Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-24
From the Danrl!e Quarterly Review
OtJR COUNTRY ITS PERIL ITS
DELIVERANCE.
By Rev. ROBERT }. BRECEENRIDGE, D. d.
Danyillc, Kentucky.

J.. |. What we propose is, first, to make
such a s.atemcnt of the condition of af-
fairs as may be of use to upright men, in
enabling them to determine what ought
to be atttemptcd and what can be accom-.
plished, in the way Of preventing the ru-
in Of their country and, secondly, to make
clear to all mon, the position ola vast
party in This country, who desire and who
deserve in all possible events, to be un>
olerstood by postegity-and who, even if
their principles are overborLe and their
counsels are now rejected, may. if they
are faithful 10 themselves, retrieve from
the wreck Of their country, whcteyer sur
wives wner the period Of exhaustion shall
como upon its destructive madness.
2. There is no lesson which the univcr-
sal course Of human affairs teaches so
thoroughly, as their OWE instability. And
vet there is no lesson so hard for men to
learn: nc lesson so pregnant Of results,
land SO little needed. low faithful ought
linen to be when overtaken by defeat and
|odversity--i they would consider that
defeat and adversely, with courage and
wisdom, are preparation for triumph p
How just and folbearing ought men to be
| in the midst OF power and prosperity, ii
they would consider that power and
prosperity in the degree that they are
corrupt, make the road to destruction
broad and sure And how immense. how
unexpected, how e:icCtual are the resour.
ces OF God in the accomplishment ofwhat.
he ordains 10 be results of human cons
duct
8. Look at the actual condition Of pub
lie affairs throughout this great nation
consider whittier they are tendiLg-coa-I
|sider whence that tendency has arisen
BY what means it is propagating
Itself: and then rehecS upon the uneX-|
| |pscted and extraordinary means by winch
|ruiu is overtaking every interest and
hope of the country--and upon the absoc
|lute completeness Of the ruin, when these
means shall have worked til cir full effect.
In state Of security apparently perfect,
land Of prosperity apparently complete
IA small and fierce party scattered through
|some of the Northern States commenced
la systematic and persistent All alton con-
|nected with the Black race on this cont.
|aent and in the heart of their system
Hay this idea, that laws and institutions
|and rights and duties and interest Ct cv-
|erv description ought to give way, if there
was nee, OF 1t, to the accomplishment of
their designs. In the progress of time
and events, and the ruin Of political par
ties, this fundamental idea-which is the
essence Of lawlessness anl anarchy-at-
|taches itself in the public mind of some
|of the Northern States, to that particular
aspect OF the question of the Black Race
(which relates to the Obligation, under the
Federal Constitution, OF delivering fugi- .
Tive slaves ard laws Of various kinds are
passed, throwng TIE weight of State au o.
|thority against the obligation of the very
highest national law. And so the idea
and process Of disntcgration. as the ten
|dency to lawlessness * anarchy strength .
lens, has thus risen from the condition Of |
"a ianaticism, to the dignity Of principle .
|recognized 10y States and asserted in laws. |.
AS II TO warn men Of the breadth of the .
RUIN involved in this tendency, and to
mark the extremity of the peril arising
from its connection with the question of
|4he flack Race, one Of the slave States
had already, under similar. but diroctIv
Opposite endency, formally asserted ite
fright, not only to obstruct the ovoc,iin,,
|of he laws of the United States Lnt -
|nullify them absolutely, and upon i,sov,' @
sole and sovereign discretion So tbot
the spirit of lawlessncss and anarchy IN
Its absolute and universal tendency to
|disintegrate all things though
not first, yet more rapidly, and by more
decisive acts, at the South and at the
North.
4. Once more in the progress of time
|and events, and the ruin Of pc ltical par.
|lies--the whole nation finds itself array.
led, in the last Presidential election, into
:vo opposite parties (of which the de-
Seated one is mad enough to subdivide
tse!f int three and this same question
y tne Black Race, both in the aspect Of
ne rendltion Of fugitive slaves, and in the
spect oi slavery in the Territories-and
eese same questions of supreme law and
avlessness corrected Herewith -
nounung to the highest national impor-
'nce' ahG apparently swallowing up all