The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-08-25


the General Government not delegated to it.
which one half of the Confederacy would
regard as a usurpation, and to which it would
refuse SO submit. The fact that our Union
is composed in part of slaveholding States
and in part Of -slayeholding States, i'm.
poses grave duties upon both sections--dutics
of forcbcarancc. concession, and Cancellation
respect for each others convictions tender.
ness in handling each others sensitive points
in short, such rules of Sc fcoutrol and sell
government as regulate in social life, and in
the relations of business. the intercourse oil
gentlemen who may chance differ widely on
the eravest questions. To these duties we
would fain recall both the North and the
South. The Union is blessing, the contin.
uance Of which imposes some sacrifices on
both portions of the country. Neither pro.
slavery zealots nor anti-saverv zealots can
use the powers of the General Government
for the advancement of their own peculiar
views, however, honestly entertained.
SLAVERY AND ANTT-s LAvERY AGITATION.
1t is necessary consequence of the I'M
happy fact that our political contests have
become mere struggles for the possession Of
power between the North and the South, that
our political discussions have become little
else than mutual ordinations and recrimina-
tons The people no longer listen to argu-
ments, addressed to their reasons, in defence
ofpartcular measures or a certain course Of
policy, but to exciting appeals to their sec.
tional prejndces, which only heat the blood
and inflame the passions. The North is
taught to hate the South, and the South is
taught to hate the North. On both sides
language is used which is studiouSly selected
for its CALLING and exasperating qualiticS.-
There is TO recognition of the law of charity
which suffers long and is kind there is no
admission Of the tremendous difficulties which
environ the whole subject of slavery North.
ern speakers dcnounce the South for maintain
ing the system, and yet they are unable to
suggest any scheme for getting rid of it {:
Southern speakers make no distinction be
tween the rankest jolitionism and that alb
siract opposition to slavery in itself, which
is Nh almost universal sentiment at the
North. And out of the immense mass of
speeches on the subject of slavery which
have been inflicted upon the country, IN Con
greSs and out Of it. not one hint or suggcs.
tion can be gathered of the least practical
value towards a solution of the problem of
slavery, or even mitigation Of its assumed
evils.
The consequences of this miserable seta.
ton have been of the most melancholy kind.
The attachment which formerly united The
North and the South is fast disappearing, and
enlargement. alienation and ill.will are
country are learning to look upon each other
as natural enemies This state of feeling
renders it impossible for the National Lcsis-
lature to legislate camly, judlciously. dis
pasSionately, for the common good of the
whole country. Congressional debates have
dcgenerated into mutual vitupcrations and
denunciatlons, and are disgraced by the most
offensive personalities. All propositions are
judged of, not by their essential expedicncy
but by the quarter from which they come
Of what use is it, then, for the Republican
party to spread forth in their platform an
elaborate array Of measures and principles,
so long as a sectional division exists in our
politics which makes one half Of the country
look with suspicion and distrust upon every
movement Of the otherl
Nor is this all. The tendency Of this sec
tional excitement is to repcl wise and good
men from the sphere Of politics. and thus to
lower the tone Of government. Men endowed
with satcsmanlke powers will not take part
i'll an agitation " hich dwarfS the understand
ing while it flames the passions The conse-
qucnce is, that while we are rapidly incrcaS-
ing in wealth and all the indications OF
material civilization. and surely not dcclin-
ing in virtue and intelligence the series Of
our public men marks II decendng scale, and
the standard Of Congressional debate is con-
stautly lowering. Intelligent Foreigners
who come among US are puzzled to account
for the singular fact, that so few men OF
superior ability are taking part in the gov
eminent of the country. Indeed, the virtue
and intelligence Of the country are fast ebbing
away from the sphere of politics. and its
vices and passions are usurping their places.
THIS AGITATION UNNECESSARY.
The 1ro.savery and anti-slavery agitation
which has been so long cnnvnsng the
country. is as unnecessary as it is mSchev.
Gus. The more conservative portion of the
Republican party have tacitly acquieSced in
the fugitive slave law. in the existance oil
slavery in the District Of Columbia, and in the
right to carry slaves from one State to another;
and they have always disclaimed any right,
or any intention. to interfere with slavery IN
the States themselves. The sub ject of slavery
in the Territories, and the power of Congress
over it there. are the only points they leave
for discussion and difference. il government
be practical art, as surely it is--if the
object of government be, not to enunciate
principles. but to provide for each emergency
as it arises all this excitement, and all this
conflict are utterly purposeless and idle
We have been familiar with slavery long
enough to know by what laws it is regulated
and controlled. Experience and observation
have shown that slavery is dependent upon
conditions of sol! and climate, and lies beyond
the reach Of political combinations.
These will not force slavery into the regions
where it is not profitable. At this momen
no one will question the correctness of the
statement that there is not a foot of the terri
tory Of the United States, the condition o
which in reference to slavery is not alrcad,
fixed by law. and there is no place within
the Federal domain, upon which the abstrac,
theories O. the extremist of either section, in
regard to the exclusion Of slavery from til,
Territories or its introduction into them, cal
be practically applied. The whole question
ofslavcry in the Territories, rs now presented
is an abstraction pnre and simple, incapable
of practical application, and prolific of serious
mischief 1t has already produced sectiona
alienation, and now menaces the integrity o
the Union.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE PoR TIns
AGITATION.
TO create and maintain this unhappy agi
tation, North and South, Democrats ant
Republcans-we need not stop to inquire il
what proportions have both contributed il