James Redpath, The Roving Editor: or, Talks with Slaves in the Southern States.

[113] positive; an interest which, in relation to those who do not possess it, is adversary and exclusive; one which marks the manners of our country by a corresponding distinction, and is sowing broadcast amongst us, both in our official and private intercourse, the seeds of unkindness and suspicion. On this interest geographical parties have been formed; on its maintenance or restriction the bitterest struggles have been waged in Congress; and, as it contains an ingredient of political power in our Federal Constitution, it will always be the subject of struggle; always defended by the most vigilant care, and assailed by the most subtile counter action. Slaveholding and nonslaveholding must necessarily constitute the characteristic feature of our country-must necessarily form the broad and indivisible interest upon which parties will combine, and will and does comprehend, in the jealousies which now surround it, the smothered and powerful, but, I hope, not the irresistible causes of future dismemberment. To all of its other evils, then, slavery superadds the still further one of being a cause of national dissension — of being a fixed and repulsive element between the different members of our Republic-itself impelling with strong tendency, and aggravating all smaller tendencies to political distrust, alienation and hostility.

Let no man accuse me of unfriendliness to the slaveholders. See how willing I have been to put their honorable and patriotic sentiments on record!