Disunion Over Slavery: Why Compromise Is Not an Option.

In recent times, it has become increasingly alarming to witness Southern newspapers openly defending slavery, not as a necessary evil but as an institution with no moral blemish. The boldness with which these views are expressed suggests a deep-seated acceptance within Southern society that slavery is not only justifiable but a cornerstone of their way of life. The shockwaves of such sentiments are reverberating across the nation, particularly in the North, where many find it inconceivable that the Southern states could so vehemently defend an institution so fundamentally at odds with the values of freedom and equality upon which the nation was founded.

Slavery, once acknowledged by many as the darkest stain on America's national character, is now being recast by some Southern voices as an unremarkable and even necessary element of their society. The Charleston newspapers, in particular, have become vocal proponents of this disturbing narrative, arguing that slavery should not only be preserved but protected from any form of critique or hope for eventual abolition. These publications reflect the sentiments of a broader community, one that seems increasingly willing to embrace the perpetuation of slavery as a matter of Southern pride and identity.

The shift in rhetoric is not merely about defending the status quo; it is an outright rejection of the notion that slavery is an evil to be eradicated. The very idea of hoping for the eventual freedom of the enslaved is now being painted as a threat to the Southern way of life, a sentiment that would have been unthinkable to the nation's founders. Figures like Jefferson, Madison, and Patrick Henry, who spoke openly about the moral and social dangers of slavery, would find themselves labeled as traitors by today's Southern defenders of the institution.

What makes this new Southern stance even more alarming is the accompanying threat of secession. Southern leaders are now openly suggesting that unless the North muzzles its anti-slavery voices, they will break away and form a separate nation. This is not an idle threat; it reflects a growing sentiment among Southerners that they would rather dismantle the Union than face the possibility of a future without slavery. The idea that free discussion on slavery could lead to the dissolution of the Union is a terrifying prospect, one that challenges the very foundation of American democracy.

The Southern insistence that any discussion of slavery’s abolition is a violation of the federal compact is not just misguided but a gross distortion of the Constitution's intent. The framers of the Constitution were clear in their condemnation of slavery as a blight on the nation. They spoke of it as an evil that they hoped would one day be eradicated. To suggest that the Constitution somehow mandates the preservation of slavery is to turn the document's spirit on its head.

The South’s demand that the North abandon all hope of emancipation in order to preserve the Union is an unacceptable ultimatum. If the price of maintaining the Union is to accept the perpetual enslavement of millions, then disunion is indeed preferable. The principles of freedom and human dignity cannot be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. The Union, as cherished as it is, must not be preserved at the cost of our most fundamental values.

These are not just the views of one Northern journal, but sentiments shared by many who see the moral and political dangers in appeasing the South's demands. The time has come for the North to speak out with clarity and conviction on this issue. There can be no compromise on the question of slavery; temporizing will only delay the inevitable conflict and make the eventual resolution more painful.

It is essential to recognize that the South’s threats of secession are not new. For years, Southern leaders have been agitating for a rupture with the North, driven by a desire to maintain and expand the institution of slavery. Their tactics have included inflaming public opinion against the North, distorting the truth, and portraying any criticism of slavery as an attack on the Southern way of life. But these efforts must be resisted. The Union cannot be preserved by capitulating to such demands.

If the Union can only be held together by denying the fundamental rights of millions, then it is a Union not worth preserving. Rather than compromising on the issue of slavery, the North must stand firm in its commitment to freedom and justice. The preservation of the Union should not come at the cost of abandoning the cause of human rights.

sourced information from "Slavery No Evil" in A Collection of Political Writings of William Leggett.