Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-02-27

posterity. e;o, of
our Constitution and afterwards, our patriotic an
cestors apprehended danger TO the union from :" :
csass.. One was the Allegheny Mountains divi'
ding the waters which a IVY into The Atlantic ocean
fron those which found their outlet in the Con OF
N.xico They seemed TO present natural sePa-
ration. That danger has vanished before the no
ble achievements OF the spirit OF internal Improve,
nent and the immortal genius OF Fulton. Ana
! NOW nowhere is found more loyal attachment 70
| the Union than among those very Western people,
Who il was unprecedented, would be the hfss 70
brnise its ties.
| The other cause domestic slavery, happy Inc
.oe remaining cause which is likely to disturb our
| harnnapy continues to exist. Ii was this winch
created he greatest obstacle and the most anxious
socifude in The deliberaton OF the Convention ta'
adopted the general Constitution. ASd u - tn''
.nh.c, thai has ever been regarded with the nesP-
sst anxiety bt al who sincerely desitous OF we
permanency Of our Union. The Father OF MS
| Country in his last affecting and solemn appear 70
bis feow-cltizcns deprecated. as the most esishi-
! itous event, the geogfaPh'eai dlSi''pHS nm"
r,;gbt trodnce. Tie Convention wisely left 10 inc
| .eVersi States the power over the Institution Of
.laVerv as power not necessary To the plan OF IN
! ion which il devised and one with ~hien the
General Government could not be invested "lLhonl
,b,n,ine the seeds Of certain destruction. There
/ je, il remain undisturbed by any unhaiio"ea
hand. ,.e
| Sir, am not in the habit Of speaking lightly Oh
the possibility Of dis.oiving this happy uniop'~
The senate knows that have deprecated al'usons'
on ordinary occasions, to that diioinl event, Inc
conntry will testify that, II there be any thng ~
I the history Of my public career worthy oil rccoiec-
tiOn it is the truth and ardent sincerity 81 my ar
dent devotion 10 its lasting preservation nuI we
should be- f..e in allegiance to IT, II we ana ho'
discriminate between the imaginary ard real Dan.
gets By which it may be assslled. Abolition snou'n
no longer be regarded az an imaginary danger
The sbolitonists, let me suppose succeed 10 Tue"
present aim ofnuting the inhabitants oil the ifee
STATES as one man against the inhabitants OF the
.l,v, States onion on the side will beget ur-
ion IN the other And this process OF reciprocal
consolidation will be attended with all tue violent
nreindicies erpbittered passions, and impIhchp"
anjn,osities which ever degraded or d'formed hu
man nature a virtual dissolution % the Union VIII
have taken place. whilst the forms OF lis existence
remain. The most valuable element Oh union, thu-
uaI Kindness The feelings Of sympathy. the ifa'er-
nal bonds which happily unite US, VIII nave
been extinguished forever, Oae section VIII stand
in rnenncine and hostile array against the other-
The collision of opinion WILDE quickly followed by
tho clash of arms | will not attemptfo describe
.cenes which now happily lie concealed nom our
view Abolitionis;s themselves would shriok baek
in disnay and horror the contemplation OF desc
lated fields canhagrated ciies, murdered lnhaoit-
ants and the overthrow Of the fairest fabric ct hui
man government that ever rose to animate lhe
bopes of civilized man Nor should these aboli-
tionsts Aater tn mselves that, ifthey can succeed
in their object If uniting the people OF the free
States they will enter the contest with uumeii-
cat sgperorty that must ensure victory. All his
tory md experience are admonishcti by Holy Wrlt
that the race is not the swift nor the battle 10
the strong. But ifthey were to conquer, whom
would they conquerl foreign tUe--oue WHO had
insult ed DOR flag invaded our shores, aud laid our
country wuste' No,sir. no sir. IL would be a
conquest wi,hou, luurels without glory--a self,
suicidal conduest-a conquest of brothers over bro
thers, achieved by one over another portion Of the
descendants Of common ancestors, who, mob
pledgine their lives, their fortunes and their sa-
cred honor had fought and bed, side by side, in
many a hard battle on land and ocean, severed our
country from the British crown, and established our
rational Independence.
The inhabitants of the slave States are sometimes
accused by their Northerr brethren with displaying
too much rashness and sensibiiiy 10 the operations
and proceedings Of aboiitioniss. But, before they
can be rightly Judged there should b. reversal OF
conditions Let suppose that the people OF the
llave States were form socetes subsidize press
~ mako large pecuniary contributions, send forth
numerous missionaries throughout all their own
Iorders and enter into machinstions TO burn the
beautiful capitals, destroy the productive nannfac-
cries aud sink in the the gallant ships Of the
Northern States. Would these incendiary Prooee-
ling. be regarded negtbory and friendly, and
consistent with the fraternal sentiments which
should b. cherished by norton OF he Union to-
~ rds another No,Ad they excite no emoiIoni
)ccason No manifestations ot Dissatisfaction, nor
cad to any act. Of ,etaljatory violence But the
case fairs far short of thr actual one in
A most essential circumstance. In no contingent
" could these capitals, manufactures. and ships
Use in rebellion and massacre tnheb'tani. OF the
Northern States.
am. Mr.. President, no friend Of slavery. The
Senrcher of all Hea Is kpowns that every pusation
IF mine beats high ana strong in the cause ot civil
liberty Wherever il Is sufs and practicable. de-
,rc TO see every portion of the human family IN the
enjoyment of il. Bat prefer the liberty OF my
country to that Of auy other people; and the ber-
" Of my own race 10 thar OF any other race. he
lberty oftbs descendants OF Ahica IN the United
States Is Incompatible with the safety and liberty
Ut the European descendants. There slavery forms
m excepton-an exception resulting from stern
and inc 20, able necessity the general liberty in
ma United States. We did not originate, nor are
Ne responsible for, this necessity. Their liberty,
/ it we're possible, could only be established by vio
,,ing the ncoutestbie powers nj tho States, and
,ubvcrtnC the Union. Aud beneath the ruins OF
he Union would be buried, sooner or later, the lib
.rty OF both races.
But II one dark spot exists on our political hoI-
.on is il not obscured by tho bright and cfalgent
ard cheering light that beams all around usl Was
,ver a People before so blessed we are, If true
% ourselvrsl Dad ever any other nation contain
within its bosom many elements Of prosperity, OF
greatness and Of slory' Dor only real danger lies
ahead, conspicuous elevated, and visible. 1t was
,lrary discetned a, the commencement, and DIS
inctIy seen throughout our whole career. Shall
we wantonly run upon H. and destroy all the glor-
,us anicpatons of the high destiny that a"a''sus
beseech the aboitioni-ts themselves solemnly 10
.nu.e in their mad and fatal course. Amidst the
nhni,e variety of objects of humanity and benevo-
ence which invite the employment OF their ener-
lies let them select some one more harmless, that
loes not threaten TO d'luge our country in blood
call upon that small portion Of the clergy, which
las lent itself to these wild aud runous schemes,