Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-27
{ NOT THE CAUSE BUT THE OCCA-
SION.v


Mr.. Simmons said in his speech in the Senate
the other day, that the Lecompton Constitution
was not the cause of so much agitation, but the
occasion. Thereby implying that there we're those
who were disposed to agitate at all events, and
seized hold of this as and occasion, rather than
cause for so doing.
We think he was right we have not the least
doubt but that there are those who earnestly de-
sire to break up the Union, and who are determined
to find some cause or occasion for doing So Kan
sas disposed Of by being admitted into the Union,
no matter how, they win get up some other ques-
ton upon which the North and the South must me-
cessarily disagree, and make row-de-dow about
that; and they win continue to do till they are
either put down by the people, or succeed, or die
of. We win not cay that we kNow such is the
purpose Of certain men who occupy high places,
and exercise great influence over the public mind
in their own States, but we are SO near knoring,
that we have no doubt on the subject. We could
put our finger upon them.
These prominent men, if they would speak out
their real sentiments, would probably utter the
very language used bya Southern editor, as quoted
and commented on by the New Orleans Bulletin,
whose article the Natchez Courier approvngly CO.
pics. The disunionist says:
We confess that we have very little faith In the
fprit OF resistance among the people Of the South
and about the only prospect that we see of getting
out Of this glorious Unionis that one Of these DAYS
the North may take a notion from mere wanton-
ness, and by offering US some new indignity. to
kick us out, and then kick us for being out-all of
which VIC shall no doubt submit to as kindly "a we
nd IN asps TT..s<s
indignity they have been able heretofore to offer
usn
Only think, "remarks the New Orleans Bull
letin:
'Only think of the small chance of consolation
which remains to him If the North would only
take 1t into its head to offer some dreadful in
dignity to the South how happy would he bel
He would then in the fulness of his soul exclaim:
Now Is the winter of our discomfort
Made glorious by the summer SUM-
Of disunion; and to
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs Of war,
and let chaos come again, oh, how 1t would fill him
with 'incommunicable bliss!'
"We say that the real monom aniac should en-
cite our pity rather than any other emotions; and
though it may be found absolutely necessary to re-
strain excuses growing out of monomania, It is
generally best whenever it can be done with safety
tolettalone to die of sheer exhaustion But there
is q vast difference between monomania and down.
right hypocrisy. The former we may pity the
latter we always despise. The distinction between
these two is palpable, upon the political chess.
board OF the country just now, to the commonest
observer. We cannot stop to point out all the cir
cumsances Off, it is plainly discernible; and shall
allude only to one. Some of the sectional presses
in this part OF the country, aware that undsguised
dsunion sentiments would be execrated BY the
people, artfully seek to inst the poison into the
public mind by earnestly protesting the greatest
attachment to the Union, and at the same time
doing every thing that they possibly secretly,
to undermine and destroy that for which their af-
fectian is so strongI They manifestly think, too,
that the people will not see through the disguise,
win be deceived through specious and deceitfuf
appearances, and will therefore not really under
stand what they are driving at They will find
themselves, think, greatly mistaken in the esti-
mate they thus set upon the intelligence and pa
triotism of the people, and the compliment thus
paid the latter, will, we presume, be duly appeci-
ated. These sectional disunioniss in disguise take
especial pains to give publicity to the sentiments
and fragments of speeches of Northern Abolition
lists, giving them ludicrous prominence and impor-
lance, which must be as highly gratifying to the
vani ty of the said abotionists as II win be surpri-
sing to them. This indeed is an old device of the
sectionalists of different parts Of the country in
the dispicable work of alternating brethren. They
have long been quoting and elevating each other
into Importance, but the trick is now so thoroughly
understood by the great conservative masses of the
country, that 1t is impotent to do HARM as Il cAn
deceive nobody but the most ignorant, many OF
whom are not much in the habit of reading, while
others cannot"