The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-12-05
TheDaneers OF the Republic.

1t is asserted and probably believed by some
Republicans, that the threatened secession of
some of the Southern States, is only a tempo
and buster of politicians, that will pass away
in a short time. That there is no foundation
for this is assertion evidenced by the fac that in
some of the Southern States the determination
to secede is almost unanimous among the peo-
pie and that they are now coolly and deliber-
ately instituting measures to accomplish this
object. The trouble is upon us and already is
heard throughout the South, the calm but de-
termined preparation for deadly strife, the
exciting and warlike scenes of military organi-
cation and display, and the marshalling of ar
mics, while in the North is heard the threat,
the taunt, the sneer and attempted intimida-
ton. This is the situation of the country, and
COB alone in his Infinite wisdom can displace
the threatening cloud of danger that hangs
like the pail of midnight over the Republic -
A time like this brings wildly to mind, those
warning and almost prophetic words of HEN
CLAY, uttered as long ago as 1889. He then
said
"Sir, 1 an not in the habit of speaking
lightly of the possibility of dissolving this
happy Union. The Senate knows that L have
deprecated illusions, on ordinary occasions, to
that direful event. The country will testify
that, if there be anything in the history of my
public career worthy of recollection, it is the
truth and sincerity Of my ardent devotion to
its lasting preservation. But we should be
false in our allegiance if VIC did not discrimi-
nate between the imaginary aud real dangers
by which it may be assailed. Abolitionism
should no longer be regarded as an imaginary
danger. The abolitionists, let me suppose,
succeed in their present aims of uniting the
inhabitants of the free States, as one man,
against the inhabitants of the slave States
Union one side will beget Union on the other,
and this process of reciprocal consolidation
will be attended with all the violent prejudice,
embittered passions, and implacable animosities
which ever degraded or deformed human ma
ture.
One section will stand in menacing and hostile
array against the the other. The collision of
opinion will be quickly followed by the clash
of arms. I will not attempt to describe scenes
which now happily lie concealed from our
view. Abolitionists themselves would shrink
back in dismay and horror at the contempla-
ton of desolated fields, c~onfagrated cities,
murdered inhabitants, and the overthrow of
luS IdlE0Sb 1dpIIC VI III SOhCl ludU
over rose to animate the hopes of civilized
man."
We have arrived at all but the last scene of
what he predicted would be the result of the
spread of the sectional feelings to which he
refers; all has come but the "clash of arms"
Nothing can be done to avert the dread calam-
ity the "desolated fields, confagrated cities,
murdered inhabitants, and the overthrow of
the fairest fabric of human government that
ever rose to animate the hopes of civilized
maj" unless, at once, some assurance be given
the country hat all parties founded upon
mere sectional ideas shall be put down, that
the constitution shall be fulfilled in letter and
spirit, and the rights of all sections respected.
To do this sectional organizations must be
abandoned by all conservative, union loving
men ana they must unite upon some common
ground of settlement, just, alike to the North
and the South.