Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-14
CONVERSATIONAL.
s.1r-saturday, after our report closed


IL 10 only sixty DAYS since this disunion move
nent hogan; already the disuuionists have can
vessed the possible recombnations OF The states
when discovered, and alliances Of those recomoi-
nations with European nations, as unnatural, and
which would prove ultimately rs pesttlentai 70
society here as that Of the Tlascalans with the /
spaniards who promised them revenge upon their |
ancient enemies, the Aitecs.
Secondly-The movement arises partly ont OF |
dispute over the common domain Of the United
States. Hitherto, the Union has confined this
by referring it, with all other national ones, to
the arbitrament Of the ballot-box. Does any one |
suppose that disunion would transfer the whole |
domain to either party or tnst any oip nn Smpre
Thirdly-It also arises out OF the relation OF
African slaves to the domestic population Of the
country. Freedom il to them, as to all mankind,
the chief object Of desire. Hitherto, under the
operation Of the Union, they have practically re-
mained ignorant Of the controversy, especially Of
Its bearings themselves. Can we hope that
fragrant civil war shall rage among ourselves In
their very presence, and yet that they win remain
stupid and idle spectators! Does history furnish
any satisfactory instruction upon horrors OF
civil war among people 80 brave, SO skilled In
purpose, az we are' Is 1t mere chimera which
suggests an aggravation Of those horrors beyond
endurance when, on either side, there shall OCCUR
the Intervention Of an uprising ferocious African
slave population OF four or six, perhaps twenty
The opinions of mankind change, and with them
the policies Of nations. One hundred years ago
all the commercial European States were engaged
in transferring negro slaves from Africa to this
hemisphere To-day all those States are firmly
set In hostility to the extension and even to the
practice Of slavery. Opposition to IL takes two
forms-one European, which 10 simple, direct ab-
clifton, effected If need be- by compulsion; the
other American, which seeks to arrest the African
slave trade, and resist the entrance Of domestic
slavery into territory where IL Is vet unknown,
while 1t leaves the disposition of existing slavery
to the considerate action Of the States by which 1t
IL retained.
1t is the Union that restricts the opposition to
slavery in this country within these limits. IL
dissolution prevail what guarantee shall there be
against the full development here of the fearful
and incorporating hostility to slavery which
| elsewhere pervades the world, and Of which the
recent invasion Of Virginia was an illustration
Practically, the loss Of safety involves every
other form Of public calamity
Dissolution would extlnguish the greatness of
our country II separate confederacies could ex-
list and endure they could preserve share Of the
| common prestige Of the Union. The stars,
whether scattered widely apart grouped in
smaller clusters, will shed forth feeble glimmer-
ing and urid lights. Nor will great &c Movements
be possible for the new confederacies Dissolu-
tiCn would sgnalize It's triumpbs by acts of wan
| tonness which would shock and astound the
| world. IL would give this capitol over to desc
lation at the very moment when the dome is rising
| over our heads that was to be crowned with the
| statue of Liberty I.
No petty confederacy that shall follow the
Il
jestic drama Of national progress. Perhaps IL Is
| to be arrested because its sublimty Ia incapable
| Of continuance. Let ii be so IL we have indeed
become degenerate.
| The public prosperity how could Ii survive the
| storm! Its elements are material improvement
that knows no obstacle and has no end; invention
What ranges throug bout the domain Of nature; in
| crease OF knowledge as broad as the human mi nd
can explore; perfection Of art as high as human
| genius can reach; and social refinement working
FOR the renovation Of the world.
How could our successors prosecute these noble
objects In the midst Of brutaliZing civil conflict!
| What guarantees will capital invested for such
! purposes have, that will outweigh the premium
offered by political and military ambition? What
| leisure will tho citizen find for study, or inven
ton, or art under the reign Of CONSUMPTION; nay
| what interest in them will society feel, when feal
| and hate shall have taken possession Of the ma
tional mind, With standing armies consuming
| navy and our postal steamers withdrawn from tn.
| ocean, who will protect respect, or who viii
even know by name our petty confederacies,
| Public liberty, own peculiar liberty, mus
| anguish for a time, and then cease to live AND
| such liberty. free movement everywh here througl
our own land and throughout the word; fire.,
| speech, free press, free suffrage; the freedom O
every subject to vote on every law and for O.
against every agent who expounds, ad ministers
| or executes. Unstable and Jealous confederacies
constantly experimenting assaults without anc
/ treason Within formidable only to each other anC
| contemplate to all beside; how long will IL b
before, the plea Of public safety, they will sur
render all their inestimable and unequalled lib
erty, and hateful and intolerable espion
| age Of military despotsm
What Is the cause for this sudden and eterna
| sacrifice OF so much safety, greatness, happiness
AID freedom? Have foreign nations combin ned
| and are they coming in rage upon us! No 8
far from being enemies, there 10 not a nation O
earth that 10 not an interested, admirng friend
Even the London Times, by no means partial {
! | US, says:
at lis quite possible that the problem of a den
ocratic republic may be solved by Its overtime,
In few days in spirit Of folly, selfshness, an
, shorisghtedness "
Has the Federal Government become tyrannic,
!. | or oppressive, or even rigorous or unsOund! HI
the Constitution lost Its spirit and all at once co
| lapsed into a lifeless letter7 No; the Feders
| Government smiles more benignantly, and work
to-day more beneficial than ever The ConstitU
ton Is even the chosen model for the organizatio
| of the newly rising confederacies.
The occasion Is the election of a President of th
United States, who is unacceptable to portion
| the people. i state the case accurately. Thei
was no movement Of disunion before the balIo
| which expressed that choice were cast Disunio
E | began as soon as the result was announced. TT
, just hcation Ii assigned was that Abraham LII
coin had been elected, while the success of ith
one OF three other candidates would have BET
, | acquieseed in.
!, Was the election illegal No; 1t is uuimpeacl
:, able. Is the candidate personally ofensivsi N
j he Is man of uDblemished virtue and amiab
manners Is an election of President an unfr
d quent or extraordinary transaction? No; we new
ndu Snici ndAlbIdtc OLQefWlSe gn1te0 ths
4 by such election, and that form of choice is 7
newed every four years. Does any one even Or
pose TO change the mode Of appointing the Chi
9 Magistrate, No; election by universal suffrag
= as modified by the constitution, is the one crow
!, ing franchise Of the American people To sa
. IL they would defy the world. Is il apprehendt
u that the new President will usurp despotc powe
e No. while he is Of all men the most unambiti on
be Is, by the partial success Of those who oppos
his election, subjected to sach restraints that
cannot, without their consent appoint minis,
= or even police agent, negotiate treaty, or pr
l. cure the passage Of a law, and can hardly draw
musket from the public arsenals to defend his ov
person.
u What then, is the ground Of discomfort, II
II that the disunOnsts did not accept as conclusi
le the arguments which were urged In behalf of q
successful candidate in the canvass. This 10 a
Were thsir own arguments against him mo
], satisfactory TO his supporters! OF course tn
y | were not they could not be.
Does the Constitution require or imply that 4
arguments Of one party shall be satisfactory
o | the otheri No. What is the const tutionaI reI
"a | edy for this inevitable dissatisfaction? Renew,
j. debate and ultimate rehearing in subseq ne
| election. Have the successful maIority %,
"a verted power to purposes Of oppressionf No; tn
Is have never before held power
+ How gladly would the people Of any nation
10 | Europe accept, on such terms as we enjoy IT, 1
boon OF electing a Chief Magistrate every 10
hTR. \