North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-10-01
Terms of Union.

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When the war of the revolution was ended
the colonies, now risen to the dignity of inde-
pendent soveregnties, were left to consider
their position with reference to each other
and to the external world. The necessity for
an alliance, offensive and defensive, was man.
ifest to all minds. 1t was necessary for pro-
lection against foreign foes. But such an al
lance was by no means sufficient for the
wants of the young States. 1t became very
clear to the minds of men that if State We're
a member of such confederacy for the mere
purposes of self defence, without any binding
interests in the affairs of the other States,
there might be occasions when self-interest
would induce the abandonment of the all-
ance, or when foreign temptations would ov,
ercome the power of American sympathies.-
In fact, it was necessary that the mutuality
of interests among the States should be made
as nearly as possible perfect. Union was the
necessity, and Union implied almost if not ab-
soluto unity. But unity was clearly imposs-
ble. The creation Of one Central Govern
ment and the abandoning of State powers was
not to be thought Of The separate interests
of the colonies appeared too great when view
ed in that light. The problem, therefore, be-
fore the fathers, was the establishment of one
government for purposes in which Union was
desirable, while separate governments remain
ed, independent in :heir powers as to all
those matters in which Union was unnecessa-
ry or impossible.
The same principles on which they acted
with reference to forming the Union, are prin-
cipes necessary to be understood with refer
ence to preserving it. If we had never pos
sessed any territories outside Of the States, it
is possible we should never have come to a
collision with one another on the subject of
slavery. But that is by no means reason
for supposing that either territorial possess
ions or slavery is a necessary cause of war
and disagreement. The property quarrelled
about is not the cause of the quarrel between
two partners who proceed from disputes to
blows, over their dividends. The dispositions
responsible cause of the collision.
In fact, no calm and considerate mind can
doubt that the radical character of men on
both sidas of the ssavsry question is the re-
sponsible cause Of our paesent trouble. We
do not pause now to sty on which side the
radicalism was first manifested.
1t becomes men now to study the principle
of Union on which the Constitution was form
ed, and on which alone the nation can be pre-
served. 1t is an idle and vain idea, the most
superficial of ideas, which some men are con-
stantly preaching, that the abolition of slave
ry will be the end of differences. 1t is their
intolerance of slavery that is the real dificu
ty. These identical men who cannot live in
Union with slaveholding States are men.
who, after that question is disposed Of will
find that they cannot live in a Union with
Roman Catholics. They will pronounce the
Constitution covenant with death and an
agreement with hell because under it a cler-
gyman of the Church of Rome is permitted to
celebrate the mass and teach the doctrine of
real presence, or becsuse it protects Jewish
RABBI in denying tho Messiahship of Christ.
If their principle of Union is allowed to pre-
vail, we shall plunge hereafter into religious
wars, and whenever, as is very likely to oc-
eur, New England or any other portion of the
country becomes affected with a ri gious
mania, as it has been with an anti-slavery
mania, we shall have an attempt made to in
troduce religion into politics, to elect officers
on religious platforms, to evade the Constitu.
tion for the sake of enacting laws to interfer
with freedom of worship, and if this class of
men obtained power, we should have Jews
Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians or