Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-18
AG1TAr1Ne THE SLAVERY QUESTION.

We notice that sundry persons in different
parts of the country, have been, land probably
still are,l preparing and circulating petitions
asking congress to "let the niger question
alone" and attend to other business. This
may perhaps be excusable in those who can
find no better business. Probably those en-
gagged in the movement claim monopoly of
this "nigger question" holding that none but
themselves have right to agitate it. 1t is
quite certain that they are now as they always
have been, the principal and most mischievous
agitators in all the land, and it is by means OF
this agitation that they get excitement for
their antipathies and play their game of parti-
Fan politics. They are incapable of getting
on without it, and TO make their business
worse, they agitate in behalf Of siave,y, and ct
the same time stand up before the world, and
jeer, curse, libel the abolitonists, with that in
comprehensive stupidity that assumes that
man can not be accused of agitation until he
begins to speak against slavery.
The present congress has had but little to
do with the slavery question. A few of the
members have discussed it, occasionally, on
their own account but without any result. If
the petitioners we refer to had opened a cor
respondence with some of these gentlemen
with Hon Owen Lovejoy, for instance, we
would leave them to the joy OF reading his re-
plies and answering them II they would give
him such an outlet for his vehement antago-
nism to slavery and its defenders, perhaps he
would say less about the matter in congress.
They would at any rate seem much wiser, and
perhaps be more successful than is possible
for them while troubling congress with i'm.
pertinent petitions. Besides, Mr. Loveioy
would answer them with great satisfaction to
himself and give them something to think of
and to talk about for all the coming year. If
they must agitate the slavery question in that
way so persistently, we hope they will see
and appreciate the reasons for emitting their
hypocritical pretenses of concern Tor the well
fare OF the country.
If this slavery question would let congress
and the country alone, there would seldom be
an occasion for discussing it, or even naming
1t, in connection with our national politics
But it has not let the country alone. The ag
itation OF that question, with the purpose of
having slavery recognized and established as
national institution, existing not by authori.
ty OF local laws but by virtue of the federal
constitution ITSELF has been the chief business
OF the secession conspirators for the last
twenty-five years. Andrew johnson deserib-
ed them accurately, one day in the senate in
areply he made to Mason of Virginia. Mason
had said that Johnson's homestead bill was an
abolition contrivance," whereupon johnson
replied sharply :-"Ifthe Lords prayer or the
ten commandments should be read in the sen.
ate, the gentleman from Virginia would be
sure to find niger in them"
In the loyal states, those reasonable con
spirators have sympathizers, who say it is nc
worse for them 10 levy armies for the destruc
ton of the Union, than for other men 10 de-
nounce slavery as bad institution, and who
desire nothing so much as to have them re.
turn to their old work OF malignant agitation
for the agrandzement of slavery. But the
nope OF these secret friends of treason will
fail. The purpose Of this war is to save tbe
union aud give it permanent security. and il
will succeed.