Daily national Democrat., 1859-02-11
Dissolution of the Union.

sehtiiHcHts On ITeSSeu uuTlllS ell"It eoJouTH
in the State Of Maine went so far as to say
that indications were pretty apparent that
the South would have to begin to prepare
for war, and to arm herself with the necessa-
ry military strength TO enable her to assert
her right to 60 out of the Union. Other
Southern leaders have gone much further
than either lverson or Davis, and openly
proclaim that, if the EXTREMIST Southern
measures, such as the reopening of the slave
trade and the enactment of a slave code for
the territories, be not Immediately adopted
bv Congress, the South should at once take
steps to establish Southern Confederacy.
This spirit has been rebuked by Southern
Senator, (Sam lIouston), in language beft.
ting the occasion, and long may it be before
such sentiments can be uttered without such
rebulke in the higher body of the National
Legislature. 1t is the same spirit which was
rebuked by Gen. Jackson, in his memorable
proclamation with regard to the notification
doctrine Of the State of South Carolina,
the knees as he saw the scowling storm grow
dark upon the brow of the iron willed old
hero of New Orleans 1t is the same spirit
which was rcbuked by the majestic and com
manding Clay, directly after the assembling
of the well.remembered Nashville Conven-
ton. While debating his great Compromise
=, =, I 81
United States he took occasion to allude to
the rumor that "a member, returned from
the Nashville Convention, had addressed the
people of Charleston, South Carolina, and
proposed to them to hoist the standard of
disunion Mr.. Barnwell of South Carolina,
undertook to excuse the member alluded to,
when Mr. Clay rejoined in the following bold
and withering language: 81 said nothing Of
the character of Mr.. Rhett for | might as
well name him-I know him personally, and
| have some respect for him. But, if he pro-
nounced the sentiment attributed to him, of
raising the standard of disunion, of resistance
to the common Government, whatever he has
been, if he follows up that declaration by
corresponding overt acts, he ,ciH be traitor,
and Ihope lie ,oiH meet uith tho fate of trail
tor. 1 have heard with pain and regret
confirmation of the remark | made that the
sentiment Of disunion is becoming familiar
hope IL is confined to South Carolina. do
not regard as my duty what the honorable
Senator (Mr. BarnwelD seems to regard as
his If Kentucky, tomorrow, should unfur
the banner of resistance unjustly. | never
will fight under that banner. | owe para
mount allegiance to the whole Union-a sub
ordinate one to my own State. When my
State is right, when it has cause for resis-
tance, when tyranny, and wrong, and op
preston, insupportable, arise, l will then
share her fortunes. But if she summon me
to the battlefield, or to support her, in any
cause that is unjust, against the Union, never,
nerer will engage with her in any such
cause"
These sentiments were expressed by Henry
Clay, but short time before the hand of
death was ready to lay his god,like form in
the dust-when he stood with the SHOWS OF
more than seventy winters upon his head
when he had passed all earthly ambition,
and knew that his time was short-when he
spoke not for himself, but for his country
What were his views at that time on the
great absorbing question of the day? Sub
stantially, and reduced to their essence, moth
ing more nor less than these That, waving
all rights, pro and con-, of Congress to legis
late on the subject Of slavery in the terrific
ries, the people should be left to determine Ma
question for themselves that Congress should
make no provision on the subject, one way ol
the other, in the existing territories of th,
Union.
Great statesmen always hit upon som,
plan for preserving the peace of the country
in Threatening and dangerous conjGnctures
While the smaller fry of mere politician
that swarm in shoals and are potent only by
means of their numerical strength and thai
power which made it easier to burn dowE
the temple of Ephesus than to build it, hav,
no other remedy for existing evils than to in
sist upon those narrow and positive measure
which must certainly end in destruction i
carried out, truly great man rises from th,
atmosphere Of prejudice around him. seize
upon some grand principle of harmony tina
he knows will strike some master chord in til,
bosoms of the people, applies it to the tim
and occasion, brings order out Of chaos
rolls back the threatening dangers, and re
veals the fabric of the government still stand
ing in the full blaze Of its splendor Th
! principle of non-intervention on the part o
Congress with this subject of slavery in tn,
territories of the Uuion, is one of those grea
harmonizing principles of which we speak
The intelligence and patriotism of the who'll
country will recognize it as such. 1t touche
that master chord in the hearts of the Amer
lean people which wiH respond in tones o
thunderous acclaim, whenever and wherever
the issue can be distinctly and fairly made a
the ballot box.
THE ESD OF AN ADULrEREss.-On of tn
editors of the Hagerstown (Md.) Torchlight
who was recently on visit to Baltimore
says, among other things, that 'In the Bati
more Aims House there is woman spenlin.
the evening of her days who once filled