The Placer herald., 1861-02-02
Communicated
The National Crisis-No. l.


zens east of the Rocky Mountains are willing to
admit this. By reason Of the intelligence OF
our people, aided by our isolation from the ir-
ritating causes of contention, we are Letter able
to form sober, correct, national views OF the
rights and the wrong of the contcnding sections,
than they can. Let us, then, in u spirit OF fair
ness and candor investigate the matter with all
the intelligence we can bring to bear. No one
can doubt but that crisis is upon the Nation.
The spectacle presented, by that aged statesman,
Jno J. Crittenden. standing in the U. S. Senate
with his white hairs, his uplifted. imploring
hands, his prophetic warning vol G, declaring be-
fore God, that the Union WAS rent in twain, un-
less something was done TO prevent it-of that Of
the venerable Lewis Cass with streaming eyes,
in pathetic sols bemOaning his sad fate. in hav-
ing lived to see the destruction of his country
as also the testimony of many other sagaclons
and experienced public men, leave us no room
to hope ..or loop to hang doubt upon" The
torch Of dscord is blazing forts and magazines
have been seized: ten thousand troops prefer
their services to South Carolina; Pennsylvania
and Massachusetts, are upon the point Of raising
forces; too soon blood will be she'd; and then
the martial notes of the trumpet and drum, will
summon the contendins legions toj terrible
strife.
The body of the people seem infatuated with Il
sense Of security; tie Nation does not appear to
realize the real danger upon it, Yet the archi
tects of this Government long since, warned us
of this sectional strife one of t fruitful
causes, shoulG it ever take fast hold upon the
passions of our people that would shiver to
fragments the fair fabric they had erected, JEFF
ferson in 1920 salt, "a geographical line. cOinci-
ding with Il marked principle. neral and polti-
cal. once conceived and held up to the angry pas
sions of men, will never be obltcratc,l; aud ev-
cry new irritation will make it DEEPER The
existing state Of affairs, vcres this prophcsy.
Who is at fault? The non-slaveholl.ny States
charge il upon the slavehoding States; the lat
ter hurl it back upon the former with equal We
hcmence: and backward and forward are charges
and recrimination bundled each motion fan
ming into fury the already aroused passions.
The North is slow OF action until aroused;
stubborn of will. and to the abstract question of
slavery, they bring the teachings OF at least
twenty years. and the zeal of rri gious martyr.
With singleness Of purpose the Puritan pursucs
bis one idea until his active energies are crown
cd with succe s. or lost in abstract nothingness.
His Rcpublicansm Of to-day, is q broad. inn
practicable democracy. which seeks to confer po-
lical, if not social. equality with the white race.
upon that Of the American defendants of the
African. This desi gn has fastened upon his
will. with all the tenacity of bigotry and egOtsm.
"All men shall have the ballot, or all men
shall have the bullet;'-'all men are created
equal. and endowed with an inalienable right. to
life. liberty and the pursuit Of happiness" says
h." and he includes the American slave in 1.-The
category tf men He looks TO the population of
the non-slaveholding States the aggregate wealth
the puprOipS and imurnV nf .,t n,Ia
and concludes firmly, that those alone the
elements which give strength. stahilt. import
ance. and moral power to The contetlciacy: that
whatever in his view t,chicL can't be ur0ng) is
politically. religiously, or morally wrong, in any
Of the States or territories. he as one Of the ru-
ling power. is responsible for. in the sight of
mtn and God. Hence. discnrding all considera-
ton Of Constitutional settlements he has sworn
in his heart and vowed unto his Maker, that SO
far as his action can effect it. no more slave
States shall grow out Of our common territories;
and come what may. slavery shall be hemmed in,
cleft down, and ultimately destroyed. The
Southerner is impusive. quick of thought and
bold Of action. exacting in his pride. e lous OF
his rights and sudden in his resentment: llc
has the vanity and Ignorance Of provincialist.
offset by the hospitality and good feeling of a
gentleman. Whatever is his is in his sight bet
Ter than any other. and as to his State. it has no
peer in the Union. He reveres its public men.
Z
nation. The memory Of his fathers is sacred.
Having been reared in the mitls, of American
Slavery. he sees nothing wrong in the system
but resents rs u personal insult. the Republican
doctrines of the North. The five million of slaves
he regards us so many naturally inoitnsive cres-
lures who owe him obedience. and he them pro-
lection. but who are nOw being aroused into saw
age animals, to murder him and his kin. Con-
sciOusly believing that his domestic peace is he
ing ruthlessly invaded. his constitutional rights
irample' upon, and his demand for recognition
of his social and pOlit cal rights, treated with
ri'licnle and scOrn. his resolution has become
fixed, to do battle to the last. in order to preserve
the privileges his fathers bequeathcd him. Self
preservation. all the elements Of his nature. hab-
it. education and character incte him to this
course. | wish to speak plain truths, but not to
wound any persons feelings In doing the form
er | have endeavOrcd to draw Il life-sized por-
trait OF the representative man OF the two con-
tending sections
Ilppeal to the travelled mal if the likeness
is not correct? These are the opposing elements,
to I've harmOnized.. these the prcju,lices and pas
sions to be ,llayed before Union in spirit and
strength, is re-rstihlishel in good faith. no
light task to accomplish. AS Ration. it is a
sick man and requires careful nursing. No hasty,
inconsiderate bungler should be allowed to med
die with the patient Experienced scientific
physicians alone should be called in. and they
should prescribe. only after the most careful and
thorough diagnosis. There are too many youths
ambitious Of the honor Of saving the patients life.
too many quacks buzzing arOnnd The invalid.
These fellows would save hi life by much talk.
-ly lecounting his many virtues, the services
he has performed. and if well. what he is eupa-
bic OF in the future; and by swearing eternal
friendship to him. Real friends and covert enc
mics vie with each 9th r, in singing hosnmabs to
his praise. meanwhile the patient is deng OF
the awInl spasms, that are wrenchns apar, his
yitals. Y.
Probate Court.
f. II. VANDEcAR. Judge