Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-02-01

under the same flag. Whatever affects one
State in the way of national reputation affects
all. Europe does not discriminate betWeeu
provinces, whether sor praise or blame, When
Americas greatness is spoken Of, Massachu-
setts and Mississippi share alike 10 tho respect
which is commanded, and when stories of sIa-
very are circulated it is 90 the national stars
and stripes that the diseredit falls. To say
that one portion Of the American people have
no title to concern themselves with the acts of
another portion, on question touching not
only the eternal Instincts Of morality, but the
character of the whole, is 10 ~ssert what it
would be impossible to maintain.
As we have taken up this case for an Impair
tial though friendly Judgment, we must in ben
estv 60 one step further, snd declare our con-
Vietion that even in the political agitation Of
the question the Southern States have sinned
more than the Northern. No stretch of fanat
ieism on the part of the North has been so ex-
trsVagant as the doctrines now openly avowed
by the South The Slave States have long
ceased to be content with sufsranee. In their
passionate efronteTy they have loudly declared
that Slavery, so far from being blemisb, ia
positive blessing to a country. That ID is the
only true basis of labor, and the best cement
of social institutions. They have claimed tae
right, not only of preserving il for the present,
but of perpetuating 1t fo- All time, and of ex-
tending il into every Territory annexed to the
American Union. One by one they have de-
stroyed or set aside all barriers in the shape of
limits or compromises, and have driven their
principles BY sheer force down the throa;s of
their opponents. Asa last resource they are
preparing. apparently, 70 carry out nenance
Of long standing, and to destroy the very fabric
OF the Union rather than recognize the fact that
any other views than their own may prevail in
the council Of Government. They cannoi pro-
Tess to apprehend any interference With their
properly" What they claim Is tbas no man
should be President Of The United States who
does not regard this ''property" exactly as they
do--that Is, Rho does not acknowledge that
black aervaut and black portmanteaI are
chattles coming under exactly the same cate
CORY and description.
In this country We cannot so entirely over
id9A tae original question a. i done on the
other eide Of the Atlantic We look at Slsgery
Is unlawful and abouinable We know, aud
have repeatedly acknowledged, what can be
said, if not precisely On its behalf, at anyrate,
against The views of fanatical Aboligionists:-
We oau understand chat i, would be hard for
an independent and spirited community to hold
their Institutions under suffaranco, and by the
tolerance, as it were, Of others. We can ina
glEe that the Southern States we're led on step
BY step, and under the impulse of unexpected
successes, to change their ground and raise
their terms till the present hight Of extrava-
canoe was reached All this We can we'll sup
pose and admit, and tue Americans may con-
fieutly assure themselves that here is no party
in this Kingdom which desires anything but
the maintenance and prosperity of the Union
We are more disposed, Indeed. 10 advocate
eonsiliation even at the expense Of principle
than 10 stand up for principle in the face of
such high political peril. But, for I'll tbs, we
cannot disguise from ourselves thai, apart from
ali political complications, there ia right and
a wrong it this question, and that be right be-
longs, with all its advantages, to the States of
the North.