number should become right, truth, and
justice.

Something more even was needed. The _sovereignty of the end_ must yield,
if necessary, before the sovereignty of numbers. A cause like that of
slavery is only defended in the heart of a democratic nation, by
teaching it contempt of scruples, and the stifling of the conscience.
Every thing is allowable, every thing is good, provided that we succeed
in our ends! This is the rule which it designs shall prevail in
political contests. A single question, seeing nothing but itself,
determined to spare nothing, offering itself to parties, whoever they
may be, who seek a change, creating factitious majorities to effect the
ends of base ambition, taking account neither of honor nor country, and
attaining its end through every thing--this is enough to vitiate
profoundly institutions and morals. The sovereignty of the idea, when it
has laid hands on the sovereignty of the people, is in a position to go
to great lengths, and to sink very low. Moral maxims and written laws
are trodden under foot, a struggle without pity or remorse begins, a
struggle of life and death. Social passions easily acquire a degree of
perversity which political passions do not possess; the former are
without conscience and without compassion; they will be satisfied, cost
what it may; triumph is in their eyes an absolute, an inexorable
necessity. Rather than not conquer, they will rend the country.

What the regular working of institutions becomes under such a pressure,
every one can divine. For some years past, in proportion as the
pretensions of the slavery party had increased, we had seen public
morals become tainted in the United States. Indifference to means had
made alarming progress, and had been felt even in the habits of
commerce, and the relations of private life. The spirit of enterprise
had come to be exalted even in its most dishonorable acts; respect for
bankrupts seemed almost to be propagated. It is a fact, that men like
Mr. Jefferson Davis, the present President of the revolted South, were
not afraid to recommend the repudiation of debts. In the school of
slavery, a disembarrassed and unscrupulous manner of acting had given
its stamp to the general manner of the nation. Affairs were going on
rapidly, the liberties of America were on the high road to ruin; it was
time that the reaction of liberal and honorable sentiments should make
itself felt. The election of 1860 marked the stopping-place.