Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-19
LrsEMars UNITED sr.arEs-reD ., 1880
SPEECH OF Mr. BARToN, OF MISSOURI.

the FGe,ceN lddress II washing ton; and show that
the whole spirit and scope of his sectional of civil
dlscord and the whole plan of hunting popularity nhe
West Tor years past, by feeding the flames of sectional
prs]udces, Jeaiousies, and animoSities, open
violation OF their principles and nunctions and thot
we hive In truth, Convention in the West, IN OPP
position to BOTH more dangerous to constitution
Al Liberties, than either the Hartford Convention of
the North, the projected Convention of the South
aud Wi hcut any of their redeeming features or
objects of local relief, from real or imaginary OPP
peSsioS 70 soften Its character, to apologize tor
its existence!
Chief Justice Marshall, in his Life of Washingtou
(vol 3, ?. 6Sj) speaking Of the Farewell Address,
says, 1t contains preceps to which the American
statesman cannot too frequently recur and, long
1t rs, is thought too valuable to be omitted abrd
ged.
Upon the immense Importance OF cherishlng our
Union, permit ME to read the following extract from
that paternal address, III page 689:
But as 1T is easy to foresee that from different
causes, and from different quarters puch pains will
he TAKEN many articles employed to weaken in your
minds the conviction of this truth; this is the point
Ill your political fortress, against which the batteries
oi internai aud external enemies will be most T.
stany and actively Though often coverty and insi-
diously( drecteG it is of infinite moment that YOU
should property estimate the immense value cf your
National Union, to your collective and individual hap
piness; that you should cherish cordial, habitua
and ''nu1ovea0c attachment to it; accustoming your
Selves TO think and speak Of it, of the palladium of
your political safety and prosperity watching for its
preservation with jealous anYiety misunderstanding
whatever may suggest even suspicion that it can
III any event, be abandoned and Indignantly frowr1-
ing upon the first dawnng of every attempt 10 allen
ute any portion OF our country from the rest, or to
en:eeble the sacred ties which now link together the
various parts =
Know then, that we have Convention of inter
West!
Its members like settlements and our towns,
are scattered over wide surface, few and far be-
tween, and consequently, cannot easily present the
concentration OF force and unity of action, which
ha- L.
done, If SO disposed; but they have concentration
enough for effect, and unity enough for mischief.
IT. OBJECTS are personal a9grandizemene, and the
gratiHcaton ofslnordlnate and unh2ilowed ambition
lis means OF cooperation are to infame sectional Ereu-
cices Local an!ositlcs, and the slumberinr eubers
OF CIVIL discord In one portion of Union against
another; msrepresent nc the objects, opinions and
views OF the other; assuming be the cham lions d.
devoted friends OF their own deIuded sections and
thus gaInng species Of egitimate and n,atr;cidal
renoWn, and erecting kind Of monument to their
fame, based upon the ruins of the Farewell Address
OF the Father of his country,
pass over other points of comparison, ard come
10 what suppose upon the charitable CONSTRUCTION
ana the declaration of the parties, have been tie
real Interior OBJECTS OF both the Northern and South
EN- projects; presum!ng neither to have intended
treason dsunon.
Each had an Interior object, which, per Sc, vas
both patriotic and laudable. II was merely rolf
from what both considered the ruinous influence of
the prevailing policy and measures of the Federal
government, upon their respective countries The
Eofth considered their country blighted by the war
measures OF embargo and non intercourse. The
South thought theirs desolated by the prevailing doc
f:iaes of protection to American manufa cures and
internal Improvement.
Their 3toduS GpeTa1u: seems to have been, to make
strong expression and demonstration at home, to
influence the measures Of the Union at the Metropo
lis, and thereby produce the resulting relief which
was desiTea at home.
To that extent-and confined to that eytent-tbnv
both had Interior Objects both patriotic and laudable
i'll their views OF their own situation.
But our Western Convention com posed of the
Ike asprants and Catalines, against whom Washinr-
ton warned US usost, as being most likely to disturb
our harmony, has redeeHIng feature of patriotism
about it.
1t is altogether hidcous and deformed as Lucifer
hU1self IS represented by Milton have been after his
expulsion from Heaven, and his nine-days' fall from
the presence Of God!
II is the mere embodyng ofthc fends Of local ami
mostly and hatred.
The incarnation of the spirits Of civil discord
which has already roamed the world for so many CEN
tnres and despoled union and liberty IN the greater
part of Europe, in Asia, in Africa IN South America
IN the Isles of the Ocean, and among the lingering
remnants of the once powerful tribes of the aborigT
nal race of man on this Continent, and driven union
and liberty, rs we taught to believe to their last
retreat, upon that little Green spot upon the map of
the whole world, these u. States.
And we'll might the Father OF his country yith |
Ills sage knowledge of the past, and his sanacous
ken of the future, nave dreaded this incarnation as
the most insinratng and dangerous enemy that nos
teTity wonid have 10 encounter!
Well might he have bcQueathed 20 It's his Earwell
Address
lad the Hartford Convention contrary to its snp-
posed design been productive of war, it mirht by
possibility have been confined to forcpn war with
civilized uaton and the broad expause of the allan
TIC Ocean between and to the frontier war with the
oxpiriug remnants of he aboriginal race
Should the project C the South be productive of
war 1t cannot in Iliidnr form nan civil wAr
f'itoweG, almost OF r""fsc, by all tie horrors GA
scrrIc war .
Sherld our Western Convention of civil djscord
be productive of war contrary to its supnos,d desi
1t could mol be in less hdeous form than civil w9
ind probably, following IN It's train, ? 3-cnactment
throughout the South, of the horfid scenes Of San
Drmingo!
If either Of the projects had bursted beyond ts in.
tGndcd bounds, it might have happened that tic,
Hartford Convention would have een the most harm
less of the three. " ''N''''
There Is ore objection common to fha tIrac. tho
impossibi,ity Of those who raise such sforrls bo;
always able to controul Inc a.:tnnt ~ -. .5