The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-02-16

SrRESarn AND WrAKAEsa One of the most
curious instances Of careiessness or ignorant wri
ting in regard to the affairs Of this country, on
the part Of foreign journalists, was given by the
London 4isnes,' the other day, when it asserted
that the northern states not only possessed much
less territory than the slave states, but that the,
were intrinsically weaker 1t is possible that the
writer may have hoped, in that way, to discour,
age any proclivities Of the Canadians towards
joining the free states; but, whatever his motive,
nothing could have been more absurd. The North
holds territory enough to make hundred king
doms such NJ shat OF Great Britain, and 10 supe-l
rior to the South in population, in capital, in en-
ergy, in trade, and whatever else imparts power,
to nations. 7Sittaa'5 %
This very tendency to disunion at the South,
which has been operating secretly for SO many
years, and has ut last produced an open revolt, is
q proof Of its inherent weakness. Itis envious Of
she greater advancement of the North, and
breads, constantly" lest the North should use
those advantages to its detriment De Tocque.
vile, the ablest and mos, ssgacious writer who
ever undertook to discuss our constitution and
society, pointed out that fact more than thirt,
years ago In his work on Democracy in Amer
lea" he inquiries not only into "the dangers with
which the presence Of the black population in
the United States threatens the whites" but al
20 into .'the dangers which threaten the Ameri-
Can Union,. He says Of the latter: The weak gem
orally mistrust the Justice and the reason uf the
strong. The ststes which increase less rapidly
than the others look upon those which are most
favored by fortune with envy and suspicion
Hence arises the deep seated uneasiness and i'll
defined agitation which are observable in the
South, and which form 90 striking contrast 10
the confidence and prosperity which are common
to other parts of the Union. The inha habitants Of
the southefD states are Of all the Americans
those who are most interested IN the maintain
ance Of the Union; they would xesuredly suffer
most from being left 20 themselves, and yet they
are he only citizens who threaten to break the
tie OF confederation. But il is easy to perceive
that the South, which has given fvur Presidents,
Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, to
the Union which perceives that it ID losing It's
federal influence; the South, which is peopled
with ardent and irascible beings 10 becoming
more irritated and alarmed. The citizens reflect
upon their present position and remember their
past influence with the melancholy uneaSiness CT
men who suspect suppression. IF they discover q
law Of the Union which is not unequivocally fa-
vorabe to their interests they protest against il
as an abuse Of force, and If their ardent remon.
strances are not listened to they threatento quit
| an association which loads them with burdens
WuIibt ~ ,OcpEIVeS tuctu VI UIcir Vue pFUutD.
Such are the words Of De Toequeville, and We
may fnd in them one of the causes Of the present
southern movement Daniel Webster, also, when
disui,ion was formerly threatened, asked with
profound astonishment, "What are the oppres
sions experienced under the Union calling foI
measures which thus threaten TO d Stroy it,
What invasions Of puolic liberty-what ruin Il
private happiness-whas long list of rights vic
lated or wrongs unredressed, is to justify TO th,
country, to postedty and TO the world, this us
sault upen the free Constitutions Of the Unites
Hates, shis great and glorious work Of our faith
/ ers ?" 79vE 9Fa'% ta s's elaaq s's3t7 Is.
A revolution against . government, Of whicl
| NOT s solitary well.founded complaint has eve
beeh alleged, ID certainly an anomaly, and goe
far TO justify the idea that il has grown out Of
u6gs jealous irritation and prejudice. q Give
six months time to think, and it would subsid
ike the fretful impatience Of . child who has a
lowed himself 70 be excited Into momentar
III temper.-fN. 7. Eve. Post e 7