Year: 1861

Inc OO1h COIiSuWUofi VI bne "a lnbV.i mas
the following: -.- ..-


The state of American politics, instead Of
growing more tranquil or hopeful, begins to


assume, day by day, an aspect more troubled.
The Secession Party grows more virulent in


their determination, and stronger in their


expressions. Efforts at compromise indeed


are being made, either by those of the Re-


publican Party, who, being successful, feel


that they can afford to be moderate, or by


men who like Mr.. Buchanan, look to the


preservation Of the Union as matter of
more Importance to their common country


than the temporary triumph of either sec


ton. For our own parts, deeply interested
| as we are in the success and prosperity of
| country, which has been the home of FIVE
millions Of our own race, we can not but re-
gard, with the utmost anxiety, these efforts
for the maintenance of peace, and most ear
nestly wish that they may be attended with
/ such success as to avert the threatened dis


ruption of the greatest Republic in the


world.


The most direct step toward the achieve


ment of any compromise is that announced
lately, namely. the appointment of a Conn
mittee of Thirty three, members of the SEN
ate, to concert such measures as might con-
| ciliate and disarm both sides. The bepevo-
| lent intentions which have dictated this
| course are worthy of all praise, but in the
exasperated state of feeling that exists upon


both sides, it is difficult to hope that it can
| produce any very satisfactory solution of the
| difficulty. In one way is it likely to be of


decided benefit. A council of war never
| fights, and a Committee of Thirty-three is


not likely to recommend any very violent
| measure.


Even if no practical suggestion arises from


its deliberations to free the United States


from the awkward situation in which they


are placed, the very delay caused by their
| deliberations may have the effect of allowing


mems passions to cool, their judgment to re-


sumo predominance, and instruct them of


the mutual injury which disruption of the


State would produce. .rt


One satisfactory circumstance may with


some confidence be counted upon that there


will be no civil war. The refusal to re-en-


force the Federal garrison of Moultrie,


which is occupied but by mere handful, is


virtually disclaiming all idea Of resorting to


force to compel the secsders into an unwill-


ing union. This is determination which


must meet the appreciation of all men not


carried away in the whirlwind of party pas


sion. For, however illogical the deduction


of Mr.. Buchanan from his own premises, the


conclusion he arrived at was practically cor


rect.


To assert as he did, that the Federation


had sovereign power over each individual


State, to secede from which was revolution
and yet to deny that the sovereign had the


right to use force to maintain its authority


was theoretical nonsense. But however il
the theory hung together, the practical doc.
trine enunciated was sound and wholesome
The use of force to compel free State SOW.
ereign within ITSELF to remain in Fedora


ton from which it revolted, would be absurd
: Success or failure would be almost equally
disastrous. Failure would of course lower
: the prestige of the whole nation; success
s,,Ar thn nf ~,


country hates bitter and more unrelentinE
than could be experienced from any foreign
b foe.. fraternity or death might be the sim
pie expression of such policy.


There is little need to touch upon the


merits of this question, which have prob
, ably been long ago forgotten by the partie
3 who most Violently agitate it. stranger
we would venture to say, never disturbed
the councils of a nation. The good cause i
supported by the worser section; and Will


we are compelled to give our voices sgains


the Seceders and Southrons, because SLAYER,
i les at the root of their principles we do s.
n with little sympathy for their antagonists
\ AS friends to liberty, we are shocked at tn
j. existence in America of so foul blot upo
:, its name as that If negro slavery; but o.
: the same grounds, we regret that it shoul
e not be opposed in nobler spirit.
= Every narrow prejudice, every illibera


sentiment, every bigoted' movement tha
!, arises in America springs from among tn
g people who nscribe "Aboliton upon thei
q banner. That cry, like charity, has to cove
n multitude of sins. Hence arises the ur
x fortunate mistake of our .countrymen. Cor
e founding the principle with the men som
d have lent their aid to the cause of SLAYER
ot under the name of Democracy. Throug
@ hostility to the wretched section who hav
n prostituted the cause of freedom to bigote
3 or party ends, they have suffered themselvl
n to be allied with those who maintain a
is institution that will, one day, ruin Americ
n How much better would it be if they wer
y by their more generous motives, and mol
se upright political conduct, to strengthen I'll
' cause of liberty, and, in effect, to take it OF


of the hands of the Know-nothings an
an mere trafiicers. i' 90 ia