Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-01-07
HARPER's FERRY.

--@'N- $500 - ~AsANA
Whilst ii is the duty Of the President
"from time TO time to give to Congress in
formation of the stale Of the Union," |
shall not refer in detail to the recent and
bloody occurrences al Harper's Ferry
IStill, it is proper 10 observe that these
vents, however bad ard cruel in them
selves, derive their chief importance from
lie apprehension that they are but symp
toms of an ineurable disease in the public
mind, which may break out in still mors
dangerous outrages, and terminate at least
| in an open war by the North to abolish
slavery in the South. Whilst, for myself,
| entertain no such apprehension, they
ought TO atford solemn warning to US all
TO beware Of the approaching daager.-
Our Union is a stake Of such inestimabe
value as to demand our constant and
watchful vigilance for its preservation. In
this view, let me implore my countrymen,
North and South, TO cultivate the ancient
fe, ling Of mutual forbearanco and good
will towards each other, and try 10 allay
the demon spirit of sectional hatred aud
strife new alive 10 the land. This advice
proceeds from the heart Of an old public
iunctionary whose service commenced in
the last generation, among the wise and
CONSERVATIVE statesmen Of that day, now
NEARLY all passed away, and whose first
dearest and earthly wish is TO leave his
country tranquil, prosperous, united and
powerful.
We ought to reflect that in this age, and
Especially in this country, there is IN in
crease hux and rehux Of public opinion.-
| Questions which in their day assumed a
more threatening aspect, have now neatly
gone from the memory Of man. They are
'yolcanocs burnt out, and on the lava and
ashes and squalid Scoriae Of old eruptions
grow the peaceful olive, the cheering vine,
and the sustaining corn" Such in my
opinion, will prove to be the fate of the
present sectional excitement, should those
who wisely seek 10 apply the remedy con-
tinue always to contine their efforts within
the pale Of the constitution. If this course
be pursued, the existing agitation on Tie
subject ofGomestic slavery, like everything
human, will have It's day and give place 10
other and less threatening controversies
Public opinion in this country is all power
full, and when il reaches dangerous excess
upon any question, the good sense Of tile
people will furnish the cerrcctiyeand bring
liz back within safe limits. Still, TO hast
en- the suspicious result, at the present eli
isis, we ought to remember that every ra-
tlonal creature must be presumed to in
tend the natural consequences of bis own
teachings. Those who aun9nnce abstract
doctrines subYe,siye TO the constitution and
the Union must Aot be surprised should
their heated partizans advance one step
further, and attempt BY violence to carry
these doctrines into practical effe3t Il
this view Of the subject it ought never 10
be forgotten that, however great may have
been the political advantages resulting
from the Upion to every portion of our
common country these will all prove 10 be
Jas nothing, should the time ever arrive
when they cannot be enjoyed without Sc
Irious danger to the personal safety Of the
people of fifteen members of the confeder-
acy. If the peace Of the domestic Preside
throughout these States should ever be in
vaded-if the mothers of families within
this extensive region should not be able TO
retire to rest at night without suffering
dreadful apprehensions Of what may be
their own fate and that Of their children
before morning--it would be yain to re-
count to such people the political benefits
which result 10 them from the Union
Selfpreseryation is the first instinct of ma
ture; and therefore any state of society in
which the sword is all the time suspended
over the heads Of the people, must at last
become intolerable. But | indulge in no
such gloomy forebodings. On The contra
ry, firmly believe the events at Harper's
Ferry, by causing the people TO pause and
reflect upon the possible peril TO their cher
ished Institutions, will be the means, IN
der Providence, ofallaying he existing ex-
ICltement and nravpntin0 fnfura autbraa rs