The Van Buren press., 1860-12-21

protsctiou. we now have democratic Sen.
ate. democratic House. thousands of dem
oeratic and pro-slavery emigraurs to those
territories We have the Constitution and
the Federal Judiciary xe have the great
moral weight which tie right always lend.
to any cause. Will secession AMI !.
co'0ard!y surrender of all the Territories to
our Northern enemy xford the remedy for
The great interest about W hieh we ar. so
sofscatous Is that Of slavery. Will" Sc
cession render that interest more valuable !?
when We have - secelel," ani thus de-
prived siave-lsbor of free northern mark
ct; when we have destroyed the free inter-
change OF produce between that species of
labor and that of our Northern neighbors,
which now adds so much to the profits of
slavery-when we have imposed upon our
selves stanling- army and home-Sovern-
nent and the taxes necessary to support
them-wlen groanins un Ter such burden
some taxation. we have become exhausted
In treasury. In resources, in energy, and in
spirit by civil war. will slavery be made
more valuable. Will it not become rather
burden and a curse to those who own
and have them to support Worse than
all, will not the thousands who do not
own slaves naturally ask, wdy all this saeri-
rcee Will there not arise an abolition
party in our very midst. and at our very
firesides, thousand fold more formidable
than the entire North. even if the entire
North were abolitioni,ts? InIeei, does
not every statesman sec that +" secession" is
The shortest possible road to abolition
Ia Iora If J.>,n r
patriotism call upon then to seait. For
two years at least. Mr.. Lincoln's hands are
tied. Before another four years shall have
elapsed. his party will have disintegrateI.
The causes which gave rise to that party
were all accidental. 1t had its origin in
the rePea! of the Missouri compromise. A
desire to secure the admission of Kansas as
= free State has fed it. and in the present
election. attached to it a great conservative
element at the North, which really had no
affinity for it. The unfortunate division at
Charleston. also gave it in this election ali
that horde OF voters to be found
everywhere. who have no settled principles,
but who seek to get on the strong side. All
these instrumentalities which have combin-
ell to give it its success, it is cleai, are
merely accidental, and before another
election will have ceased to exist. The
status Of Kansas, As of all other OF our
Territory, will have become liked the
South will, it is to be hopel, have become
united and the Republican party. if it
exist at all. will exist only in It's naked
sectional character. and hence drive off by
lar the larger portion of its present co-ope-
rators, who will then have no need OF it as
an instrumentaiity.
But it is said honor calls for secession %
If that il true, let it eome!! As Union
great and glorious destiny awaits u.s. AS
Union. indeel, proud and pre-eminent
place among nations is ours. With the
riches of Europe and the West Indies pour
ing into our Eastern lap. With the wealth
of the East ready to pour itself through
our Pacific gate surrounded on all sides
by Lakes and Gulf and Oceans, all ready
to bear away the untold abundance of our
soil traversed by the most majestic rivers
OF earth ; with every species of soil, and
every species of climate with an active,
hardy and enterprising race of people ;
with internal development following close
upon the heels of our fine and quickened in
ternal trade. consequent upon our diversity
of soil and climate. who cannot see that all
our g. ieaAncos iS YET TO CONE Yet would i
for one. be willing to see these splendid
prospects. all. ALL. at one fell swoop, swept
into utter annihilation, rather than submit
to dishonor!
But is it true that " secession" 3" is our
only honorable course Is it true that Sc
cessIon Is honorable AT ALL -? Let us
fancy the picture. Let us suppose that in
stead OF fighting for our rights an the Union
we tamely abandon them. Let us suppose
Southern Confederacy established, and
what :? A weakling government overbur-
dened with it's own enormous expenses and
Its standing army. instead of the first and
treest nation on the globe. as we now are !;
instead of that h; ;gh title to sovereignty to
which onr Industry, our intelligence and
civilization entities us, . mere, dwarfish.
secondary power, occupying. as every one
Will see We will occupy. position of de-
pentence-nay, of double depenlence-ie-
Pendence upon our Northern neighbors for
piote"tiou against European aggression
dependence upon European assistance for
protection against northern aggression
What man who has the prils Or tho pat
riotism of a true American. but recoi.s
from the dishonoring spectacle May God
In his mercy avert the humiliation, is the
prayer of Yours. truly
w. w. FIsHBAcK.
GREENwoOD. ARK, Dec LIST, 1860.