Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1861-06-25
Secession and Peace.

fCONTIsCbD.)
Threats of dissoIying the Union have
for the past ten years been the order OF
the dag, at every meeting of Congress,
and in every Presidential campaign, the
,rstensible cause being the growth of Alb
olitionsm 1t is true that, on the subject
II slavery, public sentiment at the North
worse, which eliminated in the passage
Of the so-called Liberty Bills in many OF
the non-slaveholding States But it is no
les. true that the South too, had aban-
3oned its old ground on that sub Jet. and
cherished in its stead views that did little
credit 10 the sense of her public men.
Thus. roombs tried to convince Il Boston
audience that Slavery was the normal
condition Of the negro, and conducive Of
the largest degree Of happiness, both tt
him aud his master; while Gov Adams
Of Soath Carolina, frankly recommended
tie re-opening OF the African slave TRACE
IN his annual message to the Legislature
IN fine, Slavery had, by common consent,
become "a divine institution While
rhus the subject of Slavery was being agi
rated, North and South, it is no wonder
that Congress should have largely parta-
ken Of the contagion. That august body
actually contemplated foisting upon Kan
,lS the Lccompton Constitution, Of infa-
NOUS memory. and under it to admit her
into the Union-a proceeding recommend
Il BY that weak minded old man, who has
ample leisure now ut Whcatiand to think
~Aat plant tool he was III the hands oil
his Southern friends This attempt to
force the blessings OF Slavery upon an
unwilling people excited the Indignation
Of the conservative men of the North, and
awakened them TO the real desi rs of the
unscrupulous politicians Of the South 1t
nas frustrated, Of course, as it deserved
10 be; but here the matter did not rest
Southern men were not thus to be bafiled
IN their labors to extend the area Of slave
-.rritorv and thus check the power Of the
rec States, which had already gained a
decided numerical advantage If they
could not subjugate Kansas. they could
insist that Slavery was the Constitutional
status Of the Territories, and, as such.
entitled to the protection Of the Federal
Government; and this drove matters to 4
crisis II the Northern Democrats. who
had always been the too faithful friends Of
she constitutional rights Of the South,
accepted that doctrine. then there was
+tron. hope Of adding to slave territory
if. on the contrary, they rejected it, then
the South was denied her constitutional
rights, and, consequently could no longer
ind i compatible with her honor and
safety Ia remain IN the Union Fortu-
nlte}y, the Democratic party of the North
promptly condemned the wicked hcresv.
an now were showercd accusations and
i"nun:ia,ions long and sweeping upon its
aero,.l head ct is a humiliating truth
IN the experience of Northern Democrat,
rhlt, having all their life time guarded the
Constitutional rights of all sections, ut tn >
no>tof being misunderstood and oitcntimcs
abused n home, they were At last charged
With in,incerity and deception 10y those
Who ought t have been most grateful )
The result vas obvious write it in letters
- cold and remember it always: the ricrS
~, tie .Sout3 on TIE subject Of .Sltrcry
e~ere )" uit'' as 1T ia<t 10 drirc Tie DeD.-
"rrofie party ot' Tie North from their sup
port ai"l il asa,e the Ayrtd q ,,aif IN OPP
po<jfio" to is pro- <iarrry poIiy The
rriSis, then, provoked ~ the utraism o,
tie South, had come at las; hcncelorrh
secession went to work in earnest u
never before, ANA the election Of Mr.
Lincoln was to he the Signal, ~ 1t wa,
aad" tho cause far il, final oonsum-
amtion
trn Continued