The Cecil Whig., 1860-09-15

The Crisis.
so long as the anti-slavery men at the
North cOnued themst Ives to a respectful cX-
preston ofrespcc,fnl feelings and opinions
and so long as they relied upon argument
rather than upon blnstcr, their counrymen
south of the line were satisfied with a quiet
defence of the institution The time is not
very remote in the past when the owner of
this description Of property was wont to
speak OF slavery as necessary evil. Those
who held opposing opinions upon the sub
Jcct were able TO discuss the question in all
friendliness. and with perfect calmncss. III
our own State Legislature there was propo-
>ltion under consideration looking to the
gradual extinction Of slavery within our bor-
deIS, and member of that Legislature, who
Is now aS firm pro-Slavery man as can be
found in the state. recently assured US that
the proposition would have shaped itself into
law il It had not been FOR the slave. stealing
expedition Of Torrcv, who was arrested about
that period. His trial. conviction, imprison.
ment, and subsequent death within the walls
OF the Maryland Peni,entiary. aggravated
feelings that were already bitter enough on
both sides. There was n little more activity
infused iuto the wariar AbOflionstS be.
gan boldly to dcnounce slaveholders as the
most accnrs,d OF sinners. and far beyond the
reach of redemption: and the Soulherncr
boldly advocated his peculiar Institution, and
quoted Holy Writ is defense. The ready
reply OF northern thcoiogians was first, that
the Bible did not really recognize the rela-
tons of master and slave and then that the
slavery of the Bible was not African slavery,
and therefore bad nothing to do with the
present discussion and finally that the Bible
was hum'ug and ChrlsilaIity failure.
When matters reach this condition thee is
not much probability OF indug any point Of
agreement. The gulf is wide and widening.
That which was at first mere difference Of
opinion has grown into positive hatred on
one side and profound contempt on the other.
II nen from the opposite extremes Of the
Clion meet now-a-daYS, the subject is tacity
ignored II they desire to keep the peace =
Inc discussion OF II is acknowledged to bc a
dangerous experiment, and all that we hraI
hoih either side are fiery harangurS address.
cd to Symp"'hiz'ng audiences There is not
debating society IN the land in which a
man would dare TO take the unpopular side
OF the question and utter honestly all that
might Gc SAID either for or against the lnsti.
tulion either in its moral or political as
poets. The Union is like Tonchs,onc's i'll!
roasted egg damned all ON one side. and that
SIDE is either North or South, according to the
dcnounccrs standpoint.
How mnch Of all this is the work of soul.
lessi idcmagogncs we need not stop to inquire
Inc woiN has been pretty thouroughly done
We are still linked together by tie political
bands. but the bro!hcrly Kindness " that
extends lrum Boston to New Orleans is ey.
tenuated. The abyss that Separates the
childicn Of the same race can never he filed
up with mutual curses, and can never &c
bridSrd overly mortal skill, 50 long as this
prolilless discussion is tolerated At the
North We have threats of forcible ntcrfcr-
cnce with the rights and institutions of
another section. and at the South We have the
revival of the slave trace. Does any man
suppose that 1t will avail anything to expos
tulate with traitors! Does any man sup.
pose that the landing of cargo Of native
Africans upon our southern coast would have
been possible event dozen years ago q
There could not have been found in all the
broad South one educated inan in thousand
who would have regarded the slave trade with
any other feeling than one of un,ni,ieattd hor-
ror. But the insulting yet ld.e threats Of
northern mad men have had this effect only
to make law.abldjng citizens totally indilir-
rnt about the revival Of This horrible traffic.
and TO make the conviction Of those engaged
IN 1t next TO impossible.
And now, fellow citizens OF this great Re
public. what remedy do yon propose to apply?
do not imagine that you are free from rtspon-
sIbIity, because you do not sympnlhlse with
extremists III either section. VIII YOU stop
the insane Trades of Abolitinnists by the
election of candidate whose right hand sup.
porter is Mr.. l"Acey? Or will you put an
end TO the slave trade by tlcvating to the
Presidency warrior armed with fence rail
1t is for you to decide the question, and if
there is ever TO be crisis in our history
whose termination depends UPON its settle
ment, that crisis has arrived. lou have the
opportunity presented to you--,he way Of
escape from all these complications. The
waves of tins troubled sea Of sectional strife,
which have ever cast up mlle and dirt and
only mlre and drt-may be stiillcd. The
election ofa Union President will be the
death of demagogues. and you" children will
hold you responsible hereafter if you let the
opportunity pass.