Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-07-06
Written for ths Columbia Democrat.

men that the press and the people should
speak everywhere, and speak powerfully
and that right soon, 1, an humble individ'
ual, have taken the pen for that purpose.
In glancing over the Republican of
June 9th, 81, was somewhat surprised
at the view taken by the distinguished edi-
tor as regards compromising our national
difficulties. l now avail myself Of this
to communicate to you my
views regarding the difficulties which di-
vide and distract the country at the pres
ent time. If you consider them worthy of
and that l too shall be heard
through the columns of the Democrat, is
only honorable to your frankness and fair
dealing, am comparatively young and
with my lot cast among the
toiling masses, content to labor for my
daily bread. Ny interest in the govern
mcnt is no more to inc than it should be
to every other citizen. The chief and high
est interest and l might say almost the
only stake feel in the governments is that
of its union and perpetuity.
The Doctor says, "Lct there be no COM
promise, the laborer who is now stinted
for want of employment will not submit to
any alleviation of our present difficulties u
1 have no idea how my views will be re-
ceivcd, but I sincerely believe that a con-
stitutional compromise is just the thing our
laboring men want, and l most heartily
concur in the movement now going on by
the people of New York and other places,
to get up memorials to be submitted to the
present extra session of Congress in favor
of an adjustment. l believe that the times
require that the public men, the selected
men of the nation, should take firm hold
of this great question. Congress must ne
cessarily be connected with it any ad-
justment that may be made ON this subject
must, to some extent, be connected with
Congress. If it be possible to agree upon
an adjustment in the shape of law, Con-
gress and the Executive can perform the
whole work. Up to the present hour no
great effort has been made to settle the diff
ference. Politicians and demagogues in
both sections have made inhammatory ap-
peals to the passion of the people and in
stead of quclling the excitement have stirred
it up instead of crushing mutual hatred
and distrust, have promoted it instead of
removing causes of dispute, have created
them for the sake ofpowcr and office, they
keep each section in ignorance of the pa
triotic and conservative feeling of the
other There are too many men on both
sections busy in fastening on the war in
order to double the number Of officers and
increase their share of the spoils. The
oficc-seeking crowd would not settle our
difficulties if they could already thous-
ands and tens of thousands of offices have
been created and filed by as many fawn-
ing sycophants who are feeding and fat
tenng on the life blood of the nation
Thousands are making splendid fortunes,
and the virtue of our former days is grad
ually disappearing before the flood of vice
and folly which is ready to rush in upon
us unless we soon have a termination ol
our present difficulties ; our posterity will
look back upon this crisis and pronounce
it the grave of this Republic.
Unlike the Doctor, say keep open the
door of reconciliation away with panic
excitement hold out to our Southern
brethren the Constitution of the United
States, and declare that whatever rights
are therein guaranteed shall be fully pro-
tectcd. Proclaim equal rights to all the
citizens of all the States, give the South tc
understand that the people of the North
wilfully and deliberately intend to carry
into effect that part of the Constitution
which provides for the restoration of fugi-
tive slaves, and no doubt the South will OBJ
serve the compact. If it will accomplish
the desirable end let us have compromise
let the Territory be divided from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, North of which
slavery shall not go, and South of which
it shall not be disturbed.
Let us have deep gulf or a high wall
between the North and South on this sub.
ject. 1t may be that some other less
change will do ; if SO, Amen to it, then
the North and South would be no longer
striving with each other for free and slave
States but would be entirely free from each
other on this subject, and this great gov.
ernment could 60 on performing its func-
tions, and retain its power, its dignity and
respectability. l am not for rushing head