New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-12-15
al.fa Orleans nalIp Crestsnt.
fc0MMuHfekrEp-
Tass Crss1s. nnd How 10 Meet Is.
80

ssh.n II has undertaken she discussion Of grave
aaaz,sans II National or STATE policy, rights or
,S..tiss. has impaired 10 ii degree Of power and
snEucn6e sshiaf have everywhere been felt and ap-
rreo;ataa. Nav shat press Ii called TO the con-
zsaara4;an and discussion of question, or rather
IL .s,ast,ass which Immediately concern not aiene
ss,s s.ssr4u ~ tsr nstion but The very existence
k,f svery Individual State of which it Is composed
st;;l ,nsrs thase same questions affect the con-
sggSnnI II I'LL The people of the earth, which are
sonh;nr hithcrward for the solution Of them, but
Nth somewhat different feelings aspirations ana
emotions To-day, tyrants are forging new fettefs
FIR gsibsugated humanity, which no longer finds an
aaVInIa upon the face Of the earth To-day, mon
arnb;sn wants itself id the triumph of is anclent
nYsteusions, and harris insulting defiance at the
advocates of free government, taunting them With
the fajIure III their last and greatest experiment
Tn-3av. millions u the oppressed are weeping in
dHst and ashes as they contemplate the wreck Of
ssir HAT hope of freedom, and the gloomy future
FAfch aHaits them and their posterity! To-day,
lie question Is still debatable whether men in the
most exalted physical, moral and intellectual CON
dstion Attainahls nv them possess, whether IN
organized communities or States, the inherent
virtues Of character to qualify them fcr the Gre
afion of system of government for themselves,
and 10 prompt them to faithful and consistent
4 ebsdisnee to the government which they shall
lave created
Yesterday. an American might have pointed to
Eis own country as a solution Of the great prob
Him to-day, tha boast would stick in his throat,
like Maehath's \ Ameni'' To the South, by which
mean the slavehnlding States Of the Union, is
especially committed the discussion Of the great
question whether man Is capable Of selfgovern-
mant: whether power to govern, which, by the
ascepted theory welIs IN tho people, can be safely
wielded nv rulers of their own choosing; whether
Institutions created by the people have not, of o
necessity existing in social organism, inherent
vices which VIII iii every conceivable Instance
work their destruction; whether any people can
steadily progress to the highest degree Of moral
ibid intelectuaI ID well as material greatness and
splendor, under any other government than thai
which ID placed beyond their control, and not La
hae to he seriously Influenced by their Whims or
caprice, neither can be changed by them, though
oppressive sud tyrannieal, except BY revolution.
In fna gill the eternal principles of truth which lie
ii fhe foundation of Well-ordereG human govern
nent, upon which our own institutions are reared
aa1 Id whose vindication the patriots of the revo
luton poured ont their blood are again To be dis
cussed and INDICATED, if needs be, by blood, by
tha representative men Of the South Of to-day.
This great world work Ii committed exclusively
70 rlle South and her enlightened press must lead
clis-becalse our brethren Of the North proved
themselves rearaant to the holy trust transmitted
"a them ii common with US, by our patriot sires.
They hare violated the sancty Of the hottest obli
gatians which the Constitution imposes. They
have, as States, III their respective sovereign ca
pacitiss, BY the legislatures thereof whose mem
bers hare sworn I'd obey the Constitution Of the
uaitsd States, enacted laws which, in distinct and
positive terms, untitled and repudiated the painest
language and iatendment Of that Constitution,
while Ut tie same time acknowledging their wrong
aud seeking Justification in the sanction of some
4 higher law Dnring nearly half century
4heir whole course cf action with regard to the
South has been, in the presence aud by the tes-
zimony of the enlightened world, characterized
BIZ systematic, open and persistent aggression
and insult, which we have endured with trembling
hope until endurance has ceased TO be a virtue
We have endured ID this present because we loved
tie Union with a pure devotion; because we hoped
thai a. our brothers would know rs better they
wnala hats ns less; because Of the sentiments Of
reaelatoa which we cherish for our common an
cestgra. tie story Of whose deeds illustrates the
glowing pages uf almost inspired history. But our
hopea are now utterly dissipated in the night or
gloom which the madness Of the hour has ushered
in upon our devoted country.
The impending crisis' has come, Is now upon I
the people how 10 meet II Is our first inquiry and
ii meet It like men worthy of our race and of our
Aay IL Dur psculiar business. Let IN consider the
great and solemn question with calm, dispassonate
aud wise deHberation becoming its fearful import,
and when we shall have decided lei our action fol-
aow quickly and let ii be sanctitied by the highest
considerations known to intelligent humanity by
onr consesenees and by the whole world Of man
kind We must dismiss from our minds all thought,
al expectation or hope touching the continuance
nf the present Union Of the American States The
causes which render their separation inevitable lie
loo deep beneath the surface to be eradieated
without destruction 10 the body poIitic Let them
alone, while we pursue the onward course which
true wisdom and all that Is generols and noble in
onr nature plainly suggests But we may well |
paasc awhile and consider some Of those causes,
for such consideration win throw new light upon
etr path, viii inspire minds with new zeal and
afor by lofy Incentives, and win nerve the arm to
strike in defence Of sublime truth.
The most prominent, il not in truth the prime |
caae BIZ the present melancholy condition Of things
II our country, is not of today birth. II is CO
EXISTENT With the Christian era It il that fell spirit
III disC1fd which reyels widest In the murky night
81 superstition. and ID the attenuated light Of eete
felgionisna. II is known to US by the name Of /
PnrItanisln, d name Of historic renown not alto
gatiier ulenViable; because II has, in some dein-
able periods Of is progress, worn the garb of /
HsfoiC sirsan, But faithful history shall drop q
feat while she records the story of its last exploits
upon this Western continent Pufitanisfa, in all
times past when Il has thoroughly possessed the
minds of men, has inspired soinbre melancholy t
which seemed to create an atmosphere Beopled
with Irgtful objects OF IFS own peculiar creation
and Ia which the glowing emotions and genialities
RhiG spring from and adorn the social organism,
eouad live. II impeIled its yotaries to localities
where nature Vas wont to display herself in harsh
est aud most fsfbidding moods and aspects. They
sought this continent where IL presents d 6 stern
and rock bound coast y where the rough music of
the dasallg Waves was most in harmony with the I
dark spirit within them.
How striking The Contrast presented Id another
picture, which ne will contemplate here for the
sake Of the grateful relief which 1t will afford. The
noble, gallant, ehigairie Hnguenut, also sought /
Till continent of ours, fleeing from cruel per-
aaaution scsicb hi did moi court. which he could /
not resist Ia the beautiful land of bis fathers He
sought the smiling Shores which the placid waters
saved. where The vine chung with its tendrils laugh
Ingly TO tie majestic oak where the magnolia
apened its resplendent glories to the genial sun,
alld filled the atmosphere with fragrance Of Eden
Wliare nature, in her widest eccentrcilies, in
spired him like enehantfaent, and moved his soul
with sweet enotIens toward the God Of his faith.