the |
Union overshadow other political systems. We |
look to our labor, to the great operations of the in
dusry Of the people, and to their effects as the Wis
ible and real power Of the State. It is that indus
try that maintains the government; and it is clear
perversion Of the principles of the latter and of the
rights Of the former to use the one to destroy the
other
The correspondent of the New York Tribune
states that arrangements have been made for
thorough anti-Lecompton organization without ref
erence to political antecedents" The country will
await the completion of these arrangements with
considerable degree of curiosity. Every one is anx-