The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1861-01-02
POLITICAL ASPECTS.

C'" tnSs Al iuleI GAYS ouI DC
loved country has been a.iia:ed b,
strife and contentious: bu. never wa
there period in It's history when "mad
ness 90 ruled the hour" as now. In
deed. reason appears to have left lars.
portion oi our people. and patriotism
ceased 10 animate their hearts or find ;
place in their bosoms.
Strange as il may seem, men wht
have derived all their benefits; th-i
wealth and position from the govern
ment Of ,h. United States. body, ane
with unblushing faces. declare that III.
Federal Union is OF no value, ant
Republicanism failure!
Were We travelling in some disian,
land. aud felow-citizen should b.ina
us word ;ha, such declarations had been
deliberately pu. forth by men ,f stand.
ing. and approved BY leading editors oi
tins great nation, We should scoul him
as slanderer of our native land, no,
Tor . moment believe The report. But,
alas +! it is too true Wnh our own eve.
We have seen the fearful proof ! Free.
men Of this free land. are ihi, day ad
vocating return to monarchy. b. fo,,
us is the sad evidence, or We should vel
be doubtful
And for villa; are these things so
There is, We are sure. from the over
whelminS evidence piled up ON the sui.
lect.bui one true solution OF this seem.
ingiy unsol,sble enisma-:he slavehol-
ders Of The far Southern States desire
10 have the African Save trade re- open.
ed; and ss 'ney see no hope OF attain
ing their object in the Union. they wish
10 get oas Of it for thar purpose. With
them Slavery is above every thing else
above country. above the. Union,
above religion. ..
They say they mus: have moro saves,
and have them cheaper-lha: negroes
imporie. from Africa will cost them
but two hundred to three hundred dol.
lars each. While tEose imported from
Virginia. Maryland Or Kentucky cos
them from one thousand 10 fifteen hun
dred dollars each; and it is TO get the
negroes at the reduced prices hat they
wish to have the Slave Trade with
Africa opesel.
This is the real secret Of the trouble;
bat it has several importan, adjunr,s.
one Of tie most neiat!e OF wi.,c.i-if.
indeed, u IS not quite as imporIant-is
the GROWN; desire % have Southern
Confederscy consolidated into mon
archy.
We would not make these assertions
were it moi that the proof is positively
irrefa.abl,; AMI the questions here
spoken Of daily discussed at the Scuh
The leading men and leading Journals
lend themselves to the propagation of
these sentiments. and they are unque,.
,ionab!y taking deep hold upon lie
southern people.
II is advocated. that q state may Sc
cede from the Union at pleasure. THIS
is . most fallscious theory. There is a
mutual contract on :he part Of each
State with all the rest when enter,u.
the Confsderacy. and that contract can
not BE- .nauled At will BY any OF tie
parties to il without the consent Of the
other contracting parties. This is a
plain case, and one Which enters into
almost all business Transactions.
Besides. il i, be admitted tha, State
can secsde at pleasure. Tor any cause
which Il may deem sufiicien, land each
State By this theory is made the sole
and inaI judge Of what Is sufficient,
cause for secession then We may pur
chase Cuba or Canada this year TO. two
hundred millions. cr five hundred mil
lions. AMI next year they can go "at of
the Union and set up for themselves
The thing is prepo,;erous aul the idea
never would hare been Eu. forth. but
for the fact tha: those who advocate
such n,onstIous doctrine are nj heart
enemies Of The Union and wi.k to src il
dissolved.
II is to be regretted tha, the present
condition Of things exists-very much
indeed: bu. what should be done {? ToI
look at the case iron, ono stan! point
il seems like there is no escape from,
di&cul,y: Cor vl,ols states seem to b.
astisg. aud treason is rife every where.
Guns are fred in honor Of reasonable
ssiion; and the people appear TO be per-