Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-05-08

lJ Is all Important TO suCCoSstul tTtat-
ment of the subject that the distinction
should be needed. 1t was not, as is
sometimes supposed, Shareholders re-
bellion in its origin. for it is matter of
fact, that the party ut the South to
which shareholders as class were at
tached was not the disunionist party
there.
The sensitiveness which enabled the
leaders of the Democratic party in the
South at any time to unite the South, by
playing on the slavery chord, was not
in tho property nerve. 1t was caused by
that morbid condition inseparable from
the presence OF diverse races in the same
community
To the people of the Union, however,
it was not so important how the result
was produced, the effect was to disfran-
chise them. The people had no share
in the Government. All power was
vested in the clique which dominated
in the South. 1t was to put down this
dominion that the organization which G.
elected Mr.. Lincoln was formed. 1t
was, therefore, against slavery as the
governing power of the country, that
the Republican party rose .as national
party, and not to abo ish slavery as
local institution. This was not only a
vowed in the platform of the party, but
it is manifest that whether the leaders
of that party were sincere or not. the
people who gave them power were sim
cere. We have but to consider their
conduct to see that they at least were
sincere, and it is of no moment to con-
slider whether the leaders we're SO or
not.
There is no mistaking their purpose
in the matter, This is demonstrated by
their action in relation to the compro-
mise of 1850. The terms of that COM
promise were not satisfactory to the
North. But as by common consent, it
was understood to have settled all
slavery questions, they accepted it as a
means of preventing slavery issues, and
thereby to put down slavery as gov
erning power of the Federal Govern
ment. That this is true, is demon
strated by the fact that their public
men, who truly represented the public
will, in contesting the terms of the
compromise, were not counteDanced IN
attempting to disturb the compromise,
and lost their positions, and both par
ties were obliged to proclaim adherence
to it in the contest of 1852. So strong
was this feeling that the main reason
F, for the success of the Democrats in that
contest was that, being the chief au-
thors of the compromise, they were with
reason believed to be more friendly to
it than their antagonists.
had been proviso man myself from
the start, and opposed the dominion of
slavery, but believed that Gen. Pierce,
who had beon a close friend of Silas
Wright, would have sense and patriot
ism enough to oppose any measure in
tended to make the slavery question so
as to enable the Southern clique 20 rule
the nation. l was deceived, and the
country was deceived. The universal
discomfort manifested at his breach of
faith to the nation in the repeal of the
Missouri compromise every one remem-
bers; and if | refer to his unenviable po-
sition now before the country, it IS not
in any unkindness of spirit, but for the
purpose of vindicating the public judg-
nent upon great public measures.
| knew that some persons would ex-
plain the acquiescece of the people in
the compromise measures Of 1850. and
their Indignation at the repeal of the
compromise measure of 1920, by as
suming that the people were ficke and
deficient in judgment, thinking that
those only were logical and consistent
who resisted both these measures, and
who would have persisted in making is
sues on these measures after they were
passed.
But it is just that difference between
the people and that class of persons which
marks the difference in the objects of
the people and the objects of this
class.
The people of the Union have been
willing to leave it to the people of the
States affected by it to deal with the in
stitution, but unwilling that it should
be extended, and unwilling to have the
institution made use of to control the
Federal Government. The ultra anti
slavery men 60 further, and cooperate
with the slave interest in making ques-
tions affecting slavery, but for directly
the contrary purpose. Now, the masses
Of the people do not participate in the
objects either of those who wish to make !
the Government of the Union the active
agent to extend or to abolish slavery,
not because they are Indifferent whether
the institution continues to exist or not;
on the contrary. they are most anxious
to see slavery cxtinguished, and are
ready to cooperate generously in the
work, but they are law-abiding, and
know that by law it belongs to the gov
Of the States to decide that
question.
The slavery government was broken
down by the election of Lincoln by the
people of the North, and they had
right to break it down; and, in my judg-
ment, the effect will be to cxtinguish
slavery, not because the General Gov