The Van Buren press., 1869-08-17
Pollard's Letter.

people of the North, by the late Virginia
election. The tone of this letter is good
and sounds well. 1t speaks, doubtless,
the sentiments Of Mr.. POLLARD, and he,
perhaps, depicts the state Of affairs as
seen by two classes of Southern men,
truly,
With this difficult problem we leave
him to grapple, and propose to call at
tcntion to an idea suggested by this letter.
1t is, that the Virginia election is the
first step--and long one, too--towards
the amnhilation of Southern political in
diridUo'ity.
This in itself is cause for great JOY in
the hearts of all true patriots and sincere
lovers of the institutions Of our fathers.
If we forget the fact that this election is
the starting point for new system of
politics, and will doubtless result in n
general amnesty and universal enfran-
cllisement, and may finally result in a
complete overthrow of the party in pow
er, whose sole aim seems to be to OPP
press, harrass and rob the people, still
we look with unalloyed satisfaction upon
the overthrow of Southern political indi,
viduality. And why so?
The Constitution was framed for the
people of the North and Of the South, for
the free State and for the slave State, and
by peryersion, as dangerous as it was
uncalled for, feeling of antagonism
grew up between the sections. A hand
full of puritancal fanatics, who had first
sold their slaves and pocketed the mon
cy, began crusade against the institu-
ton Of slavery, which finally resulted in
the deplorable civil war just passed. The
doctrine advocated by this faction, stri.
king at the existence of millions Of prop
erty, naturally begot bitter animosity in
the minds and hearts Of the Southern
people who were the owners of the slaves.
BY degrees this quarrel found its way in
to the halls Of Congress, and soon this
faction grew into great party with pre-
tensions of nationality. The famous
MASON and DIxoN's line helped to indi-
vidualizs the two sections. Estrangc-
ment naturally followed, and no people
ever lived who entertained more despe-
rate and bitter animosity towards each
other than the people Of the North and
of the South. Political individuality in
the South became necessary and fore
ed consequence. Laudablc emulation
was changed to bitter rivalry, and sec,
tonalism became the leading feature in
all our national contests. Our national.
ity began to wane and soon the South
sought, after the example of Massachu-
setts peaceful separation. The war set
tied the question of the ability of the
South to divide the Union and maintain
separate existence. This settled, it
became the duty of all patriots to resume
at once the posion occupied before the
war, slavery being destroyed. This in
stitution having been sacrificed in the at
tempt Of the South to separate, it became
no longer necessary for a sectional party
If the party in power at the close Of the
war, had recognized fully the doctrine Of
State individuality, and such sovereignty
as is guaranteed by the Constitution, the
Union would at once have been fully re-
stored, and Southern political individual
ity would then have fallen to rise no
more. Persecution kept this alive and
a. necessary consequence also kept
alive the political individuality of the
North.
Sectionalism and nationaism cannot
long exist under the same written Con-
stimtion. Sectionalsm is strife, nation
alisr is peace and order. The Virginia
election is triumph Of the national feel
ing Of the people Of that State. 1t is the
christening of new party. That party
may be called one thing or another. 1t
matters not. The end is accomplished
Peace really dawns upon our distracted
country. The South having thus aban
doned her peculiar ideas and forfeited
her individuality, the North must soon
follow her example, and we may conf
IDENTIFY expect soon to see the country,
one country. When scctionalism is known
no longer in politics, prosperity comes
and corruption must fee before the COM
ing of honest men.
The Capitol of our country will. we
confidently hope, soon cease to be n pub
icnuisance and huckstering stall Men
in high place must cease to be bought
aad sold, at the expense of the interests
of the people. Political jobs must at
least be done secretly and not id the face
OF day, to the scandal and disgrace
VI our country in the eyes of the civil
lied world. The abandonment Of South
ern political individuality is the death of
Northern individuality-and one country
we may now hope for the destiny design
ed for us by the COP Of Nations.
DIVINE SERyfcE.-The Rev. JouN SAN