Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1860-07-26
Our Unions Greatest Source of Danger.

our unions greatest Source OF Danger.
We take from the April number Of the Pa-
cifc Erpositor the following interesting sketch
OF an interview bsiw cen Henry Clay and Rev.
DR.. Hill. editor of the Presbyterian Herald, Of
Louisville. .Kenlucky.
IL 10 written under the above caption a. fol.
lows.
"a few weeks prior 10 the death of the Hen.
Henry Clay. when he passed through our city,
on bis way to Washington, al the request OF a
Methodist minister trom one of the Northern
States, who had lever seen the great states-
man. we called with him to see him. He was
quite feeble, and spoke of his death asa proba-
bic event within few months. lie stated that
nothing but deep and abiding conviction that
the union Of the States was IN imminent peril
could have induced hun, in his state OF health,
10 leave the quiet of his own home and GO back
TO the Senate, the seat of so many of his strug-
giles and great achievements. The opinion was
expressed by one or both OF US that the danger
of dIsunioO was greatly over-estimaied, and
that If it ever came TO the test, il would be
found that there were very few who would be
mad enough 10 rush into disunIon, eiihe. in the
North or South. He shook hls head ominously
and replied: "GenIiemen, il | have studied
snylhlng il IS the genus and spirit of the Ame-
ricsn people, both in The north and in the
south, and tel you there is danger. There
is spirit rising up ia both sections Of this Re-
public. which. If not speedily quelleo. will
bring about severance Of the UeIon of these
States, not in two, but into hs II dozen little
petty Republi 5, or despolisms. as the case may
be-" IL was replied tnat tn several former oc-
cssions the north and the south had been ar
rayed against each other IN bitter hostility, but
that the hostility had died away and the parties
restored to more than their former friendship
|. Ah,' said ne, that toas before The rise Of
modern Aboliti0nism. Fanaticism cannot be
controlled, and especially religious fanGti-
eism. The churches Of the couniry then stood
together, and in their great annual assemblies
they drew the bonds Of union and brotherhood
together. Now most Of them have been rent
asunder, and they are acting as diyiders rather
than 20 bind the country. Said be, Gentle
men, you are both ministers of the gospel, and
tell you that this suBdering Of the religious
ties, winch have hitherto bound our people to-
lgether, consider the greatest source of danger
to the country. If our religious men cannot
live together in peace. sohat can be expected
Of as politicians. UeTy fen Of sohon profess to
be governed 6y the great principles Of loUs p
. Ii all the churches DIVIDE on the subject OF
slavery, there will be nothing left to bind our
3ple together but trade aud commerce.
That, said he, is very powerful bond,
admit. but when the people Of these States be-
come thoroughly alIenated from each other
and get their passions aroused, they are mol
apt 10 stop AID consider what Is TO their inier-
9 est. II is sgainst the interest of both parties
0 in every contest, 10 go 10 war, bot nations con
stanily do il notwllhsia ndng thai fact. Ii il
. sgsinsi the interest of men to fight duels, bul
= they often do it when they know that RUN. bolt
d TO themselves and families stares them full il
9 the face So.' said he, faen will light.
. they consider their rights trampled upon, ever
= III you show them that ruiz to themselves an.
: families will be the probable result. Besides
= 10 times Of high excitement. the violent men OF
9 both sides get the control of matters, and mod
+ crate men are thrown in The background, an
: their counseIs go Undecided -
! Finding that the venerable statesman ha
:, exhausted his strength 10 talking, we arose {
u bid him adeu. as we supposed. for the last tim
e upon earth. He shook the hands OF both of us
lie and said. it you preachers will only keep th
u churches from running into ercesses and Janal
:, icism, Think the politicians can control III
y masses. Bur- be added. yours 10 the harde
IN task, and If you dc not perform il we will ns
no be able 10 do our part. THAT | consider TO
70 the greatest source Of evil 10 our country"