Smyrna times., 1861-02-21
Demagogues and Office Seek

CTS.
IL must by this time be manifest to every
man of the smallest discernment, that dema-
gogues who aspire to some high position under
Southern Confederacy and ofice-holders I'M
der the present Government who hope to be
kept in their places under the neW one they de-
sire to see created, were originally the only
movers in the dangerous and destructive work
of secession. By disappearing the actual
position of things, and predicting aggressions
upon the South which were never contempla-
ted or dreamed of by any respectable number
of the Republican party, they have contrived to
frighten thousands of honest and credulous
men into a support of their schemes of rain
and destruction, who will deeply regret the
iment under the incoming administration.
The chief engineers of the secession move
ment in Washington have left no device un-
tried to bring the popular masses of their res
pective States into their secession ranks Be-
cause, in the short space of two months, no
plan OF reconciing the South has been agreed
and presented by the Republican leaders, the
secessionists telegraph to all parts of the coun-
try, that there is no prospect of a satisfactory
adjustment, and that there is no hope for the
Southern States except in a withdrawal from
the Union as it now is. This happens because
these conspirators for the overthrow of the exc
listing Government, do not desire to see such
prospect. They are determined on breaking
the Union up any how, and we say this because
they have not been willing to toGit d reason
able time for the settlement of the existing DIFF
fculties between the North and South.
In 1913. the Democratic Van Burens, with
their proviso for excluding slavery from all the
territory ceded by Mexico, set the whole South
ia blaze of excitement, and this continued
until September, 1850, before the controversy
was disposed of. Though we then had such
master minds as Clay, Webster, Cass and Dick
enson engaged in etfnrt to adjust the ques-
tions that then arose between the two sections
on the subject of slavery in the territories, two
gears and a half elapsed before they had COM
pleted their work, and restored peace to their
country. Most of those now foremost in coer-
cling States out of the Union. because the Chi
cago platform of the Republicans was fashion,
ed somewhat after that of Their Van Bnrens in
1913. denounced the settlement made by the
statesmen and patriots above named, but, on an
appeal TO II e people. it was ratified by an over
whelming majority, as thu records of Georgia
and Mississippi bear witness.
We cannot doubt. says the Bait. Clipper,
that large majority of the Republicans will
consent to as satisfactory arrangement of the
present difficulties, if the South will allow
them half the time that was found necessary
to perfect the one agreed upon in 1850. AS
Daniel Webster relinquished his Provsoism Of
1548 in the debates of 1850, and as Millard
Fillmore abandoned his anti-slaveryism of the
previous twenty years, in approving the Com
promise of that year, for the sake of restoring
peace to distracted country and keeping the
Southern States in the Union, we cannot doubt
that the Republican leaders will make simi.
lar surrender, for thu accomplishment Of a ST.
milar great and patriotic purpose. Al any
/ rate, we must appeal to the people Of our State
to let them have ample time for developing
their policy, under the prussurs of the re-ac-
tionary movements OF their respective constitu-
encies. We must hold up our hands and raise
our voices against secession. 50 long as there
is the smallest shadow of hope of satisfactory
conc essions from the Republicans.
We have ever contended that the territorial
question, Inagnifed into such tremendously vi.
tai importance by Northern and Southern ul.
traists, is at best mere abstraction; that fol
. the South to contend about the abstract right
to take slave property into territory where
/ soil, climate and production are leagued against
} the existence Of slavery is the sheerest folly
and the most Improbable contention, and il
: only equalled in folly by the free labor agita.
E tors of the North, whose philanthropy would
drive from the rice and cotton fields the SOutt
the labor whose tropical nativity adapis hin
peculiarly to the cultivation of tropical pro
ducts, and supplant him by one unified in ev
cry respect for tropical labor.
This quarrel over bare bone has been KEEP
: up, however, until the country has been dis
: rupted by the fierce strife, and civil war seem
= imrnInent as a consequence of the apparent in
ability of Congress to adjust satisfa ctorly, thi
}, single question of the abstract right of tn
y South to an equal participation in the Occupa
Q ton ofthe territories. acquired by the cOmmO
e blood aud treasure Of the States.
j. -
If A LARGE audience was present on Wedner
d day evening last. at Wards Hall, to greet tn
! Rev w. H. Brisbane again as a lecturer, a
= in high anticipation of something superior,
e which they were not disappOinted-the lectur
10 doing credit even to his reputation. His SUI
= ject-" The Working Man."-was elaborate
he completely and fully-nOthing apparently b