Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-13

Dy SOutne1n pOllIlClanS lnaJ tueTe arc lu Juo |
United States two forms of society, each so
unlike and antagonistic to the other in its
ideas and interests, that it is impossible for
them to continue together under the same
Government. If this is true, division of
the Union upon the line which marks the
boundary between the sections where these
differences prevail, is not merely advisable
it is q matter of imperative necessity. If
there is an irrepressible conflict begun, of
which organic differences in the character of
the people are the cause and the guarantees
of its continuance, where, but in division is
the remedy? The North will not take on
slavery, for it does not want IT. the South
can not get rid of slavery if it would and
in whatever spirit the subject is examined,
there is, only this Neutrality-suspicious. or
perpetual disturbance.
There is but one mode by which this al
Tentative can be escaped; by disbelieving
the constantly. repeated, and apparently sim
cere declarations of Southern men-men
who, if they do not ought to know, better
than others, the nature of their condition
and its necessities. Their declarations may
be true, and they may not. We do not
think that there are organic differences be-
tween the two states of society sufficient in
themselves to render the peaceful continu-
ance of both in the same polity radically
inn ossible; but even this does not cover
the whole question. There is still a point of
almost equal Importance: Do they believe
otherwise? If they do-if they persist in
believing as they profess, and in making
this belief their rule Of political action-is
not this just as inimical to the common
tranquility as if the facts were in accordance
with it? As men think, politically, so they
are, and so they act; and it is their action
that determines the matter. 1t makes but
little difference, practically, whether their
opinions are mere prejudices, the offspring
of party rancor and fanaticism, or are settled
convictions, the result of faithful and patient
deliberation. Perhaps the prejudices, not
being born of reason, aud, therefore, not
amenable to its suggestions, are the most
impregnable.
If this Southern view is, as it appears to
be, Interchangeable, it is apparent that no COM
promise that does not go to the extent of a
complete fusion and assimilation of the two
forms of society, can reach the real cause of
the difficulty; and equally apparent that all
the plans for compromise that fall short of
this will prove unsatisfactory. The ques-
ton then presented the people of the North
is: Will you accept slavery in your States
as the price of the Union?
But, in this form, the real purport of the
question does not appear. We may repeal
our constitutional clauses and legislative
enactments against the colored institution
and yet # will not voluntarily come among
us. Our mental and economical habits and
arrangements are such that they would con-
tinualIy operate to its Encouragement; and
society would remain precisely as it was
before. We must undergo a change of
heaIt-that is the expression; and, taking
the Southern view, it is a correct one-be-
fore we can comply with the terms upon
which alone the Union can be reconstructed.
We must invite slavery, purchase slaves
hold them, get rid of our free laborers, send
them back to England, Ireland, Germany
Massachusetts and Connecticut, cut loose
from pestilent New England, and then we
shall become, not almost, but altogether
fitted TO enjoy political society with ouI
brethren of South Carolina.
We tell our fellow. citizens of the compro-
mise-school that the compromise policy
once inaugurated, this is the only point a
which it can stop. If we are not prepared
to 60 to this, we had better not start. W,
have the assurance of scores of Southern
politicians that no sooner was the compro
mise of 1888 effected, than preparations 70
the present disturbance commenced. Tn
further we go the more difficult it will be t.
arrest the progress. One act of unfaithtul
ness and cowsrdice is the best possible pre-
paration for another. Downward move
ments are always accelerating-a fact
invariable as that compromises in the en-
always destroy the compromising party.
The damage of compromises will be three
fold to the individual politicians by who's
means they are effected; to the politics
paEty by which they are encouraged and
the section that comedies. The politician
will be dropped; for after an unworthy col
, cession popular reaction is inevitable; Il
: party will go out; for to political parties pa
+ pable moral weakness is a mortal disease
and the section will be holden lightly and
9 rights disregarded, as the North has been
D the South since the great compromise of Il
: Great COmpromiser in lS3S The histol
a ofthat event, and its consequences person
e and political, if properly understood, wou
d forever deter men Of sense from seeking
= repetition of the proceeding. And yet q
Q concessions of that day where insignihca
n in comparison with the.vast though inde
y mite cravings, the demands for repentanc
y humility, sbnegation Of manhood, the goil
% down into the very dirt, which is offered
,e us-and that not by themselves, but by
II black. eunuch politicians Of our own secnc
lie who do their work but who do not even pI