The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-12-02
To-Day a Day of Duty.

DRows ia to be hung to-day. A jury has
found him guilty; the Court gave the SEN
tsnce; and by the messengers of law he is to
be hung. He who resorted to violence has
met q violent death. This is day not to
discern the faults Of others, but to mend and
prevent our own. Are we guiltless of his
erimsi Have we always been in the temper
toward our nsighbor which caused us to treat
him with charity? Did we at any time mad
den the people with the demagOgue's appeal
to the poor to war on the rich; to the mob to
attack the bank; to the mob to rout the ne
groes at Bucktown, or the Shakers from their
villagesf krs we not disposed to get rid Of
IN offensive press by throwing the types out
of the window or into the river? Our duty
to-day, then, Is TO determine that we will set
no more bad examples; to resolve to discoun-
tenance violence; to mind our own business,
and to let other people mind theirs. We pro-
test against Ohio or Cincinnsti being classed
among the enemies of the South. Whatever
sins have been committed in hostility to the
South heretofore, shall suffice. To-day VIC
turn over new leaf. The South must be as
generous in return. Let her dismiss her fears,
and meet the conservatives of the North half
way with whole heart. Let violence no
longer prevail on either side.
1t was not justification for Brown that
Slavery IL q wrong. The excuse for him
would avail the tradesmep and laborer to mob
tho manufacturer for severity of exactions in
the work shop-the Agrarian in attacking and
robbing the man of wealth. 1t Is hardly COM
portable with the patriotism and Christianity
of the motive assigned, to risk the stability Of
a union of these states by an assault upon the
Slave Institution. If that is to be done, the
North has the power to dye the plains of
Virginia and the Slave States in blood, and if
Slavery can be oblitsrated by force, raze it
from the land. This we won't do; then why
lacerste the tender cords of sympathy which
unites these States. Is it our magnanimous
mission, now having tho power, to intimidatc
and vex our Southern friends in return for the
aubjection they have imposed upon usg
We invoke truly Christian spirit to guide
us as patriots, to wage no bloody war of force
on our neighbors. They have sorrows enough,
fears enough, in the fatal institution which
circumstances has imposed upon them. The
States exempt from tho evil should not sport at
tho fears and apprehensions of slave-ouners,
nor defy the hand which bears the torch 10
burn their dwellings. Let the wrongs of Kan.
sas be avenged as Providence directs, in an
unseen and noissless way let not States of
the same Confederaoy be discordant and bel
ligerent, but, in true fellowship, lot us devote
ourselves anew to the good Of the Common
wealth, not by revolution of blood, but by
the peacsable effective course of good ex
ample and the unaided force Of the words of
truth. If the owners Of slaves are relieved
from outside pressure, they will coasult their
interests as to getting rid Of the evil. They
have right to retain what the Constitution
secures. We Of the West, who have hope, and
not the dread which South Carolina displays, are
dreaming Of no Southern Confederacy, but are
desiring new bond Of Union with that State
by bands Of iron, and new bonds of affection
by knowing each other better. We of the
West desire but one Confederacy, and will
listen to no projects Of Disunion. ,