Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-12-08
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. weekly.

Consrrvstism-HarPer's Weekly.
In "Harper's Weekly" of December Sd appear two
ticles worthy Of notice. One headed American Con.
servaiism found in the Editorial column the title OF
tho other simply Conservatism, and il appears the
eading article In that part Of the paper devoted T
Loungcrn These articles seem have been written by
connected with the paper who had had converse.
ton the subject of Conservatism and Who the
close Of the conversation determined TO down their
views paper and print them for the benefit Of the
public. Both articles discover ability aud both the
tiers consider themselves conservatives But the
aboltonist Sir John Forbes principle of rational
expectancy the other aboi,ionis outright In proof
OF this assertion shall presently cite passages from
each article
Who the principal editor Of Harpers Weekly nav be-
We have of knowing; we suspect, however.
that tho general management of the paper like that
OF the magazine is in the hands OF of the Harpes
themselves But 1.-THE Lounger' is well known as tn
talented George VIM. Curtis, author of the admirable
Potphar Papers" and other works. aud for some tine
editor Of tho Inflated "Putnams Monthly While con.
Quoting Putnam he open and svowed abolition
ist Of the Beecher SharpesrHe school, and wrote or
printed with his approval some of the berest and
senseess articles that penned against the South
'Putnam's Monthly" falling dead for of support
the Harpers kindly took charge of Mr.. Curtis and
him TO work their paper-vith the stipulation, 10
doubt that he should hold his peace in regard to tie
question of slavery. In the main he has done so at
least far "HArpers Weekly" concerned What he
has done outside of that journal is certainly known
but may be inferred from the fact that in his
he has advocated inceudiarism, mo5lAw, and womans
rights In the department Of The Lounger" be has worn
his muz1le closely regards abotiousm-couten,.
ing himself with nequent lapse into gross indeceucv
and 4 continuous and beautifully sustained selfcompla
cency. Altogether Mr.. Curtis has shown himself ou
Obedeut to the commands Of his shreud enplOyers-
Nevertheless 1t IS veil for the Southern public to knor
what sort Of men Al the helm Of of the most e1
tsnsively circulated papers Of the North.
The passage that follows Is from the editorial article
BEADED American Conservatism
American conservatism has revereu.isl oo ,ov,-s
the past IL recalls the bloody footsteps Of the Eevolu
tiOnAry army IN the snow the p-oracied ssonv Of s
pense and the vieisstudes Of war aud then recoec
that peace ooy changed literature Of the struggle and how
for long years, Washington, Franklin Hamilton and their
contemporaries had 20 put the independence arms had gain
ed into constitution that would not be needed
TO uphold In that constitution il vas copAratvev e.
settle principles Bot meu's opinions are not 50
readily adjusted ForbeArAnce and liberal sympathy
demanded here and pride and prejudice had 10 BE-
surrendered and private are ordinarily NOR
formidable barriers to hearty fellowship than oppost
ideas foreathers had agree 10 sacrifice them or
the altar OF the common welfare. American conserve
tism mAgnifes this Office of early patriotism Ii ~
yeres its spirit heroic. and cheTshes its work as bear
ing the seal Of Heaven"
The above conceived in the best spirit, and will
show the dnilu OF the article 1t is in view
oil the state OF public affairs which prompted it, Ackinr
in point and application, but is for the most part en-
inently just and sensible We give the editors closn,
words TO show what be is aiming at
Providence has done quite as much for the United
States by denial as BY qualification Its goodness bss
restrained US from rushing soon into too yaL va.
It not fortunate thing that we did not drive back 10.
Indians earlier and weaken ourselves by spreading ove
the West before could bear it Was Il not eoual,
fortunate that Florida Louisiana and California dI moi
come into our possession more quickly than they did =?
Did we not learn our manufacturing wisdom our banl
ing wisdom, our low tariff wisdom Just at the right time
II cs yet hare our barriers aud imDeiiments f n, u,
Jool.'hy quarrel NTH them. They iciH get out of s say
at he opportHae moment This is what sensible copser
vatism believes aGd for this it patiently waits
The italics commencing at 'If we vet have" &c. are
our own What is meant by 'barrers and imped .
mentss" Slavery, dare be sworn And 'sen.ibI.
conservatism" patiently waits" for slavery ito get out
of the way at the Opportune moment The North Is
advised mot fooshly to quarrel with slavery yerv
well. We can ask more we never have had and
fear we never will have much. This 'patient waiting
Is rational expectancy-but it is aboltionism nev.rtb
essa little covered up, but the less genuine lie,
ms oil the South then understand once and for all time
that nobody at the North wishes slavery to continue one
moment longer than IL be made peaceabIv N
pass away. This is aIl-every bit-that we can hone
from the most conservative Of Northern Conservative
"The Lounger' Mr.. Curtis, having the Harper's Fen
affair in view embodes his ideas about Conservatism in
metaphors which do not all disguise his meaning Js
puts the Of two passengers travelling In s;eambo
railroad One satisfied to trust TO the epgipc
the other wants to go down among the machinery
examine for himself. OF the former-he who does M,
think fit to soil bis clothes and to interfere with the o.
tAbshed order Of things respects the working of the
engne-Ar. Curtis inquiries contemptuousy, rs thl,
compliment stupidity aud bland boobyishness consery,
dsmf He then compares the conservative man 20 the
Aonsegneur Of the aHeisn regime, Who in the midst Of
tragedies enacted by oppressed people smiles serene
ly aud believes that because things have been
for centuries they must always so remain. and saws
You pleaded with him that there were laws of natr.
which could be forever broken instincts of human;
~ which could not be always Outraged with immunity >
to which he adds the following hghlywrough, verb
age:
"Monseigneur murdered 10 his bed-bis castle w.,
burned-his estates wasted-his family Slaughter,
and prescribed Was IL Saint Antoine that bred the rev
oluton or Saint German that ground its heel into th
heart Of It's brother! Was IL the eud Of the snms tina
sharpencd the guillotine Monseigneur that Stun
men into fends aud despair into furyy The Revolution
ary Tribunal the black snd hideous flower tina
bloomed inevitably and naturally Of the Court Of t
Bourbon Louises The ferry msddcned liberty an,
eqlity only the under side Of the aHeisn ysgjs-
the side kept for centuries from the sun and air AM
bristng quverng with poisonous unclean things whc
was turned up. Monseigneur begot the sans ea,o,ts
The purport Of this language cannot be mistaken
The aorid imagery does not cloak the design Of the mi
ful hfeyatsnr. We know very we'll what he means b
the Outraged instincts Of humanity" Itis the old Of
twaddo Of the hboiuonsts. The "under side Of the a,
csH regiBs brising and quiverng with poisonous an
unolcan thngs" is but adaptation Of Holiness fgut
shout the under which worms and sugs that hat
and scken in the light, reside Translated into pIl
speech, Il means negroes who not educated An
NJ. Curtis would faiu have said 20 iu AZ many word.
the Harpers would have permitted him. We submit tha
IN judgment the abolition element is nov grown
strong In tbe North that Mr. Curtis might take courat
10 cut loose from his leash aud bay deepmouthed W,
come 70 John Brownism just a. he did in the days
Putnam But doubtless, be knows bic inicres, bett
than We do.
We might argue that instincts Of humanity oug
not 70 supsrcedc reason that fanacs philanthropy shou
not be permitted 10 weigh down the balance against
facts Of sscs that something might be learned from