Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-22
To the People of the United States.

are alarmed for the safety of the Union
All are conscious that the sentiments OF fra
ternity which once linked the States togeth-
err even more firmly than the compact 81 the
Constitution itself, has been rudely shaken,
and that discord has crept into the relation
ship of communities which should have
found, both in the interests Of the present
and III the memories Of the past, the strong
est motives for mutual regard and conf
dence.
What has produced these general and IN
happy convictions?
1t has been too apparent t. escape the
most casual observation, that, for some years
past, there has been manifested design, IN
the movements of influential political lead
ers, to force the country into an orSaniza-
ton Of parties founded on the question ot
slavery.
The first introduction Of this subject into
party politics, engendered q controversy
which has constantly increased in extent and
bitterness mingling with or usnrplng the
place Of all other political questions, and CIV
ing to those party politics a greater and more
dangerous yehcmence. Considerations u
| the public welfare seem 10 be east aside, 70
make room for wider and more unreStraIned
contention on this single and engroSsng
/ theme
The two great parties in the country THE
Democratic and Republican, have been the
chief actors in this fatal contest, il not is
authors. Whether they have always exert
ed themselves to allay the excitement -
which it gave rise, o. on the contrary, have
both Of them occasionally employed i Tor
the promotion Of party purposes, y i not
for Us to determine. Ii is sufficient 70 note
that the mind Of the people has been indus
triously exercised by this contest to the ser
| vice Of sectional agitation, and that ~ rs
\ progress the teachings 81 the fathers 81 the
Republic, the lights Of history, the land
marks Of constitutional power have been
rcnounced our Old AMI reyered traditions ot
| policy spurned, and the welfare Of the pre-
sent and the hopes Of the future, been brought
into jeopardy in the alterations oipassionate
challenge and defiance between the angry
diSputants
1t is not our purpose to arraign on 70 de-
Hounce either Of these parties for their past
errors or transgrcSsiuns, but we regard II a
an indisputabe fact that by their conflicts
they have been mainly instrumental IN pro
ducing the present lamentable state u pub
lie affairs 1t would be easy to establish this
position IN reference to events in the re-
cent history Of the country, with which the
public is but too familiar; but We purposely
abstain from al comments upon them, A.
inconsistent with the limits or this address,
and AZ tending To revive controversies which
4 il il It's object to allay Wewill simply state
that the one. hy its FREQUENT and uunccessa-
~ intrusion Of tie slavery question into par
ty politics. has cxasperaled sectional feeling
ut the North and increased the growing -pir-
It Of disunion at the South, while the other
has been prompt IL avail itself Of these op-
portunities for anti-slayery agitation
After having 81 long agitated the country
bv their reciprocal assaults these parties
are now preparing lor i sectional struggle,
far exceeding in violence any that has yet
occurred, the results Of which may be disas
trcus to the country.
As an indication ~ tie character u this
struggle, Of its objects and possible consc-
quenccs, we need only point To the ,ignlIi-
can't fact that convention has been called
Nv one If these parties to select Il candidate
for the office Of Chief Magistrate Ut the
Union, from which, bv the necessary logic III
construction, fifteen States Of that Union
are excluded.
Soemnly impressed with these facts, 4
number IL gentlemen from different parts Ol