The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-12-12
THE JOURNAL.
Lutte A. TAYLOR, Editor.
Wednesday, Dec. AZ, 1850.
River Falls, Pierce County. Wisconsin
THE UNION.

ebS IiONPSNe VI ~
Of the Union of these United States.
Not many years ago, disunion was a
| word of fearful import-a devilish charm
which politicians conjurcd with, and
frightened the citizens of the North by
its periodic display. But the charm
works no longer-the word is shorn Of
its terror, and with possible, if not pro-
badly disunion in the near future, nobody
is greatly affected or alarmed.
This change in the tone ard temper
of the public mind, is doubtless the re-
suit of more just and correct knowledge
of the Union and the benefits resulting
from it. The watchword Union for the
sake of She Unicn," no longer awakens
u response in the hearts Of tho people.
| If the Union is the means of conserv-
ing the interests of Liberty and Justice,
let it be preserved-if il is to be turned
into tool of despotism, let it perish.
The present Secession movement may
have been more sudden and precipitate
tlan was expected, but most thinking
men were expecting this emergency to
come. The doctrine ofthe "irrepressible
conflict" is true; it is but another form
of statement for the truth enunciated by
Holy Writ, that ''house divided against
itself cannot stand" This house of the
Union is divided against itself, and in tho
words of Lincoln, it "must become all
slave, or all Free" or it cannot stand. :
Men may scout this fact, but they cam
not invalidate its truth, an its workings
are seen to-day.
No gigantic despotism or wrong ever
loses its bold upon power without a ter
rible struggle. 1t rests in peace while its
right to rule is unchallenged, but once
show the front of opposition and its eyes
CLEAN with baleful fire, and its veno-
nous fangs are ready to stroke. The
signs of the times are now full Of en-
couragement to the opposer of the sys-
tenn of slavery. They show that the end
is nearer than we had hoped. These
throes that are shaking tho South, are
symptoms of weakn SIS, not of strengh.-
They are like that unnatural energy
which sometimes fires the eye, and quiy-
ers in the nerves of a dying man just be-
fore his dissolution.
Bnt what will the result be? Will
South Carolina and the Cotton States
leave the Union. Perhaps SO. If they
wish to go. let us pray Congress to give
them peaceable exit. Surprising they 60,
what will the result be to the North and
to themselves? To tho North it will be
great gain. We shall be relieved from
the odious obligation to act as negro b un-
ters. Our citizens will have q protection
in the south which is now denied to them,
and our commercial relations will not be
permanently disturbed. The laws of
commerce cannot be repealed by any
Southern Confedracy, and with Union or
not, exchange on New York will contin-
ue to bring premium in Charleston
and Mobile.
But to the South, the result cannot
help but be disastrous. The aristocracy
will assume the Government with no
funds, abhorred by the large class of free
whites, and hated by the slaves. The
| chill of mortal fear which run through
the South when Har er's Ferry was
taken, showed plainly what feeling of
insecurity possesses the South. They
sleep with drawn dagger before their
eyes. The result is easy to see, and it is
safe to predict that a few years of such
experience, would convince the South
that they had better knock for admission
at the door of the Union.
The fact is simply this, Slavery must
die. God and the forces of Nature are
working against it. The spirit of this
age is the spiri' of Freedom. It's abroad
in the old world Autocratic Russia has
felt the inspiration of its breath, and her
serfs are rising to the dignity of manhood.
! Italy has had a glorious resurrection and
Garabaldi, and Cavour, and Emmanuel,
have wreathed her brow with ancient,
but almost forgotten glories. The South
cannot arrest nor ward of the course Of
Human Progress. She may receive and
welcome ii, or she may rage and oppose,
but the end is inevitable. If d,sunior
takes place, we believe it will be tempo.
rary, and we look forward to a United
Republic, which shall recognize the inal.
ienable rights of all men, whose genius
shall be Liberty, and whose organic law
shall be Justice, whore Slavery may ex-
list perhaps, but only with the certain