Primary tabs

1

The Cairo City Gazette Friday, June 10, 1859.

It is perhaps, unfortunate for the American people that they are naturally so prone to attend to their neighbor's affairs, and at the same time to neglect their own duties. This inclination is evident in our intercourse with foreign nations, but is more readily seen in the course pursued by citizens in the various portions of the Union toward their neighbors. For years have a class of uneasy, meddling spirits in the north been assiduously endeavoring to effect a change in the domestic institutions of the south, and in turn southern demagogues have as ardently and as piously disclaimed against the northern manufacturing system and the northern poor "white trash." The abolitionists can by no possible manner be benefitted by setting loose the three million slaves at the south, nor the pro-slaveryites one whit bettered if negroes should supplant free labor in the cotton manufactories of New England. Both parties know this truth, full well, but such is their innate love of meddling with affairs which do not concern them, that for their lives they cannot resist the impulse. — Public opinion is the great conservator in American affairs; but public opinion has never yet been firmly and boldly opposed to the schemes of these contemptible intermeddlers on the contrary; so long and so persistently have they followed their impulse that in several sections where they are most numerous, they have given tone to public sentiment, or at least been able to check great hostile demonstrations from the classes which pay attention to their own concerns. "Nigger" is an unending source of anxiety of both sections — the abolitionist would place the degraded and depraved negro servants of the south upon a level, social and political, with his master; and the slavery-propagandist, fired with philanthropic zeal, would carry the war into Africa and compel the pagan tribes to embrace Christianity and civilization, by "emigrating" them to the sugar and cotton plantations of the south. Such is the sum and substance of those vile agitators who keep our country in constant turmoil, — each, under different pretexts, are courting the same end — a closer connection with "nigger;" and more of it.

Some time since a master attempted to rescue a slave, who had taken refuge at that abolition hole, Oberlin, Ohio — the aid of the U.S. authorities was invoked, and the U.S. Marshal attempted to make the arrest, as required by law. The marshal was resisted by a party of white fanatics, who scouted the idea of submission to federal authority, and swore no negro in that town should be given up. For this the parties were arrested, and after fair trial found guilty and sentence passed upon them. Not satisfied with the decision of the inferior court, their case was carried to the supreme court of the State, composed wholly of abolitionists, who it was confidently expected would render a verdict favorable to the prisoners. Their expectations were disappointed and the supreme court decided that United States laws as well as State laws were binding on all alike, and resistance to them was an act deserving severe punishment. Last week, and before the decision of the supreme court of Ohio had been published, a meeting of the Congregational church of Illinois was held at Bloomington, at which the reverend members chose to so far forget themselves as to go out of their proper sphere of church duties and meddle with the internal affairs and politics of the State of Ohio, and passed resolutions sympathizing with the Oberlin law-breakers and virtually recommending resistance on the part of the members of the Congregational church in Illinois to the execution of the laws. — How much better it would have been for those pious ministers to have minded their own business, and instead of stirring up strife and contention among the people, to have preached peace and good will. How different was the mission of their holy Master, and how little they profit by the example He set them of submission and respect to law and obedience to government. If those zealots would be as strenuous in the cause of Christ as in that of abolition, great good would be effected, and that "good time" hoped and prayed for by the holy men of all ages hastened on. "Mind your own business" is a capital motto, and the Congregational clergy of Illinois would do well to adopt it.

Share