Year: 1861




the danger which threatens our country
That danger is not recent or new. 1t
has history. And we must glance at
that-We must obtain a clear view of the
actual state Of the crisis, before we can
give or receive intelligent counsel.


1t was announced few years ago that
the conflict which had sprung up in this
country between free and slave labor was
irrepressiblc - that house divided against
itself could not stand-that all the States
of this Union must become free or slave
States.


The meaning of this was, and is, that
all were to become free States, for the soil
and climate of a majority Of the States arc
such that it never can become the interest
of the superior race 10 maintain slavery
in them. Everybody knows this, and
therefore the alternative form OF the
proposition was only to give it an appear
ance Of fairness and a little more material
effect.


The full scope and meaning of the an
nouncemcnt are, then, that citizens of the
United States are to be totally divested
of the property they now hold in four or
five millions of slaves, Of the aggregate
value of many hundred millions of dol.
lars, and that the habits and domas tic
condition of the peoplc-their commercial
relations, and their political rights, in so
far as those interests are connected with
the institution of slavery, are to undergo
a revolution.


Nor was this prediction the voice of an
obscure and unhonored prophet, but of a
citizen whom the free States have just
distinguished in q signal manner, by con-
lcrring on him the highest Office they had
to give. In so far as their votes are to
be considered as responsive to his an
nounccment, they are a loud amcn-a
solemn answer, so 'et IL be.


Whilst it is not to be doubted that mul.
titudes voted for the President elect with
other views. and did not intend distinct
endorsement of his favorito proposition,
yet, as the record is made up, the prophc-
cy aud the prophet stand approved by a
ma aiority of the free States. The inexor
able exclusion Of slave property from the
common territories, which the Govern
ment holds in trust for the people of all
the States, is natural and direct step
towards the grand result Of extinguishing
slave property, and was one of the record
issues of the late election. This policy
must be considered as approved also
Not that every man who voted for the
successful nominees meant TO affirm that a
trustee for several cocGual parties has a
right, in law or reason, to exclude the
properly Of some and admit that of others
Of the partie, for whom he holds but so
! is the record. And whilst it is not to be
taken as expressing the umirers0L sense
of the voters, it does undoubtedly imply
that vast masses Of Northern people Go
heartily approve both of the proposition
! to make all the States free and of begin
ming by excluding slavery from the Ter
I rtories


The South seems inclined so to accept
the Judgment, She holds the property
that is to be shut out Of the territories
tina. is to be restricted, cribbcd and con-
fined more and more until it is finally ex-
tinguished. Everywhere in the South the
people are beginning to look out for self
defence. Could it be expected that she
would be Indifferent to such events as have
occurred hat she would stand idle and
see measures concerted and carried for
ward for the annlhlation of her property
in slGyes


There is reason in the boast that the
States shall all be free. There is good
ground to apprehcnd the extinction of
property in slaves, al New England has
decreed it.


The great States Of New York and
Ohio have repeated again and again the
decree, Pennsylvania seems to have
sanctioned it. The North western States
stand for the present committed to it.
/ What hope is Lett for the Union! Is
there a man in this assembly who dreams
that this conflict can 90 on and the Union
lat! If there be, that man is beside him.
self; he has lost his wits l will reason
with no such man.


[Judge Woodward then proposes as a
remedy for the evils, that Pennsylvania
take the lead in calling Convention for
amending the Constitution, with view tc
strengthen the Goyernment and settle the