Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-03-02

There are unhappy possibiiities-we
NAV az probabilities in store for our
country. T.'h ~ w may to the con-
tr.ry, proguosticate as much as We may,
.,ill the unpleasant foreboding, Of immi-
nent danger to ous once happy and
prosperous repablic, stares' - in. the
face. and we cannot hide It from our
vision. Our country sprung into sxis.
tence in . day, and hss been attended
with . degree Of success which has been
the envy - we'll a. the wonder OF all
natious. The principalities aud powers
Of the Old World gaze with wrapt as-
constituent upon the almost magical de-
velopment Of our interests and institu-
tious. Through long years they have
been plodding on and supposed that .
powerful government could only become
50 through the workings Of centuries
piled on centuries. How we're they mis-
taken. They regard the vast increase
Of wealth and population here a. some
thing outside Of reason and the general
order Of nature. II other nations have
been much surprised At this rapid pro-
press, we ourselves have not been less
surprised. The most sanguine hopes Of
the founders Of our government were
more than realized by their children be-
fore the grass had become fairly green
upon their graves. We have been re-
posing under our own swine and tg
tree" and had come. through what we
supposed to be actual and positive de-
monstration, to that proud position
where no ono could trouble or make us
afraid. Little did we imagine that sim
ultaneous with the rapid growth Of our
nation, the banc which was to be it's
death was likevis rapidly stealing in
upon us. God grant that it may not be
so but As we said at the outset, there
are unhappy possibil,ies-nay, even un-
happy probabilities rising up before us.
II the nations of tic earth have been
surprised at the growth Of this republic,
will the not be more SO If what is now
threatened amounts to a certainty!
We are environed by strange times.
The ship Of State is passing through
perllous waters, where
"Rocks below and tempests sleep"
and where, unless managed by most
patriotic and active crew, it Will strand,
without hope of recovery. In the South
there sits congress representing seven
seeding States. Those States have bid
defiance to the General Government.
In the North the ruling power seems
dsincIined to remove the cause of this
estrangcment-preferring, rather, civil
war or dissolution. Our Congress-,
which soon adjcurns Las done nothing
barely nothing to lulI the storm the
attempts Of the patriotic, SO far, have
gwen no grounds for hope. The nation
stands lettering on crumbhng founda-
tons law and order are ignored the
reins Of government have become SO en-
tangled that the country is no longer
guided by them; fresh rebellion and
treason is putting forth its head every
day, aud imminent danger besets the
land on every side.
What are the possibilities! Dis
union, civil war, an entire breaking Up
of the country into petty republics, and
a general subslding from magnificent
government into imbecle fragments
third-class powers cliciting the scorn
and contempt Of the world These
thngs are possible, and yc, we trust
there is some strong arm Of power, some
yet untr.ed experiment upon whcl, all
can coincide to save-to preserve to
continue this natiOn-this country - t is
most priceless gem which tie lavish
hand Of bene6cent Creator set 10 His
foolstool to challenge the admiration
and alteration Of His children. Must il
be otherwise? Can mankind be so
re kless Of rich gifts as to spurn, to tar
nish, TO deinolish with protanc hands
and depfavej hearts: \ few months
viii bring ~, the answer. God grant it
may not be against our beloved republic.
Il RELlc.-The Commissioner of Pa
tents has, We hear, with most commend
able alacrity enlarged the glass case con-
tainIng the sacred regimental suit Of
Gen. Westinghouse order to place with
in the same Enclosure those now h;stofi
Cal relics-the every long military cloak
and Scotch cap"-worn by Uncle Abe
Lincoln in his flight from Harrisburg 10
Washington City. Additional ,hous-
ands will now rush to this section OF the
Patent Otfise-this Republican shrine,
and worship these sacred garments
winch 50 miraculously preserved the life
OF Abraham. The pigs tail whistle
presented at Cleveland TO Abraham, and
played upon by him, will soon be added
to the collection. How freonen,lv it