Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-26
The TrIumphs Of seciIonaiisnn.


The TrIumphs of sectfonaIism.
More than four score years have elapsed
since the colonies severed their allegiance
with the British Government and founded
an Independent nation Of their own. Since
that time, the thirteen colonies or States,
with three millions Of inhabitants, have
grown into thirty four States with popu-
lation ofoyer thirty millions. Nothing is
more easy Of demonstration than that the
variety of interests growing ont Of the di>
versity of climate, productions and pursuits
of our country, were the means of its im>
mense increase in numerical strength and
wealth. The mutual dependence of the
different sections upon each other, and the
amicable and free interchange of their pro-
ducts, resulted in the mutual prosperity
and happiness of all The great staples of
the South were exchanged with the North
for articles necessary to Southern comfort.
1t was thus that the people of both sections
of the confederacy. recognizing the broad
principles Of the federal constitution, were
enriched by the Interchange of the products
of their localities.
But this happy state Of national affairs
has been destroyed by the demon of sec
tionalism. 1t has entered the fair garden
and converted il into Pandemonium of
strife, dissension and disunion.
1t first stole into the church under the
guise of higher law " morality, and Sc
dueed by its plausible ethics the uusus-
pecting victims of an over righteous Eanati
eism. 1t entered upon crusade of moral
reform, and looked for the objects of its
enanthemas in the supposed delinquencies
of its neighbors, instead of seeking to
"pluck the beam out of its own eye." 1t
stirred up discord in the bosom of its own
congregation and finally enlisted followers
enough to sunder whole churches in twain.
1t persevered in the work of agitation until
it succeeded in arraying the church of one
section against the chnrch Of the other sec.
ton. And soon were found Northern and
Southern churches arrayed against each
other in attitudes little becoming those who
were recently brothers in the bonds of the
same christian faith.
This disruption of churches was the first
great triumph of sectionalism.
The next appearance of secticnalism was
in the political arena.
Two great political parties, occupying
antagonistieal positions on questions of
constitutional construction and on measures
of national policy, existed in the country.
The vigilance with which they watched
each other, and the animation and energy
with which they contested the ascendencv
in the management of the Governn ent.
exerted most salutary influence upon the
public morals and public interests. The
destroyer insinuated bis dissolving code of
moral ethics into one Of these political or
CARNATIONS, and formed an unholy alliance
between religion and politics, and thus
dissolution sectionalism gained its next
great triumph.
The last great browning triumph of sec
tionalism was the election of Abraham Lin
coin. When the people of the South beheld
a Northern political organization, with
creed antagonistic to their equality and
rights under the constitution, with candi-
dates nominated exclusively by one section
and with electors supported exclusively in
one section, succeed in carrying the day
and getting the Government into their
hands, portion of them withdrew from the
Union and have established confederacy
OF their own; and thus the Government
founded by our fathers has been brought
to ruin. 50 much for sectional triumphs