The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-11-29
From the National Fra
- iNPRON EMEST'' OF THE IIARPEH's
FERRY AFFAIR.


security Of Southern society, rs compared
with free society in any part of the world
They have tellcitated themselves especialI,
upon their exemption from all the di,,ur
bing and agitating isms which, in the free
States, occupy 50 much of the public at
tention, and cause dissension in churche.
and parties Of that section, and sometime,
deprive men and women of their reason
They pointed with glowing pride, to the
calm rcrose of the Southern mind NJ
new therles Of liberty, religion, or social
life, ever found advocates, VIC were told
where the patriarchsl institution" held
sway. All their ways were pleasantness,
and all their paths were peace. These
high Pros lavery authorities seemed deep
ly to dcplorc the forlorn condition of the
States which are not blessed with the "pe.
cular institution" Their sympsthies were
moved, they mourned over the failure of
free society," and exhorted their Northern
brethren to re;racc their steps, restore Sla-
very, and thus save themselves from i'm.
pending wreck and ruin.
Such was. a few brief weeks ago, the
tone Of Southern journals But while in
dulglng in our dreams Of perpetual peace
and security, half mad enthusiast with
seventeen followers, strikes blow which
shakes the whole fabric of Southern society
10 its centre. Fifteen States, as large as
half Europe, are convulsed with rage and
fear The Federal Government, backed
by two of the Oldest and most powerful
of the Southern States, fly 70 arms, in
order to rescue a town of two thousand
inhabitants from the hands Of eighteen
men, No better illustration Of the absur-
dity Of the boas:ed security of .laveholdinc
society could be imagined than these facts
furnish. 1t is true that the slaves did not
rise against their masters, for the reasons
assigned by the Richmond nquircr, viz :
that on the northern borders of Virginia
they find 1t easier to run away than TO con-
qucr their freedom Slavery, says the
Richmond Democratic organ, only exists by
sufferance in Northern Virginia. The ne
groes and the masters are said to be aware
of the ease with which emancipation can
be effected by crossing over into Pcnnsyl-
vania aud it would be incurring unneces-
sary risk Of life TO fight for freedom, when
it can be obtained so easily and quietly.
But, further South, the Enquircr thinks,
and We think, the result of such an inva-
sion might have been quite different; and
the greatest vigilance will be, and should
be, used to prevent 4 similar occurrence
1t is lamentsble to know that a large por-
tion OF our country is subject to be panic.
stricken by the machination Of dozen or
twenty men; bat the fact is SO, aud it is
folly to attempt the concealment. Insur.
rections forever impend over countries which
hold one half of the people in absolute
chattel slavery to the other half
The South, notwithstanding the fine ar
guments in favor of Slavery with which hel
people have been amused for some year:
past, is beginning to realize this great fact
and, in spite of the excitement and angel
which the llarpcr's Ferry invasion has pro
duccd, the effect must be 4 permanent feel
ing of dissatisfaction with 4 state of thing
so incompatible with peace and security
Here, then, is the first great consequence o
that affair.
But from dissatisfaction, insecurity, an,
conscious weakness, the public mind Of tn
South will be led to question the utility O
an institution which brings those evils il
its train. Discussion must follow; tn
madness of party and the prejudice Of ed
ucation must give way before the imper
ious necessities of the hour. Somcthin
must be done to abatc the CONSTANT
threatening danger What shall it be
The immediate and voluntary abolition {
Slavery cannot be expected, Slave proI
erty is too valuable to expect its immediat
and voluntary REIMBURSEMENT, while I
maintain the system in its present form ,
unmitigated and unrestrained chattlehoo
is now evidently fraught with peril. y di
solution of the Union, 50 far from meudin
the matter, would only serve to precipitat
the apprehended catastrophe.
The house of refuge for runaway slav,
would by that event be brought down frol
Canada to the frontiers of Maryland an
Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri. \
amount of vigilance could prevent stan
pedes On far greater scale than that G
which they have hitherto been conducte
The value of Slavery in all the States DO
dering on the north would rapidly depr
ciate, and the only security for that sp
cies Of property would be in sending it in
mediately to the shores Of the Gulf
Mexico. The border States would in th
way be made free much sooner than the
can be under the protection of the Unor
and either the old war of Freedom ar
Slavery would again arise in the Southel
Republic, or the free States belonging to
would secede, and join the North
This is putting things on their best foe
ing. 1t is supposing tina, the Union c.
be quietly and peaceably dissolved, ar
that the whole South will secede in bod
But this is not at all probable. Notwit
standing the presen, excitement. which
said to be intense, We hazard little in Il
predcation that the more northern sla
States will not secede upon the naked issr
of resistance or submission to the rule of
Republican President. A large majori
of the people will say, let US wal. un
: our constitutional rights are invaded, befo
We proceed to break up the Union; ;" al
as that contingency will not happen,
other consequence will follow the inaugy