The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-02-09
ARE voc A DISUNIONIsT:


ARE voc DIsUNIONIsT:
During the late campaign the people of
this Republic were divided into four separ-
ate, distinct, and clearly defined political
divisions, and We will be charitable enough
to surpose each division, or party, had only
IN view the welfare of the nation; and tha.
in their respective endeayors for success,
they were only acsuated by an earnest and
conscientious desire to carry into execution
the pan whieh,to them, seemed best calcua-
ted to allay the growing sectional iealousics
OF the public mind, npon the subjec, of do
mes.ic slavery. This subject, formidable
from the first, had gradually grown in i'm
por,ance, until it had at length, in 1860, alb
solved all other questions. By the passionate
agitation of this subject, all old issues were
forgotten-old party lines were oblitera,ed
and tariff and anti-tariff men, bank and
an.i-bank men, stood together upon a COM
mon platform, built in reality npon single
issue, and tina. issue looking only to the
regulation and ad justment of one great ques-
tion-African Slavery. But this question,
important as 1t has been in times past, re-
ceived It's quietus at the polls on the 9th of
November last. The sovereign voice Of the
American people, expressed in a constilu-
tional manner, at that time declared that the
Slavery question should be settled on the
basis contemplated by the platform Of the
Republican party. No sooner, however,
was the Slavery question settled in this
manner, and the issue of the campaign re-
moved from the field Of politics, than
disaffec,ed minority Immediately thrust upon
the country an issue of still greater magni-
tudc-an issue involving matters of no less
Importance than the integrity and preserva-
ton Of the American Union. Upon the
formal introduction of this issue into the
politics of the Nation, all the different party
organizations existing ut the time, underwent
a complete revolution. With the Repubi-
can party, this change, though complete, was
almost imperceptible. From deciding the
Slavery question, the Republican party i'm
meda,siy entered upon the work of deciding
the Union question: question forced upon
the country by horde of disappointed Office
seekers, and ambitious political tricks,ers
and ddemagogues-witha as little interruption
ms the competent Judge turns from case
| he has just settled to one that requires to be
settled. The factions which opposed the Re-
publican party, during its endeavors to settle
the Slavery question, are at present array
ed almost to Il man, against it, in the form
of Disunion Party. The Northsrn wing
of this Disunion Party daily and hourly
sings peans Of praise to the American Union,
the while it asks the Republican party the
only Union party-to incon;inently throw up
and abandon the verdict it has just obtained
Of the American people. at the ballot-box,
as a condition precedent to the existence Of
Union. The Southern wing is not more
unreasonable in its ultimatum. 1t asks that
! the Southern States be secured in their
constitutional rights, by amending the
Constitution
| The issue is thus made up-thc Republi-
can party, as n party, boldly and squarey,
and firmly, and persistently, declaring that
the Union mus, and shall be preserved -
! In this declaration it is joined by many fear
less spirits from the other political parties
of the last campaign. Arrayed against this
| declaration, We find the greater portion Of
the several pol teal factions defeated at the
! poifs last November. Now, men NAV, and
of course do, differ upon many minor ques-
| ,ious of internal and National polity, but
divested of all secondary and collateral de-
| Tendencies, We find that it is the one great
question of Union or Disunion that draws
the line Of political distinction between the
masses of the American people at this time.
| A. adv ocates Of a ,ari ff and bank could stand
| shoulder to shoulder upon slavery plat.
form in perfect harmony, with men opposed
| to these measures--so men OF conflicting
views upon the Slavery question, can and do
meet in perfect harmony upon common
platform. for, or against, the Union, and
without, any sacrifice Of former principles, i,
for all old issues have been settled, or are
secondary to this, and Of so little impor-
.anee, ,ha, when brought into juxsaposition
With il, they are driven into obscurisy by the
vastly prepondera.ing weight OF the one
| rrea, auestion-Union or Disunion. This
is question Of but two sides, clearly defined
there is no intermediate ground-shose
who are no, for the Union are necessar'iy
ngains it. There is no escape from this.
The Republican party is for the Union
per Sc The opponents of the Repueilcan
party are against the Tniou-some eo''d'-
,;eaaRy. and other. absolutely aud aniuaii-
seily-bat nearly all against it, on some
condition or rather. Reader, on which side
will YOU be found? Are yeu for the Union
oil the firne--or are you a disuaionisis II
Won cannot dictate the terms By when she
roas.i,u.ica-s body and spirit OF the
Tnioo-.hall be construed. Every man who
| ;s no. for the Uuisn uncundisionally, Is
d;suuionls-noshios is clearer than that.
Are you disuniopiss!