Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-01-11

The Crisis.
Near WrLroN JUNCTION, Jan. !

II The Crisis.
Ne.r WILTON JUNCTION, Jan. !, 1901.
n r,,-on JouRsAL:-You and many othe
q .nn..r much concerned about the secesslo
, Of tho slave States Of the onlon' we
!. everybody that is acquainted with me know
4 that I don't know much, but it does appear
. me to be the best thing for the FREQ Stss.
. that has taken place since the Revolution.
all the slave States leave us, I, for one' vi
, rejoice. l can't sleep Of nights, am
"made up'' about it. Why, the united ire
States would prosper beyond any precedent
The good people Of the South VINO are n'
welded to slavery, will become alarmed AZ tn
impending crisis, and commence moving
the free States. Emigrants from the "o''
County," almost to man, will settle IN tn
free States. In short time, some OF sn'
slave States will want back in the Union, bu
l hope and trust they won't be received unit
they emancipate their slaves. But l greatly
fear that the North will kneel before tn
Shareholders, and come to their terms and
that q compromise will be made, and we 60
jolting along as we have for many years past
the thoughts of which make me feel faint a
heart. Itsppears from the tone Of the public
writer's in the North that, if slavery can only
be kept where it is, and not be permitted to
extend any farther, they will be satisfied; but
that will not satisfy me. I want to hear,
before I die, the glorious news that there is
not slave State in America. But they say
secession will lead to war. think differently.
The President is opposed to going to war
about such matter. l did not vote for Blu
chanan; neither have been satisfied with
his administration; but l do approve of his
forbearance toward South Carolina. I hope
Lincoln will pursue the same policy. "But
the slave States will tax our produce that we
ship through their dominlons." Let them.
We can tax their sugar and tobacco that
comes up this way. No need to fight and kill
men about such triAes. I would sooner sell
my produce for fourth less than to have
bloodshed about such matter.
But the great difficulty will arise about
the fugitive slave I confess this il hard
place-a difficult matter-but it can't be
worse than it now is. We are now bound
to give up to them their runaway slaves.
If all the slave States secede think it will
be better to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law
then, than to become involved in war viii
them, although do abhor the law 10
stop man who is flying for his liberty md
return him to cruel master is bad injeed.
would far sooner 10 taxed to pay fa him
and let him 60 free. But, oh, the horrors Of
war May the good Lord save us fom it
Now, Mr.. Editor, suppose compromise
is effected and the Union is agait restored
won't the Fugitive Slave Law be main
aimed and dear knows what eli else We
must submit to. Will peace, harmony and
good will be restored 2 Iguess not. ! be
ieye the contention will increase. It can't
DO otherwise, unless they make gag laws
md it appears to me some men would socn-
" submit to that than that the Union should
DO dissolved. pray and hope they will all
70 soon, AID will never again be received
INTO the Union with slavery. l hope the
limo is near at hand when it can't be said |
If u.s. as it has been, that we belle our pro.
LESSONS of liberty, because we hold in
bondage 100000 slaves Not only the
lisgrace but the great sin for which we are
held accountable to high Heaven; and if
persisted in some awful calamity will sure
y befall this nation.
It appears to me that the hand of God is
10 this matter of secession. The friends
If slavery appear to have lost their fore
sight in this matter; they are taking course
hat will weaken the bands that now bind
The slave. How long will it be till the
slaves will far out-number the free people
10 the slave States how long will it be
before free white woman will not stay in
that country for fear Of insurrectioa. If
they remain in the Union, the Union must
eight for them. The free States must send
over an army to guard their slaves, if need
be. If they leave the Union there certainly
will be great emigration from the slave to
the free States, which will reduce their SOL
diers. 1t appears to me if they leave the
Union they will 60 to destruction.
This from your old friend,
MOSES w. BYERS.