The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-22
DISuNION.

The lesson of the hour is disunion. Demo
cratic politicians all over the South threaten
that if they fail to elect President in 1860,
they will instantly to arms They believe that
the Union is in many ways burden to the
South it cripples her commerce, prevents the
development of her manufacturing capabilities,
and keeps her in condition of colonial vassal-
age to the North. Nevertheless, from pure
patriotism, from unalloyed love to the Constitu-
ton and Government instituted by our fore
fathers, and the hallowed associations of the
past, they are willing to adhere to the North so
long as the Nerth remains loyal to the Demo
cratic party, and permits it to enjoy the honors
and emoluments of office
The country cannot fail to appreciate this
disinterestedness. The majority of the Ameri-
can people are deeply sensible of the selffor-
getting patriotism which prompts the leaders of
the Democracy thus to sacrifice the best inter
ests of their country on the altar of patriotism
but at the same time the majority is too mag
unanimous to make the demand. The Demo
cratic leaders should not be held in official d.
rance cile when their patriotic emotions are at
boiling heat, and when they are ready, as soon
as turned loose, to inaugurate a policy which
shall at once place the South in the foremost
rank of the civilized nations of the earth. We
may have our doubts about the wisdom of the
policy of disunion, but neither we nor MAORI
ty of the country have a right to constrain men
against their will, and against their supposed
interests, to hold office. We deprecate their
disunion sentiments, and shall oppose their eff
forts to accomplish the severance of the Union,
but we feel strong repugnance to holding
them to their official responsibilities and their
official oaths. Let them go out of Office by all
means, and we shall at once have the value of
the Union tried upon its merits. fa majority of
the American people think it not worthy of pre-
serving, it ought to be dissolved; or even if a
majority of the Southern people are tired of it,
we doubt if it be worthy of preservation. But,
at any rate, if the Union can only be preserved
by sacrificing the freedom of the patriotic lead
ers of the Democracy, we are for making the
issue distinctly, by permitting them quietly to
retire from their selfimposed task of admins
tering the Government.
So far as we are concerned, therefore, and we
believe we have authority in this instance to
speak for the whole Republican party, the issue
of Union or Disunion, if, as declared, it depends
upon the election of a President, is made up.
We are willing to go before the country upon
it, and to meet the consequences; and from
present indications we have reason to believe
that the alternative will be presented to our
Democratic friends, quietly submitting to the
Inauguration of Republican President, or of
boldly striking for Southern Confederacy.
Disunion, as an argument addressed to the
fears of Northern conservatives, has always
worked admirably, until recently; and even
now it is not without its potency. But as a
reality, it will present features anything but
agreeable to the parties who threaten it. When
hurled at the manufacturing and commercial
classes of the North, it is very well it has had
the effect of turning the scale in favor of the
Democracy; but as practical measure, it has
always failed to command the suffrage of any
considerable portion of the Southern people
In 1882, only South Carolina could be induced
to take steps looking to disunion, although the
grievance complained of was as general as that
which the Slavery question presents. But even
South Carolina, with Calhoun, McDhffe, Hayne,
and other able and bold men, to lead her, only
proposed to nullify certain laws which her au-
thorities declared to be unconstitutional She
could not screw her courage up to the point of
secession, and in the end receded from her
multiplying ordinance. Some abatement was
promised by Mr.. Clay in the amount of tariff
duties, by way of compromise; but the princi
pie of protection" which South Carolina de-
clared to be unconstitutional, was adhered to:
and in 1912, when the compromise tariff had
by its terms gradually tapered down to the
revenue standard, the principle of protection
was again restored in all its vigor. Did South
Carolina again resort to notification as the
" rightful remedy?" Not at ALL She quietly
submitted, and her own citizens were glad
enough to be the instruments of the Federal
Government in the collection of the revenue
Not voice of resistance was raised in that or
any other slaveholding State against the tariff
of 1912.
Again, in 1850, the issue was presented to
the people of that State, by her Legislature of
or submission to the compromise of
that year, including the admission of California
as free State. The leaders of the Democra-
cy +" made the issue, and the people, by ma
jority of between seven and eight thousand. de-
cided in favor of obeying the Federal laws.
The same question was submitted to the peo-
pie of Mississippi, and their verdict was equally
decisive in favor of obedience to measures
which their leaders protested to regard as mon
strous invasions of Southern rights.
Now, here are facts which should, and we be-
lieve will, teach wisdom to the leaders of the
Southern Democracy. Are they willing to
make another issue of disunion-an intangible
issue, without even the allegation of an invasion
of their constitutional rights, and go before
their constituents? Are they not aware that a
powerful Union party will Immediately spring
up, as was the case in 1892 and 1850, and NAV
they not reasonably look for q similar verdict
for the Union? We have no idea that a ma
jority of any Southern State will vote for a dis
solution of the Union, in consequence of the
election of any man of any party to the Presi-
dency, by legitimate means. A disunion enter
prise based on any such grounds could not be |
defended. The Opposition of the South would
at once take sides with the Union in such a |
contest, and they would be sustained by ma
jority of those who now call themselves Demo-
Gratis; and the effect of presenting the treason
able issue would be, to render the so-called De
mocracy as powerless in the South as it now is