Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-24
from the Danvil!e Quarterly Review.
OUR COUNTRY: ITS PERIL ITS
DELIVERANCE.
BY Rev. ROBERT J. BRECKENRIDGE, d. D.
Danville, Kentucky.

By Rev. ROBERT J. BRECKENRIDGE, d. D.,
Danville, Kentucky.
|. l. What we propose is, FIRST, to make
such statement of the condition OF ai-
fairs as may be OF use to upright men, in
enabling them to determine what ought
to be attempted and what can be accom-. d.
plished, in the way of preventing the ru-
in Of their country and, secondly, to make
clear 10 all men, the position ofa vast
party in this country, who desire and who
deserve in all possible events, to be un>
derstood by postegity-and who, even if
their principles are overborne and their
eounseS are now rejected, may. if they
are faithful 10 themselves, retrieve from
the wreck Of their country, whatever sur.
/ wives wnen the period of exhaustion shall
| como upon its destructive madness.
2. There is nc lesson which the univer-
sal course of human affairs teaches so
thoroughly, as their OWE instability. And
yet there is no lesson SO hard for men to
learn. no lesson 90 pregnant OF results,
and so little needed. How faithful ought
men to be when overtaken by defeat and
adversity-if they would consider that
defeat and adversely, with courage and
wisdonl, are preparation for triumph p
How Just and folbcaring ought men to be
in the midst OF power and prosperity, ii
they would consider that power and
Iprosperity, IN the degree that they are
corrupt, make the road TO destruction
broad and sure ? And how immense, how
Unexpected, how eiectual are the resour.
ces Of God in the accomplishment ofwhat
he ordains 10 be results of human COM
duct?
3. Look at the actual condition of pub,
lie affairs throughout this great nation
consider whittier they are tendirg-con-
sider whence that tendency has arisen
consider by what means it is propagating
itself and then reflect upon the unex-
ptcted and extraordinary means by winch
ruin is overtaking every interest and
hope of the country-aud upon the absoS
lute completeness Of the ruin, when these
neans shall have worked heir full effect,
in state of security apparently perfect,
and of prosperity apparently complete
q small and fierce party scattered through
some of the Northern States, commenced
systematic and persistent agitation con-
nected with the Black race on this cont.
nent and in the heart of their system
lay this idea, that laws and institutions
ana rights and duties and interest cf ev-
ery description ought to give way, if there
was neel of it, 10 the accomplishment of
their designs. In the progress of time
and events, and the ruin of political par
lies, this fundamental idea-which is the
Essence Of lawlessness an | anarchy-at>
taches itself in the public mind of some
pf the Northern States, to that particular
aspect Of the question of the Black Race
which relates to the obligation, under the
Federal Constitution, of delivering fugi-
live slaves; ard laws Of various kinds are
passed, throwing TIE weight of State au.
horty against the obligation of the very
highest national law. And so the idea
md process of dsintegration, as the ten
ency to lawlessness x anarchy strength
hs, has thus risen from the condition of
lanaticism, to the dignity Of principle
ecognized by States and asserted in laws.
il to warn men Of the breadth of the
pin involved in this tendency, and to
ark the extremity of the peril arising
pm its connection with the question of
10 Black Race, one of the slave States
I'D already, under similar, but directly
Pposite eniency, formally asserted its
ght, not only to obstruct the execution
the laws of the United States, but to
nility them absolutely, and upon its own
lie and sovereign discretion so that
e spirit of lawlessness and anarchy, in
absolute and universal tendency to
slntegrate all things-moved, though
hrst, yet more rapidly, and by more
cislve acts, at the South and at the
Prth.
Once more in the progress of time
events, and the ruin of pc litical par
S-the whole nation finds itself array
IN the last Presidential election, into
opposite parties, (of which the de-
,ed one is mad enough to subdivide
u INTO three and this same question
'he Black Race, both in the aspect of
rendition of fugitive slaves, and in the
Peo' OF slavery in the Territores-and
Se same questions of supreme law and
iawlessness corrected Herewith -
unung TO tho highest national impor-
zee snd apparently swallowing up all