The Nevada Democrat., 1860-02-29
Origin OF Dssunlon Movements.

In the second volume of Benton's "Thirty
years in the United States Senate" Is the fol-
lowing passage:
The observing reader, who may have looked
over the two volumes of this View, in noting
the progress of the slavery agitation, and its
successive alleged causes of disunion, musi
have been struck with celerity with these caus-
es each in its turn, as soon as removed, has
been succeeded by another, of different kind,
until at last they terminate in a cause which ig-
noree them all, and find q new reason for dis
union in the constitution itself in that eonstitu-
ton the protection of which had been invoked
as sufficient, during the whole period OF the al
legged "aggressious and encroachments"
In 1885, when the first agitation manifest and
call for Southern convention and invocation
to unity and concert Of action, came forth in
the Charleston Mercury, entitled "the Crisis, I"
the cause of disunion was then in the abolition
Societies established in some Of the free States,
and which these States were required to sup
press Then came the abolition petitions pre-
sented in Congress then the mail transmission
of incendary publications; then the abolition
of slavery in the District of Columbia then the
exclusion Of slavery from Oregon ; then the
Wilmot Provso then the admission of Califor-
MIA with free constitution. Each of these, in
its day, was cause of dsunion, to be Effected
vsntion, forming II sub-confederacy in fragrant
violation Of the constitution, and efecting the
dsunion by establishing commercial non-in-
tercourse with the free States. After twenty
years agitation upon these points they are all
given up. The Constitution aud the Union
were found to be "mistake" from the begin
ning-an error in their origin, and an impossi-
bility in their future existence, aud to be
amended into another impossibility, or broken
up at once.
The regular inauguration of this slavery agi-
tation dates from the year 1885 but it had
commenced two years before, and in this way
notification aud dsunion had commenced in
1880 upon complaint against a protective tariff.
That being put down in 1888 under President
Jackson's proclamation aud energetic measures
was Immediately substituted by the slavery ag-
itation. Mr.. Calhoun, when he wen. home from
Congress in the spring of that year, told his
friends that the South could never be united
against the North on the tariff queston--that
the sugar interest Of Louisiana woald keep her
out-and that the basis OF Southern Union
must be shifted to the slave question. Then all
the papers in his interest, and especially the
one at Washington, published by Mr. Duff
Green, dropped tariff agitation, and commenced
upon slavery aud in two years had the agita-
ton ripe Tor Inauguration on the slavery ques-
ton. And, in tracing this agitation to its pres
ent stage, and to comprehend its nationals, 1t is
not TO bo forgotten that ii is q mere contnua-
tion Of old tariff discussion. and preferred be-
catse mere available.
In June, 1888, at the first transfer of South
ern agitation from tariff to slavery Mr.. Madi
son wrote to Mr.. Clay
1T is painful TO sec tho unceasing efforts to
alarm the South by imputations against the
North Of unconstitutional designs on the sub
jeet Of slavery. You are right; have no
doubt in believing that no such intermedding
disposition exists in the body Of our Northern
brethren. Their good faith is sufficiently guar
anteed by the interest they have as merchants,
as ship owners, and as manufacturers, in pre-
serving a union with the slaye.hodng States.
On the other hand, what madness in the South
to look for greater safety in disunon. 1t would
be worse than jumping into the fire for fear OF
the frying-pan. The danger from the alarms
is. that pride and resentment excited by them
may be an overmatch for the dictates ofp"u-
dence and favor the project Of Southern con-
veution, insiduOusly revived, as promising by
its counsels the best security against greyan-
ces Of every kind from the North"