, 1861-08-15

Auat lnc agltauon ot the slavery question IN
the free States was a very remote cause Of the
existing civil war, we have long been satisfied.
Every intelligent and observing man who has
read Of or watched the course Of events for the
last thirty years, and especially the fierce suuS.
gle In Congress over the admission Of California
into the Union, in 1850, must hate arrived at
the same conclusion ere this. Thirty years ago
il was fcreseen by public men that the South
would eventually lose the control Of the Govern.
ment, and during the whole Of this period Of
time the change has been gradually but surely
taking place which was to turn the scales against
her. In the creation Of the free State Of Cali
fornia. Southern men saw the power pass forever
from their hands; but before they yielded it up,
they raised storm, by the violence Of their op
position, which shook the foundation Of the
Union to its centre. The exciting events Of 1850
must still be fresh in the memory Of most Of our
readers. A dissolution Of the Union then was
seriously threatened, and was only averted, ve
believe, by the fact that the South was not sufi.
ciently pr pared to assume belligerent attitude
toward the Government The commencement
Of their preparations for the final (exsting) strug-
gle, however, dates from that period. Hence
il is not the agitation of the slavery question
which has brought the present trOu dc upon the
country, but simply the loss Of power conse-
quent upon the increase Of free over slave sta,es
Had there been no agitation Of this question, the
result would have been the same, precisely.
Some time since, Hon. Edward Everett wrote
letter on the origin Of the Southern conspiracy.
10 which he made sOmo startling revelations in
regard to the manner IN which this rebellion was
cOneOeted. Senator Douglas had also been en-.
gagged for some time before bis death in prepar.
ing similar letter on the history Of this con
spiraey, 10 which Il is now asserted be proposed
to prove that the conspiracy was one Of long
standing. It is even said that senator Douglas
had been eognizant Of that fact for several years.
and il may be to this knowledge that he was in.
debted foe the hostility that Southern statesmen
and politicians 80 bitterly waged against him in
the latter years Of bis life Mr.. Everett writes
from personal knowledge, and bis wide ac.
quaintance with Southern leaders, and the posi-.
ton which he has held as prominent advocate
Of Southern interests, give special significance to
these disclosures. Speaking Of bis own policy,
be says: 60.
al pursued this course for the sake Of
Strengthening the hands Of the patriotic Union
men at the south; Guh0ugh trds rel oaDaye,
partly from facts trilhiR ing peTsOnal kn0rledge,
that isadhlg southern politicians had for hiSfg
years been resoloed 70 break up tie Union Gs soon
as they ceased to control The United States goceFR-
ment, and that the slavery question was but n
pretext for keeping up agitation and rallying the
sOuth.> sq1-- r
The political leaders studioosy planned 70
give victory to the Republicans in the Presi
dental election, in order that they might seize
upon this as The occasion for the long-plotted
s.csESon. Says Mr.. Everett;
al certainly deprecated the choice Of PFesi-
dent exclusively BY tho electoral vote Of one
section Of the country, though consenting with
the greatest reluctance 10 be myself upon one
Of the opposing tickets. II was, however, fully
10 the power Of the south 10 have produced q
different result B1f the disuRiOniais trsFe ddeF-
mined % haze their o,en candidate, though mis-
taksn, Ifrust, In tke BELIEF thaf he shaTed their
disloyaI vietcs Imake dis eiarge against them
witAout Scrgpls, justified By Subsequent epsnts, as
nell as By tke language Of tie entiTs Union Prsss
a. ~ sotas uarug tae eanrasS
Ater the election was decided, the disunion-
isia would not wait for oeen acts because they
knew none could or would be committed They
knew that there was an anti-kepuolican maj nty
IN the Senate, and that there would be one IN the
present House. They sprecipitatsf the rupture
Qf tie Union, because hey knew that If they
r1ited, ecen tie Prdezt tcould tdil"
Mr. Everett, Il viii be remembered, was very
..,;o,,. a., IN. .,,...., a ~ p..e. con,,o.s
- :, -, Z
ana tne aaopuoa oi tne Onuehoen' tnt
Border State" OF some other compromise. He
now throws the blame Of The failure Of thai