網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

INTRODUCTION.

THE framers of our government, when confronted in their labours by the question of slavery, prudently turned aside from a topic, which menaced their councils with division, and the embryo constitution with death. They left the unquestioned sovereignty of the Southern States over all connected with this most important branch of their domestic relations, untouched. The controversy was buried, as they hoped, for ever; and they departed from the scene of their labours, in the happy confidence that our country did not contain one man so lost to reason and patriotism, as madly to violate the grave in which they saw this exciting question quietly inurned, and drag it forth to madden and distract the land.

The result has proven that their confidence was ill-founded. Every land comprises men prepared, by nature, for treasons, stratagems, and spoils-men who rejoice to tear open and irritate the wounds of their country, and who seek, with sedulous diligence, for those weak and unguarded spots in the body politic, where it may be struck with the most fatal effect. Of their individual character, it is unneces

sary here to speak. Treason finds disciples of every description and variety. Heated fanaticism and 、reckless villany, hypocritical guile and honest stupidity, often combine to forward the most nefarious plots. Our own country is not without such men. The sun warms the reptile into life; and freedom often animates into existence beings whose life is a reproach and a calamity to her. There are men. who take an unnatural pleasure in the afflictions of their country, and who live only to foment disturb

ance.

There are others, who,

Their nature and enjoyments are like those of the sailors' bird of evil omen, which flutters with delight in the breath of the tempest, looks down upon the foundering wreck, and screams, with exultation, in answer to the shrieks of the wretches who perish in the waves. from a leaden vanity, thrust themselves into matters for which their capacities are not suited. They expend time and money in forwarding the designs of their crafty leaders, and are well satisfied with the sacrifice. These men mistake notoriety for fame; their hearts flutter with pleasure when their names are consigned to the contempt of the public, through the medium of the newspapers; and they hear the hiss of outraged propriety with the complacent smirk of gratified pride. There is another classfanatics-who mistake the promptings of their overheated fancy-the vapours that rise from the molten lead of their own seething brains-for the dictates of inspiration. They are a troublesome race, to whom the tranquillizing chair or strait jacket is the

« 上一頁繼續 »