Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-26
The AntI.SIavery Insanity.

The AntI.SIRvery Insanity.
Is the antslyery madness which has for forty years
with more less intensity afflicted great bodies Of the
the American people to have end. All nations have
a times been troubled with popular iusani,ies and in
this country have had hobbies and Jurors and IA
yes upoa many subjects, Of which have been Of
short duration but which embodied for the time being
much Of passion, if not much Of Enatcism as the
slavery controversy.
The Albany argus tells us that Henry CLAW used to say
that there nothing wonderful the orgetulness
Of o American public, and, thereupOn proceeds in
stances Of proos, from political history.
Twenty years ago it was the fashion to sympathize
With Indians &c is with negroes. That was main
Dis the case in the Eastern States where there was no
moro land to be taken from the Indians but as there was
great deal of their land to be taken by the North
well the South this form Of philanthropy was post
Youei 10 those sections.
u less than thirty years ago since Mr. Seward made
is carry into public life upon the excitement Of anti
Masonry lie proclaimed in the Senate Of New York
,s h, expected to leave ibis bis political creed TO his
children as legacy. What is there of autNasoury
'cGs The reaction against has been so great that our
whole social fabric is honeycombed With secret societies
SIX wears ago Mr. Seward was reelected to the New
FORK Senate 10y the aid Of the Temperance excitement
INTO winch his whole party rushed psme carrying the
Governor and the Legislature upon the issue Of the
Maine law. Where is political temperance now The
reaction garst has restored the social custom OF drink
g ant made the selling of intoxicating drinks as con-
mon as .le selling OF tea and coffee
What has become Of the excitement in favor Of Bank
o. the United States as a regulator of exchanges and
H.. IL.
vsrs chat there ia no necessity for such an institution
What has become Of the Anti-Papacy and Author.
ea excitement So utterly ceased that many of that
party nov look the fidelity of the emigrant class Of
oers for the tecnce Of The Constitution against the
prevailing ianatcism.
What i remembered Of the exc,tements against the
lsaH1g public men of the country who figured few
Years ego on the political boards These exctemeuts
about the Indians, Au.Nasoury United States Bank,
ov-No;hingism, Temperance, spread Ike epiiemcs,
sud have totally disappeared. Those remaining sbo
were O. victims Of them laugh them now; but most
mcu have forgotten them entirely and only recall by an
EFFORT the memory of their xraordiaary prevalence.
So will r be- let us hope with the present excitement
about the negroes in slavery and which has swept the
whole North ike an epidemic Il is q flnaticism that
Ike feyer must run is course and We may add will
either kill the country cure it Of negrophoba. We are
not without hope that if master the present danger
the Nor bern mind will be cured of its rabies The dema-
gogues Who have played upon the tendencies to excite
msut have learned lesson. They that the sectional
issue has b,ea pushed beyond the verge of safety and
never be used again with profit. They will therefore
abandon IT, thew have other issues-as they did the
United States Bank issue, Aut-Masonry Internal I'M
provemen' Maine Law Know Notbngism, &c. The only
danger that their demagoguery has gone too far aud
their policy commenced too late.
Another lesson may be learned, and tina; is the folly
OF allowing ourselves to be drawn unthiakiogy into ths
vortex Of these e1eitemen and believing that our po
icd creed the platform OF partvare carnations Of
Divine wisdom and should be ilieAoiy adhered TO as
ha Decllogue--ard further the folly Of carrying our
political feelings into personal and social relations
aud regarding those Of opposite politics to ourselves
ft ouy Tor hatred simply Of their part,
aHru