The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-11
THE DIsuSIoN ARG UMENT,

# 81 - 80
The Black Democracy are in, despair. Turn
which way they WILL they read the handwriting
on the wall. They are beaten even now, some
fifteen months before the election takes place
and in their despair they threaten to dissolve
the Union, as the only means of avoiding the
consequences of defeat-that is to say, the loss
of the spoils. The Washington States the or
gan Of the Douglas party, has recently endeav-
ored to atone to the South for its completely
with Douglas and his non-intervention, by rails
ing the traitorous. shout for disunion in the
event of the election of Republican Presl-
dent. This beggarly threat is re-echoed in the
Southern press, and the States really begins to
believe that its mock thunder will be accom-
panied by thunder bolt of disunion.
No greater mistake could be made. The
South has too much at stake to carry out the
idle and foolish threats of demagogues In
no part of the Union is there so much talk Of
its dissolution as in the hot-beds of Slavery +;
and in none is there so little ability to act out
and survive such an event. Slavery outside of
the Union would be at the mercy of the first
rude hand which chose to assail it. South
ern Confederacy, supposing the formation OF
one possible, would be mere provincial de-
tendency of the great Powers of Europe aud
America, and would be compelled meekly to
submit to their dictation. Those Powers would
give laws to the South, say to it how many
days or years of grace were to be allowed for
finally winding up and celebrating the " pc
culiar institution" and on what terms.
But it is nonsense to talk of disunion. The
thing is impossible, except with the free con
sent of the Federal Administration. The States
newspaper has called upon the Southern mem
bers of the Cabinet to refuse the seals of office
to their Republican successors. We have yet
heard no response from them. The public will
be glad to know if they mediate treason and
perjury as the finale of their official lives.
We have been led to these remarks by read
ing the following paragraph ia a Mississippi
" Democratic newspaper, called the Eagle
of the South The editor says:
"We have been divided heretofore, and have
given and received some hard blows but let
them nov be remembered only as honorable
scars. Let US come forward, as one man, and
take our position, clearly and Enthusiastically
let it be heralded from one end ef the country
TO the other, that the Southern States seW not
submit to the Inauguration of a Black Repub-
hc0n President"
We will remind the editor that the recent
" Democratic " State Convention of Mississippi,
which represented all the Chivalry in the State,
had this proposition of disunion under consid-
Grafton, but, for some reason unknown to the
outside world, it failed to put forth threat of
treason and rebellioil IN the event of the cleo
ton of a Republican President The wiser
course was taken, ofpledging the State, or ratieT
the Democracy TO cooperate with the other
Southern States in whatever measures they
may deem necessary for the maintenance of
their rights as coequal members of the Conied-
eracy." This was wise and prudent; and we
predict that, if Convention or the Legislature
shall ever assemble with such an object in view,
that it will advise lie people peaceably to 20
about their business, and wait uatil the reserved
rights of Mississippi are encroached upon by
the Federal Government.
Of one thing the Ed9le Qftbe South and the
Washington States may be assured, viz that
there are not traitors enough IN Washington,
nor ont Of it, to precent the inauguration Of
a Republican President. If the conspirators
think otherwise, they will in all human proba-
biity have an opportunity, on the 4th of March,
1861, of testing their mettle and their strength.