The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-11-23
Southern Sentiment.


A large number Of persons at the North
who are excellent citizens, who prize the
advantages of the Union above all price,
and who would vote against, and if needs
be fight against, any party that should raise
the disunion standard, are nevertheless in
credulous whenever the subject of danger
TO the Union is introduced. They have
heard the story SO oflel, and connected it
with small coterie OF southern sectional
agitators,' tha. they regard it as nothing
more than cry TO irighteu the timid. This
Union has heretofore endured all the as
saults of northern and southern fanatics,
and for this reason they believe that it will
withstand them for all time 10 come. They
cannot comprehend how any political ac-
tion at the North can exasperate the South
10 such degree as 10 induce all parties
there TO agree that they are no longer safe
as members of this confederacy. This false
state of security is an evil which results
from an entire misconceptlon of the state Of
feeling at the South. Much as we deplore
it, we cannot shut our eyes 10 the evidence
that the South as a whole-not the insignifi.
cant fire eaters who are opposed 10 the con-
tinuance of this Union on any terms-but
the conservative, Union.oviug South re-
CARDS the election. OF sectional President
upon the ground of opposition TO southern
institutions, as the utmost limit of forbear.
ance, and the point where violent rupture
of the Union must occur. Recent events
have had the effect Of reconciling antagon-
isms and concentrating the most moderate
southern opinion upon this position. AS
one evidence of the truth OF this statement,
we give the following extract from late
article in the Richmond Whig, representing
the Opposition party in Virginia. The Wing
says:
"The trump OF the Seward party in the
great State OF New York affords occasion
for alarm and apprehension TO every lover
of the Union, North and South, East and
West. We make no threats, and we ind.
cate no line Of policy TO the South, but it is
proper 10 inform the northern people, with
calmness and candor, that the election of
William II. Seward 10 the Presidency would
be followed, according to our judgment and
belief by an almost instant secession of the
Southern States from the Union. We entire.
ly pass over the question at present, wheth.
er 1t would be The part of wisdom and patri.
olism or not for the Southern States 10 re-
| fuse submission 10 the Inauguration of a
President, elected in accordance with the
forms OF the Constitution. Nor is it neces.
sary 10 state, even it we know exactly.
what will be our own course in the event of
Stewards election. We can only state that
, we firmly and reigiously believe that the
| Southern States will not submit 10 the inau.
guration of Seward as President OF the Uni
ted States. We 60 further, and say that the
Southern States will not submit 10 the inau.
guration. of any Black Republican President
whatever--that is, any man elected by the
| Republican party, as such, in its capacity
| oil separate and distinct political and Sec
tional organization. In such an event, we
believe all the Gulf States, with one accord,
and at the same moment, will go out of the
Union, and set up for themselves, and that
the other Southern States, Virginia included,
will ultimately, if not Immediately, take
! precisely the same step. We confess that,
until recently, we have never so believed,
or thought, or dreamed but there is now
no mstaking the temper and purpose oi
the southern people, and the ominous signs
of the times.n
The Whig is not alone in expressing such
| views. They are identical with others
from moderate southern sources. 1t would
be blind infatuation for us to disregard them
or dismiss them with contempt as do the
Republican newspapers, who regard the
dissolution of the Union as not the worst
evil that could overtake this country. Bu,
we should profi,by these warnings. There
| is always danger in Injustice.