Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-11-29
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POLITICAL.

OlutiOn. IL ID only Wnen the State IS ~
imminent peril that the test is put Ia
true patriotism. The citizen who loves
his country truly loves it most in the
hour Of adversely. His devotion 10 like
that Of mother to her suffering darling
when the chances multiply that she may
be separated from it forever. When
koscinsko fell in the battle in which 20.
land lost her independence, he was car
ried to ST. Petersburg aprisoner of war
As soon as it was determined that he
should be released, his sword was offered
him. He declined to accept it, remark.
ing, 81 have no use for a sword, for
have no longer country"
Have the sober-minded men Of the
North ever seriously contemplated the
possibility of their having s'no longer a
country 7" Have they duly reflected
upon the nature Of the hostlities which
the denagogues in their section of the
Union are wagiog against the South q
Have they made themselves acquainted
with the ends at which those demagogue,
aim, and to which they are stealthily
leading them? We presume that to
such interrogatory they would unhcsitst.
inely answer in the negative.
In proportion to their number there
never existed at any period Of the world
a people who understood their rights
beforehand knowing dare maintain
than the people of the slaveholding
States. There never existed at any pc
Rod Of the world people more honor
able and more resolutc in the sustenance
Of their honor than they. Within their
confines almost the first words which the
child is taught to srticulate, are death
before dishonor.' 1t grows up with
them craven on its heart. Thus, while
as it advances in years, 1t is taught to love
the Union much, it is taught to love it'
self.respect more. Could there be more
praiseworthy sentiment nourished OF
cherished by virtuous humanity The
excellent of every land will answer, as
suredly not.
Now, the fact is irrefutabe that the
programme of Mr.. Seward, endorsed by
the Black Republican leaders. If consoI'
idated, would fagrantly violate the
rights of the slaveholdng States and
subject the citizens thereof to downright,
dishonor. Itwould 60 even beyond that
in pecuniary sense it would carry sor'
row to every hcart-ruin to every fire
side.
There is time yet left for the conser
vative sentiment of the North to dis
passionately contemplate the abyss into
which this " irrepressible conflict" must
if persisted in, plunge the Union. Up
on this sentiment, and this sentiment
alone, is suspended the Republics desti-
ny. If it is to operate adversely to the
South !; if it is to coalesce with Seward
ism, then farewell to all that is now ma.
tional. Ere the rays of the sun of March
1, 1856, light dome Of the Capitol, the
present Union will be among the BY
cones. The bond Of cohesion will be
severed forever.
Southern citizens will not consent to
become the vassals of Northern masters
The citizens of the South have been az
fectionately attached to the Union-and
will continue to be so attached as long
as it is a union of justice, Of honor, OF
purity-but when it becomes false to the
principles in which it had its origin
when 1T can strengthen the strong and
weaken the weak, away with it. away
with it! will be the expression of up
right men, in whatever State located.
1t was with exceeding reluctance that
Virginia ratified the Constitution. She
did SO, after months of dellberation upon
the subject, under the mighty influence
of Washington operating upon her, with
fear and trembling, by vote in conven-
ton, of 80 to 10. With all the sagaci-
ty ofPatrick Henry, almost superhuman
as it was, he did not, perhaps, distinctly
foresee such crisis as that into which
We have been precipitated by the l,och-
ester platform. In closing his last
speech, according to the report of the
Debates of the Virginia Convention, he
said, in reply to Mr.. Madison's last effort
Gle tells you of important blessings
which he imagines will result to US, and
mankind In general, from the adoption
of this system. l see the awful immen
sity of the dangers with which it il
pregnant see it feel it. l sec
beings of a higher order anxious con-
corning our decision. When | see be-
You'd the horizon which binds human
eyes, and look to the final consummatlou
of all human things, and see those INTEL
igent beings which inhabit those ether.
ial mansions, reviewing the political de
cislons and revolutions which in the pro
gress of time will happen in America
and the consequent happiness or misery
of mankind, l am led to believe tina,
much of the account, on one side or the
other, will depend on what we now de.
eide. Our own happiness alone is moi
affected by the event. All nations are
interested in the determination. We
have it in our power to secure the happi
dess of one-half of the human race. Its
adoption may involve the misery Of the
other hemisphercs. (Here a violent
storm arose, which put the House IN such
disorder that Mr.. Henry was obliged tc
concude.'o
Long ago We conversed with many Of
the eminent men who stood by the side
OF Mr.. Henry upon this occasion, and
each observed that, Of a truth, the "spir
its seemed to come at his bidding" al
the closing Of his speech, Of which the
above is an imperfect report, as relates
to the language which he employed. tt
avert tho lmnendinr donoor Onr orlv %