Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-30

agree together, let us act together. Wherever Our
sentiments concur, let our hands CO. operate. If
we cannot, at present, agree, who should be Presi
dent, we are at least agreed who ough; not to be-
fully believe, Sir, that gratifying intelligence is
already on the wing. While are vet dclibcru.
ting, in Massachusetts, PENNSYLVANIA is voting
To-day, she elects her Members to the p.xt Con
gress. doubt not, the result of that election will
shew important change in public seutiment in
that State. L cannot doubt that the great States
adjoining her. holding similar constitutional prin
ciplcs, and having similar interests, will feel the
impulse of the same causes which affect her. The
people "f the United States, by a vast and count
less ma ority, are attached To the Constitution If
they shall be convinced that it is in danger they
will GENE to its and " i'll save il. II can
not 10 destroyed, even now, If TREY will undertake
its guardianship and protection.
But suppose, sir, there was less hope than there
is, would that consideration weaken the force of our
obligations? Are we mt post which we are a, lib
ery to abandon, when it becomes difficult to hold il?
May we fly at the approach of danger? Does our
fidelity to the constitution require no more of us
than to enjoy its blessings, to bask in the prosper
ty which it has shed around us, and our fathers
and are we at liberty tn abandon il, in the hour
OF its peril, or to make for it but faint and heart
less struggle for the want of encouragement and
the want of hope? Sir if no State comes to our
succor, If elsewhere the contest should be given
up, here let it be protracted, to the last moment
Here, where the first blood of the Revolution was
shed, let the last effort, for that which is the great
est blessing obtained by it, free and united Govern
en00dvOrS
tain our existing forms of Government, we are act
ing not Tor ourselves alone but for the great cause
OF Constitutional liberty all over the globe. We
are trustees, holding sacred treasure, i'm which
all the lovers of freedom have u stake. Not only
in Rcvolutionzed France, where there are no long
er subjects, where the monarch no longer saw
he rs the STATE; not only in reformed England,
where our principles institutions, our practice
Ut free government arc now daily quoted and com
mendcd; but in the depths of Germany, and among
the dcsolacd fields and the still smoking ashes of
Poland prayers uttered for the preservation of
our Union and happiness We are surrounded, sir
by cloud of witnesses. The gaze of the sons of
liberty every where, is upon us, anxously, intent.
ly, upon us. Ii may fall in the struggle for
our Constitution and Government, but Heaven for
bid that it should us recreant.
AT least, SIR let the Star of Massachusetts, be the
last which shall be seen to fall from heaven and
TO plunge into the utter darkness of dsunion. Lat
her shrink back let her hold others back if she CAM
at any rate let her keep herselfback from this gulf
full, at once, of fire, and of blackness; yes sir as
far as human foresight scan, or human imagi
uation fathom, full of the fire, and the blood, of
civil war, and of the thick darkness of general po-
l'tica disgrace, ignominy, and ruin. Though the
worst happen that can happen, and though we be
not able to prevent the catastrophe yet, let her
maintain her own integrity, her own high honor,
her own Nnwavering fidelity, that with respect
and decency, though with broken and bleeding
heart she may pay the last tribute to n glorious,
departed, free Constitution.