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.

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. There are others, who, 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 class— fanatics-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

only effective argument. Still, they should be regarded rather with compassion than anger, as they make themselves fools from conscientious motives. A fourth class remains to be mentioned, entitled only to our contempt and abhorrence. They affect an enthusiasm which they do not feel. Hypocrisy is their professional pursuit. They live upon cant-cant themselves into influence, luxury, and power; and use their sway over the weak and credulous, to forward schemes of ambition, aggrandizement, or malevolence. These men (and there are such men) are capable of any act, however atrocious; they would dip their hands in human gore, and then, with their crimson fingers, turn over the leaves of the Bible to find a sanction for the deed.

We have fallen upon evil times. Men have been found who do not scruple to tear off the seals which our fathers set upon the question of slavery. They have broken open, with reckless hands, this maga zine, filled with all that can excite and endanger; and are lighting the torch to apply to its materials of fury and desolation. The consequences are such as might have been anticipated. Distrust and fear, indignation and violence, are abroad in our land. Every fibre of our country is quivering with excitement. How could it be otherwise? Our people cannot be expected to stand by, with complacent tranquillity, while mad hands are digging under the foundation stone of our government. They cannot be asked to witness, unmoved, the violation of one of the first of the sacred and unalienated rights of

the States a right achieved by the right arm of our fathers, and hallowed in the baptism of blood-a right which existed before our government was called into being, and to which our National Constitution bows in deference. They cannot be desired to gaze on, without alarm or anger, while treason and fanaticism place the brand and the torch in the hands of the savage negro, and, pointing to the whites, bid him rise and destroy. These things must produce excitement. They must alarum the fears-they must awaken the resentment of the people.

"The flesh will quiver when the pincers tear-
The blood will follow where the knife is driven."

To be indifferent is impossible; and if possible, would be weak and unwise. The people that submit to such wrong will submit to any thing. The freeman who can, without alarm, witness the development of the abolition conspiracy, would scarcely be roused by the "crack of doom." The true patriot, instead of lulling the people into dangerous lethargy, instead of encouraging a slumbrous indifferencewill pray heaven to

"Fool them not so much

To bear it tamely; touch them with noble anger."

The crisis is one which calls for the aroused and excited energies of the nation. It is in vain that we are told that the abolitionists are few and feeblethat they are regarded with contempt, and meet daily with the emphatic expression of popular abhorrence.

Circumstances give them power.

When the train is laid a child may fire it. Such is our situation; and the people are called upon, by all that is dear or sacred to them, to interpose, arrest the brand of the incendiary, and save the country from the calamities which menace it.

The people must be made acquainted with this subject—they must be apprized of the rights of the South, and informed of the hollowness and falsehood of the appeals which are daily made to them by the abolitionists. We do not, at the North, claim a right so to discuss this subject as to disturb or agitate the South; but when reckless men have sent forth, for the worst purposes, hosts of falsehoods, it is our right and duty to step aside and crush the misbegotten and dangerous brood. This, and this alone, is our aim.

The incendiaries appeal only to the passions; and endeavour, by falsehood and misrepresentation, to mislead and excite the unthinking. Their arguments consist altogether of specious but misty and unintelligible abstractions. They industriously endeavour to enlist religious feelings in favour of their designs; and are constantly fulminating religious denunciations to move and appal the conscientious but weak. They address themselves peculiarly to women and children; and, by maudlin verses and lying pictures, essay not only to rouse the passions of the slave, but to excite the prejudices of the ignorant and unreflecting of our citizens.

Against these arts, the friends of the Constitution