The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-12-21
Is the Union Worth Preserving

We last week gave what wethought ought
to govern the republican party in this ques-
ton of compromises about which there is so
much talk -a-days. We believe it is the
general feeling of republicans everywhere
that any concessions which can be made with
out conceding principle, will be cordially &C
coded to b, the North if such will allay the
bitter feeling and strife that prevails at the
South. In short. the North will give the
South all that the Constitution gives them
What more can they give, or the South ask !:
But judging from present indications, this
will not satisfy the hotspurs Of the South
If it will not, what are We going to 90 p
When worst comes 10 wCrst-when this glo-
rious Union cannot BE- preserved without new
compromises in the interest of the slave pow
er-when it is necessary to force sovereign
state into allegiance at the poilt of the bayo-
net-is there enough left OF such Union
worth preserving at such sacrifice of man
hood, conscience ard principles
We have got to look this evil squarely in
the face. We know that nearly every one at
the North considers the dissolution Of the
Union as great calamity, and pra!s that the
evil day may be put far away. But Why p
1t is becoming more patent every da! thai
the existing union between the free and SLAVE
states of this contedcracy is more nominal
than real We have political union, com
mercial union, ard a social union. But who
does not know that in more than one ques'
ton of political economy the South construt
the Federal Constitution one way and thu
North another. In short, there is no harmo
ny in the political union of these states. As
regards our social union, common origin aId
language is all that We have in common. AL
though We live in union which guarantee.
the rights of citizens travelling or sojournins
in other states. it is notorious that no North
ern man can travel in many Of the Southern
states without insult or downright violence
And if Northern man dare give utteranct
to an opinion adverse to slavery, or even If
he comes from Northern state, it is regard
ed BY these SOutherners as sufficient CAUSE
for violence or expulsion. Nor are the limo
cent aud those true to the South exempt
from these outrages. A confession that Cal
be extorted from a slave under the lash is Ia
ken as sufficient evidence to condemn a white
man to death. If foreign country were te
subject our citizens to such outrages as art
daily prac,:ced at the Soath upon Northern
men, it would be called sufficient cause t(
send an armed force to redress the wrong
But these outrages, being perpetrated by ;
petted and pampered South, are overlooked
or winked at by our government. How much
Union is there where every sacred right of
citizenship is lrampled under the heel of VIC
lence
These are few thoughts suggested by re
Fiction upon the evils that threaten US. W.
have come to think that dissolution of tn
union is not the worst thing that could hap
pen to US as a nation. If South Carolina i
so determined, let her walk out of the Cniol
as soon as she can As was remarked few
days ago, in our hearing, she is but rottel
link in the chain, let her out and the who'll
chain will be stronger ard better.