Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-12-08

Now-AND THEN.-The present is
not the first instance when the Union
has apparently trembled upon the verge
of dissolution, and utter rnin threatened
the country. While the Republic was
yet in its infancy, and even during the
administration OF that infallible Wash
ington, than whom none was more capa-
bic of Guiding the ship OF State, parti-
sanship and sectional hate racked the
nation from center to circumference and
seemed to portend its inevitable destruc-
ton. Matters were then in apparently
far greater extremity than now; for, be.
sides being convulsed by discussions
within, the Union was threatened by en-
emies without. Government was dis
tracted BY its embarrassments with both
France and England, and its treaty diff
ficulties With those powers. Q795) We
have need only to refer to history for
the records. Says Samuel Elliot, in his
history of the United States, alluGing to
that ominous period -
ut was still worse at home. The par
ties-Northcrn and Southern, Federal
list and Republican, anti-French and
French-that racked the nation, were
never SO much agitated. Until within
the last year or two wrote Washing
ton, 4 had no idea that parties would.
or even could, SO to the length have
been witness to. Congress was a con-
tinual battle-ground. The Federal par
ty, falling into the minority in the
House, and in danger Of losing their
majority in the Senate, fought, it may
be literally said, on one side; their op-
ponents, the Republicans, animated with
the hope Of the superiority, being equal.
ly pugnacious on the other. Newspa,
pers, especially those published at Phil
adelpLia, carried the hostile notes from
Congress to the nation, and echoed them
back to Congress. 1t is difficult, with
ont leaving room for extracts, to con-
vey any idea Of the virulence of political
writing at the time. Craftsmanship dis
appears in partisanship, the love of coun-
try in the hatred Of countrymen."
Tie picture here drawn is almost a
counterpart Of the condition of affairs as
they stand at present. Then it was
that Washington, almost despairng,
said 81 can never believe that Prov
idence, which has guided us so long, and
through such labyrinth, will withdraw
its protection at this crisis" And it
did not. The Union has survived that
danger and others subsequent for sixty>
three years, and we can now repeat with
more confidence than then, the words
Of Washington. Though the cloud that
overhangs us seems portentous Of evil,
there is light beyond.
1t is hardly necessary to revert to sub.
sequent occasions when danger seemed
to threaten the stability Of the Union
These have all been passed in safety,
and our integrity has been preserved.
We are now on the eve of the most
important Presidential election that has
been held for many years, and one ap.
parently involving deeper interests
While among the large army Of candi.
dates offered for the public acceptance.
one unimpassioned head is sought, who
shall possess extraordinary attributes OF
wisdom, discretion and sound conscrva-
tism, it is not unusual to hear express.
sions of earnest desire that Was1s;nqton
was now living, to guide and direct us
in this emergency-one in whom i'm
plicit faith could be placed, and whose
policy none could dispute. Were the
question put to each individual of the
nation, whether, we're Washington liy>
ing, he would receive his vote for the
Presidency, few would hesitate to an
swer in thu affirmative. Yet, if he were
now the candidate of party, it is doubt
ful If he would receive more than a party
vote. His name is not yet forgotten,
and his memory still continues to plead
for love Of country and countrymen =
but such is the bitterness of craftsmanship
and sectionalism, that even the sFather
Of bis Country" would at present fail to
reconcile the differences Of his wrauplinp
children. He could not do it while he
Was President when his acts of deyo.
ton, and his wisdom and skill in pilot.
ing them through the troublous times Of
the Revolution, were still fresh in the
minds Of his countrymen and much less