The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-01-05
The "Irrepressible Conflict" and the
Threats of "Disunion."

Dor In the United States, and gave reas-
ons why these two systems were antago-
nistical, stating, also, that they were econ
tinusly coming into closer contact and
that collision resulted. He forther said:
"ShaIl tell you what this collision means!
They who think that it is accidental, unne-
cessary, the work of interested or fanatical
agitators, and therefore ephemeral, mistake
the case altogether. II as an irrepreSsible
conflict bet,oeen opposing and enduring for
ces, and IL means that the United States mast
and toU. sooner or later become entirely q
SaUeholding nation, or entirely a Free Ia
Dor nation.
Seldom has any truth been uttered in
this nation which has sunk deeper into
the be arts of men than that there is an
"i1repreSsible conflict between Freedom
and Slavery, aud he who contradcts such
a statement must certainly have neg glected
to read the painest lessons in the history
OF nations. But this was uttered as
simple, naked truth; one entirely di-con-
nected from the tenets of any political
party, nor was it made iD anticipation of
becoming cardinal point in any poIiti-
cal creed. 1t has nothing to 30 with par
ty platforms. Il i truth which no one
can galnsay or disproVe.
But to the expression there has been
attached an undue Importance, simply be-
cause it was spoken by Mr. Seward. His
political opponents, who doubtless have
read, thought upon and Omitted the truth
of the declaration scores of times, just now
discover its applicability to political econ
omy, and because Mr. Seward is mem
Der of the party called Republican, they
burn to stamp upon it the brand CT here
sy, and charge that party with treacbery
to the Constitution and the Union. This
charge is as fallacious as it is unjust
There exist no arguments to prove, no
facts to maintain it.
No intelligent man will deny that this
conflict ba= aIacayS existed wherever Free
DON and Slavery have approached each
other. History points to no period of
time when Freedom and Slavery agreed
to dwell together in unity when the
oppressed embraced his chains, and new
er desired to belong exclusively to him
self; or when one OF these elements did
not strive to outreach and PROSTATE the
other; and as the world grows older the
anita. onism of the two forces will increase
until one be finally eraDicated.
The struggle fairly begun in our coun-
try at the adoption of Constitution, when
a part of tbr original thirteen States de-
cided that al! men within their limits
should be free. and the remainder re-
solved that some OF their inhabitants
should be held in slavery. OF the work
iugs OF the two systems We shall speak
hereafter
The direct supporters of the Slave la.
I Dor syste n-the aveholders-appea to
have adopted the stratagem which was
devised to manufacture political capital
| 10 the North aud JOIN in condemnation
of what they term political principle y
Dot of their own mouths let them be
judged.
The Richmo ond Enquirer, which has
never advocated any sentiment contrary
/ to the "humauizing and cbristainzIng in
huence of Slavery" 10 1856 gave utter
ance to precisely the same fact for which
Mr. Seward is now denounced 1t said
1.-Two opposite and conflicting forms of So
ciety cannot, among civilized men, co-exlst
and endure. The one aust give way and
cease to exist-the other necomes universal
IT Tree society be unnatural, immoral and
unchrlstian, it must fall and give way to slave
society," social system old as the world, md
as universal as man."
Let those who are the loudest In The
denuDciation of, and, therefore presume ID
to be the most competent to pas judg
ment upon this doctrine of an 'irre-
pressible confliet''--Gbose who iraduce
Northern man for speaking truth
but vindicate citizen Of the South fol
saying the saue thing point out any diff
ference IN the meaning of the two forms
of words submitted for their consideration
We freely confess that our powers of dis
criminatlon are not acute enough to dis
Germ any tinction, and we believe
that all atte mpts to do SO will be futile
We leave our readers to judge of the trutt
Of the latter clause of the extract, whIcl
society has been the unnatural, immora
and uDchristian" that of Free or Slave
society" As to the seniority of the tws
systems, we think Freedom can justlJ
claim the title.
But in our own country what have beer
the practical workings of the two sys
temsI the experiments have been
pretty thorous bly, tested during the sev
entytwo year. since the adoption of The
Constitution, some safe conclusions MAJ
be formed as to benefits aud defects o
each. Theory ha- never yet been abl'
to establish the belief in the minds o
men, 10 this reading and thinking age o
the world, that the presumption that al
men are by nature their own masters, i
either unnatural, immoral or uncbristisD
or that it must eUer "fall and give way {,
slave society. Faet-, too, array them
selves on the side of Freedom. Let u
examine few OF them.
The State of Virginia Was settled By
tn Englisb in 1907 The State of New