Republican Herald

From the Pennsylvanian.

THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION AND THE NORTHERN DEMOCRACY.

Any one who will take the trouble of looking back at the condition of things four months ago, and comparing them with the condition of things at the present moment, cannot fail to be surprised, even with an accurate knowledge of all the facts, at the vast change which has taken place. When the 31st Congress assembled, the whole Whig party of the North, leaders and all, without a single obscure or conspicuous exception were open and bitter in hostility to the South. This opposition was a sacred article in the creed of Northern Whiggery, and was maintained with a unanimity and a zeal not often witnessed in any party. This solid unanimity—this enthusiastic zeal of the Whigs—had also seriously impaired the position of the Democracy, in every Northern State, in regard to the South. Many Democrats came to Washington remembering that General Cass had not been as cordially sustained in the South as he deserved to be; and every local and sectional interest and prejudice, became a new ingredient of dissension and bitterness in the cauldron of censure and complaint. In too many quarters, notions on the subject of slavery, heretofore regarded by the Democracy with disgust, were now either calmly tolerated or tacitly concurred in; and when the subject of providing governments for new territories was broached, 'the disposition to use the strong arm of the majority, and to enforce unjust terms upon the South, was fearfully general. In that crisis, with the whole mass of the Whig party against the South—backed by all the wealth of the great cities of the Atlantic—all the capital of an overgrown and bloated banking system—all the power of a manufacturing interest united together in the bonds of powerful fraternity—how easy was it for weak men to yield and to give way. It was so much more comfortable to accede to a sentiment which professed to be in favor of Human Freedom, than to be denounced by every epithet that could be invented, that many heretofore straight-forward Democrats fraternized with the movement. The ultra radical united with the timid conservative—the noisy Whig with the active Democrat—all the presses of the Whigs, and many of the Democratic papers, preached pretty nearly the same doctrines about slavery, and postponed all other issues—until the fusion became complete, if not universal. Weak men, who wanted office, on both sides, embarked on the movement. Unpopular men, who had long vainly sought to emerge from deserved banishment from public favor became vociferous against the South. Many excellent and pious men made the cause a religious question; and the clergy were almost banded together to excite and exhort the combined parties to action. It was in just such a state of mind that the present Congress opened its session in December, 1849. The South, on the other hand, met equally excited, but more united, against this massive movement in the North; and it will be a subject of curious wonderment to the future historian, how these two angry organizations were prevented from running into each other, and crumbling the whole fabric of the government into a mass of irreparable ruin.

There was but one reason why this awful catastrophe did not take place. The regular and radical Democracy of the North had refused to enter into the conspiracy to break up, not the South—for that was the mere pretext for the wrong—the mere outwork of the fortress—but to tear down and to annihilate the Constitution of the country. Had these men consulted their present ease—had they been intimidated by defeat—had they been afraid of majorities—in a word, had they joined hands with all the Whigs and all the Free Soilers—and united under inflammatory and unscrupulous leaders—and so gone to Washington—HOW LONG WOULD THIS UNION HAVE LASTED? We solemnly believe, not one short month. New Year's Day might have seen the opening secession of the South; and the rejoicing common to the capital on that morning of the year, would have been turned into sadness and grief. How in reason, could it have been otherwise, with the whole north united in favor of the wild schemes of the Wilmot Proviso leaders—united in the utterance of bitter insults, to those who are our brethren and our equals—and united in urging the strength of the majority to weaken and to degrade the minority? Secession and Disunion would have been inevitable consequences.

But the radical and regular Democracy of the North stood firmly by the Constitution. They became the marks of every missile of insult and ignominy. But they were not moved an inch from their attitude. They laughed at every threat of defeat. They trampled under foot all apprehensions of a minority. They had but one object in view, and that was to save the Union, by adhering to the Constitution. In this cause they had already defied the combined assaults of Whigs and Abolitionists. In its defence, many brave and gallant spirits had been compelled to submit to overthrow. They saw how much depended upon their exertions and upon their courage.—They comprehended the extent of the responsibility devolved upon them; and they were worthy of it. Without a thought of themselves, they plunged into the contest, and battled against infuriated organization, led by violent and vindictive men. They did not yield to the ultra demands of the slave interest, but they taught the South that the Constitution had fearless friends among the Northern Democracy, who never would desert it. Their firmness, their decision, their enthusiasm, at last had their effect; and in the first pause of the storm, calm councils prevailed. Reflection brought with it prudence, and consultation, long impossible, produced concession and conciliation. Many of those who were the most active against the South, halted in their designs. Gradually the ranks of the regular Democracy became full. One after another of the Northern States repudiated Northern fanaticism, and the proud banner of Constitutional Democracy was once more planted on many of her ancient citadels. The Whig ultraism came back to reason. The Whig people spoke: and a noble and healthy spirit of fraternity and peace breathed new hope into a desponding cause, and reminded those who had been long estranged, that they were still countrymen and brothers.—

This was a noble work: and nobly was it begun and consummated. It required faith, bravery and enthusiasm to carry it out; but these elements of success were not wanting in the hour of tribulation and trial. Let not those then, who are now praising individuals for their efforts in that dark hour, forget that the preservation of this Union is the duty of the National Democracy, and that it has again been saved by their efforts.