Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-02
amr msseerences No GronnA. for n
bepnratiOn. sH

There Il no essential difference between tns
.nsonle az the Northern and Southern States
that requires them 20 live under separate anO
independent governments. i
There are differences Of habits, pursuits ano
interests between the inhahitants OF tho Two
sections, rs there are between the people OF sn'
Eastern and Western States. These differences
are nearly or quite as great in the one case as
In the o.her. They should no more separate
the North from the South, than the East rom
the West. a,3
A variety of pursuits and interests binds
great country like the American Union closer
together. Where occupations and interests are
she same, they are apt to clash and Produc'
rivalries and jealousies. But where variet.
sxists, what one community lacks, another sup
plies. II ia this variety or difference that lay
the foundation for all trade, commerce. ano
even social intercourse. Society, even In tne
smallest communities, cannot exist without this
variety. It essential to its development mar
mony and progress.
II Is the different pursuits and interests OF th'
North and South, which demagogues now attemp
10 magnify into causes Of separation, that hav'
hitherto kent US united, and made us all more H.
dependent, happy and prosperous, than wecoo,o
haze beep. had no such difference existed
is as muci in the order Of Providence that all
feren, communities In the same country or M
t:op shall differ in their habits, occupations ano
tr,e.es,s. az Il is that these differences shal
exist between individuals nthe same ccmmuni
~. or that one district OF the came couutr!
shall be best adapted to the raising OF couor
sugar and rice, another to the production o
wheat, corn and pork, and third to manuisct
ures and commerce--thus making each con-
t,;bute 10 the benefit of the rest, and oil 70 th'
general welfare.
D,aerences in pursuits, social habits aud in'
te,ests, lead necessarily to difference in local
laws and institutions. The latter, as the former
o,pduce to the general order and the common
GOOD. It is ss absurd to attempt to make the
iooal laws and usages Of different communities
the same. as to attempt to reduce all the indi
yiduals in community to one common Level III
their habits, pursuits and interests -.'
These general principles are readily conceded
by reasonable men, who willingly acmit that
none Of the differences specified above form any
GROUND for separation between our Northern
and Southern States. But there are men at the
North who contend that slavery should be made
an exception to the general rule, because, as
thew say, slavery being crime against nature
no State or community should be allowed TO
tolerate it. and still remain in the Union. AT
the same time, It is urged In the South that IL
ia not safe for slave States to remain in the
Union, when such an opinion in regard to slave
ryis entertained by large proportion OF the
people at the North.
To those who promulgate the opinion that
slavery is a crime against nature, and should
not therefore be permitted In any State the re-
ply Is obvious from the principles we have al
ready adverted to-. The only condition required
of any State to remain in. or become annexed
tn. the Union, is that il shall have and maintain
a republican or representative form of govern
ment, and be subject to the Constitution and
laws of the Union. Under this condition, each
State is left at perfect libertyto determine Tor
itself what IL will prohibit as a crime against
nature or society, and what 1t will sanction orI
ALLOW. Ii may forbid or allow slave-hOlding' as
Il may do any other act not contrary to the
Constitution and laws Of the Union.
To those who allege the hostile attitude to-
ward slavery assumed by portion of the people
at the North as o ground of separation, the an
swer is equally plain. The people OF free
country have an undoubted right to entertain
and. promulgate such opinions, moral, political
and religious, as they see ft, so long as they do
not by overt acts infringe upon constitutions
and laws. z cr
But, it Ia eaid, that some of the Northern
States have, by acts Of legislation, obstructed
the execution Of law ofthe United States con-
stitutionally enacted. The same thing had
been done by other States, in several palpable
and fragrant instances, before the passage Of any
"Personal Liberty billn States may be e1'
pected, sometimes, In sindication Of their real
or supposed rights, TO oppose the execution
within their. borders, of certain laws of the
United States, under. various pretenses; but SO
long as they profess allegiance to the Federal
Constitution and Government, and as long as
that Government retains the power TO enforce
lee laws, such opposition can afford no constitu-
tional or reasonable ground for the Withdrawal
Of other States from the Union. It should in
cite them rather to more jealous and active
support Of the Government, that IL may be able
the more effecsually to disarm and silence the
factious opposition to It's authority.
Slavery has existed in this country almost
from its earliest settlement. There is no more
reason Why our differences in regard TO the pol
icy or morality Of allowing ita existence should
dissolve the Union now, than that they should
have prevented lie formation, or have dissolved
il fifty, twenty, or ten years ago. II slavery
should cease 70 exist to-morrow, other differ
ences in interests and local State institutions
would remain, and loom up into similar impor.
tanoe and significance Morbidly conscientious
men and ambitious demsgogues would not fail to
agitats questions as to The justice and propriety
Of permitting certain interests and local usages
70 exist He Who imaRines the annihiladop Of
slavery wonld be q pAnacea for all our national
d11culsies, and sifc & perfect reconciliation Of
the different secsiops Of our country for all
coming sine. has read history and studied hu-
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