Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-12-01
SECE SsION.

eNSuh VIM uoce NV, III wv WioSiJ cAsoHd'
cd and tumultuous excitement Of the
people see fearful indications Of
i'm uinsnt peril to our institutions. There
10 10 the South = class Of radical " fire
eaters" whose sole aim for years, has been
TO inhame and exasperate the masses
But all their efforts have hitherto been
fruitless. The value of the Union has al
wsys largely preponderated over all real
~ we'll as immaginary wrongs to which
public attention has been directed. The
really distinguished statesmen Of the
South have always avowed their determi-
nation to sustain the Union, and their
patriotic councils have been needed
It cannot be denied, however, that disffec,
ten and open hostility has now reached
IN extent and intensity far beyond any
precedent. In many Of the States, il
there be any reliance in the usual sources
Of information, the secession party is yer,
largely in the majority, embracing large
share Of the talent and influence Of these
States; and while the border States will
for the time being be found sustaining the
Union and the Constitution yet, it is ex-
ceedingly questionable whether in the
event of rupture, common interest
would not speedily unite Gil the Southern
States in what would be regarded as an
Issue upon the question Of slavery.
OF the results Of such contest it is
hardly possible to form an adequate con
ceptisn. Under the most favorable cir.
cumstauces VIC can calculate upon nothing
less than literal destruction of all our
industrial interests; financial panic
such as was never before known loss
Of confidence in all classes of securities;
reputation of Indebtedness and universal
bankruptcy. We shall have made hap.
py escape if in addition to all this we are
noi plunged in civil war, which must in
the nature Of things be characterized by
scenes Of misery and ruin, horrible to
contemplate. With such q condition of
things it we'll becomes as calmly to sur.
vey the feld.o see and acknowledge our
errors, and strive by Cancellation, and
acts Of justice, to calm the troubled
waters, and avert the impending blow.
We must no. expect to end the wrong
oil on one side, but direct attention to the
mote in our own eye, Is we'll Is to the
beam in that of our neighbors. There
are certain land marks that have been lost
sight Of, and as consequences our noble
vessel has drifted far out Of the establish
Cd channel Prominent among these 10
the constitutional requirement for the
rendition Of fugitives. Stubborn facts, oft
repeated. should force from the North the
admission that they have come far short Of
their duty in this regard. Not only has
every susterfuge been made use Of to
svade the plain provisions of law, but in
numsrous instances its ends have been
defeated by the mos. lawless and revolu.
tionary proceedings. And besides this,
States in their sovereign capacity have
declared the law null and void, and have
made its enforcement penal offece. For
such proceedings We have no excuse, nor
have We any reason to expect other than
retsiiatory m essures of like character from
those whose rights are thus wantonly dis
regarded. If we value the Union as We
claim to, and dcprecale the evils of dis.
union, we should manifest our feelings BY
a careful obst rvance of the terms of the
compact, BY rendering unto Caesar the
the things that are Caesars Were We to
exhibit good faith in the discharge Of this
unquestionable duty. by a repeal of the
offensive and unjust State Statutes, and
BY rendering that prompt and efficient aid
in the enforcement of Congressional en-
actments, which is due from every law
abiding citizen, it is probable that there
would be no trouble in efec,ing an ami
cable adjustment of all other sources of
alienation and discord.
Il. is conceded by all that the question
of territorial jurisdiction SO far as slavery
u concerned, is mere abstraction one
which will never effect the status of q
single slave in sxistance,-aud surely
such question is susceptible oc settle
ment were other more important ones sat
isfactorily disposed Of 1t is manifest tina,
oil these distracting questions il and Of
themselves are less important than tho
impression thu. has grown out of them
throughout the South, that there is q wide
spread Northern hostility to their people
and institutions, such an one too a. will
admit OF no abatement until slavery shall
have been overthrow, or tho Union dis.
solved, land if we would maintain the
sontsdsracy We must dispsl that illusion.
We must satisfy them that we do not seek
any Interference with their domestic or
LEGAL institutions; tina. we are willing that
they alone should assume the responsible.
lity of slavery within their respective Dor.
dsrs, and continue it or not as to them
may seem best. This is no less than the
South have . right to demand. and no les,
than justice requires At our hands.
Under the impulse Of an intense excite
nsnt it is by no means improbable that
step may DO taken tina. will lead to results
the most DISASTROUS. The exercise of