Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-02-01
From tie London Times Jan. 5.
The SoHthern States Have SInRed
More than the Northern.

Nobody, either on the one side or
the etheI-neither MIR. Lincoln, the President
elect, nor MT. Buchanan, the President in Of
tlce--has condeseended to bestow a single ar
gumaut on that proposition from which the
Free soiers originally set out. They started
fron the principle that Slavery was, in its very
nature and essence, q disgrace to-a Ghristisn
people and civilized land. AT thai tine there
were bardly tEo opinions on the abstract pro-
posifson. What was said for the South was
moi hat Slavery was defensible institution 10
ltsel hnt thai ii was an existing one; that it
had aeen inherited from the earliest times of
tho Commonwealth, and encouraged by long
coas . Of Legislation; that the abrupt enfrau-
cAiranent 0s millions ct Slaves Ras thing
impossible, AID that the work of abolition must
be most carefully considered, even if it were
not remitted, 10 default of any practicable
scheme, to the insensibie operation of time
itself. Nobody, however, denied that Slavery
was an evil, or that certain citizens OF she Union
might Justltiably exert themselves to compass
the removal of such an evil frem their common
country. Foremost among these proposals stood
naturally their resolution TO prevent the evil
from growing Ii they could not, for the press
ent, make Slavery any better, az lesst theY might
take care that il grew 10 worse. They might
keep the blot from spreading, ani so provide by
timely Legislation that no new State of the
Union should be Infected with The disorder
which had been inherited by the old onos.-
That was the original theory of the Abolition
ists, and we reproduce it for the cake of show
ing It's moderation aud its jastice. Consider
ing what slavery is, aud must be- sidering
the Infinite evils which ii necessarily engenders,
will any one say that the people of New Eng
land had not right TO declare that it ought
not to exist within the Territories of the Ameri-
can Union; that the soil of free people should
be free soil to all, and that an institution
which b,emlshed the Union In the sight of the
world should be abolished as soon as prudence
would permit, and con6oed to the narro west
limits possible until the time of that consumma-
tlou should arrive?
Nevertheless, that position of ths Northern
States Is uow utterly overlooked. The Guar
aeter of Slavery, as a national institution is
left without word OF comment. AL the ar
gaments proceed on the assumption that the
controversy is one between the North aud the
South. in which the South holds oue opinion
and tue North another, and each with equal
justice. No one thinks Of asking whether the
principles for which South Carolina is contend
Ing are admissible in themselves. AIR. Buch-
anan, especially, addresses himself 70 the subs
jeot as u such view ot ii never entered his
mad. He argues as if tho difference between
the Northern aud Southern States of the Uuion
was simply differen of tarig, or disputed
boundary, or a contested jurisdiction. lie
never gives thought to tue fact that what the
Free States require they are morally justified
in requiring, while what the Slave States de-
lnand they can demand only at the cost of hu-
mAnity and right. He even goes to the length
OF afirning- so strangely has the contest de-
generafed-tbat the New Englauders have no
night to discuss the question of Southern Sla-
very at all. He says that the usages Of the
Carolinas are no more 30 them than the ihsti-
iutions of Russia or Brazil, and that their med
ding with such matters partakes Of ifnperti-
nence. 1t this be SO, we can only say that the
'sUnion" of America must be so utterly unsub
stantlal that it may as we'll be dissolved at
once. If the people of Massachusetts, are so
absolutely without interest or concern in the
affairs of Georgia that they have no tide even
TO discuss the question of Georgian Slavery,
the separation Of the two Sfates cannot be much
wileued BIZ a rupture OF the Federal Union.--
Ii the South really stands 30 the North in the
relation only of Brazil or Russis, matters viii
not be changed by the dissolution Of noDi-
nal soniederacy, TOR the States eoaid not well
bccoWe more strange 10 each other than this
taeory would represent them to be already
But, Of course, we dispute the fact The peo
pie of the American Union are in tho eyes of
the world Que people--nus only as spriDging
from the same stock, speaking the same lam
guage, and owning the same blood, but as act
ing through tue same Government, and sailing