The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-05-11
A Country OF Conn mon Interes.s.

We take the following excellent article
from the Troy Why, one Of the nblcst of
the conservative Union journals Of New
York
The wisdom Of man never devised
more perfect form Of government than
that under which the American people
have lived for more than seventy yenrs.
No country that the sun shines upon is
so fitted by nature to continue great, pros.
porous and happy, as tho United States
The unexampled progress we have made
has not been the result of mere accident,
hut under Providence, the legitimate ef
fects Of geographical and natural divisions
in soil, climate, production and occupa-
tion.
Had New England remained wholly
agricultural, her prosperity would have
illuminated long ago. Her commerce first,
aud then her manufactures opened her
way to wealth and greatness. 1t has been
said England is the workshop Of the
world" The remark il less true now
than when it was made; but if England
is the workshop Of the world, New En-
gland IS the workshop Of the Western
Continent.
The Southern States have paid little at
tention to manufacturing. The rich soil
and ready markets have left her no temp
tation to become otherwise than strictly
agricultural. She sells the products Of
her soil to foreign countries, and with the
money becomes the customer Of the Nor.
thcrn Manufacturer, Merchant, Mechanic
of Northern Colleges and Seminaries.
The great West is agricultural, as well,
but raises different productions, and these
are for the Home Market-for New En-.
gland and the Middle States, and the
South.
The Middle States are partly agricultu-
raj, partly commercial and manufacturing.
The iron and coal Of Pennsylvania, the
iron Of New York and New Jersey, are
great elements Of wealth, and are destined
in time to give employment to thousand
fold more capital and labor than they do
now. New York city is the great com.
mcrcial Emporium Of the nation; the
distributing centre--the heart, 10 "a
speak, that sends vital currents to tho
centres and extremes, and keeps the whole
nation in healthy and harmonious action
Here arc four sections Of the country
distinct in their product, varying in eli
mate; and oil unlike in many Of tlieiI
social institutions, habits, local interests
and political opinions. They were thus
distinct and unlike when the Government
was formed, and have so remained. Blu
for more than lifetime they have livct
under a common Constitution, in ont
Union and under the same general laws
When interests have clashcd, as they
have, and the war Of opinions has waxet
hot, there has been wisdom and patriotism
sufficient to invoke the spirit Of concilia
ton and compromise, in which this gov
ernmcnt was formed, aud the threatening
clouds Of danger have been found to wea
the silver lining Of peace.
The engineer knows the complex ma
chinery he manages, in oil its parts an,
all its nicctes. lie has studied and com
pretended it all. lie knows what it vii
and what it will not bear. A single ja
may fill his mind with alarm, while te
hundred passengers may feel the sam
jar and think no more Of it than the
would the dashing Of a wave. Washing
ton understood the machinery of thi
Government lie had hand in putin
its parts together. jefferson, and Mad
son, and Monroe, understood it. The me
Of later day-Clay, Webster, and Ber
ton had studied it deeply.
All Of these men wore men Of cOmprC
mises. They never suggested the though
that this government could not endure q
our fathers made It, part free and pal
slave. They never hinted the though
that between the North and the Sout
there was an Irrepressible Conflict.
Those men. alas for the country! are n
more. A race Of statesmen have su,
ceeded them who come before the peop
Of the North, asking them to abandon q
their old notions about Union and Peac
taught them by Clay and Webster. The
ask them to join in crusade against Il
Southern people. They invite the
to seize the Government Of the who
country, and initiate revolution. Wit
everything to make usa cOntented, happ
and prosperous people, we are asked
take step in the dark and that step {
the brink Of destruction. =