Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-02-10
From he Bammors Ams,,ean.
THE UNION.

! intelligent journals 10 various parts Of the
country.
The South and the North, il would
seem. have both calculated the value o
the Union. Do the ultraists on either side
believe that they have done any such
,hingl They were never more mistaken
If they think so.
The Union was not brought about by
calculation at the first MOI is its conlinu'
ance a matter of calculation now. 1t wa'
the result of necessity, and il there may
be degrees Of necessity, the inevitable ten
denotes which brought the States into
Unior, were less powerful than the inhe.
rent force that must keep them so.
There is an inde finite something called
the spirit Of the age which the general run
of politicians are as ignorant Of as they
are of sound principles Of government.
Yet it overrules them in spite of them
selves, and often converts their efforts
against il into the means Of its own con-
summation. The great moral, social and
political IDEAS which this Republic is des-
tined to illustrate, and which now constr
tute the embryo elements of our singular
condition, are working out their own de.
~velopment in the midst Of events which at
first view seem hostile TO any progress Of
improvements, and by means Of instru-
ments unconscious Of the results they are
Fastening.
Civilization in Europe has proceeded
by detail. We there behold a river or a
range of hills separating communities (;
and different languages, laws, customs
and Institutions completing the exclusive
individuality which nature had but vague.
ly indicated. We see moreover in the
bosom, of each community a further ten
dency towards the fnifs-ns the ~philoso-
piers style tin the separation Of class.
es, whereof some appropriate TO themselves
the chief benefits OF civilization, and leave
the others-the great mas unconsider.
ed.
Well, human nature gains something
under this system. Ii gains by the sepa-
rate culture of its diverse qualities.--
Each particular nation carries out the de-.
velopment Of its own characteristics; and
we have in the annals Of England, Ffnnce,
Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, Switzer.
land and other nations, some admirable
specimens of men representing human M
ture nobly, yet each doing so only par.
TALLY, and deno,ing more particularly En-
glish human nature, or French, or Ger
man, and 81 on.
We need not pursue this speculation far
ther than to say that such a system OF civ
~ilization must come TO its ultimate develop.
ment sooner or later. A more comprehen.
sive basis must be established upon which
improvement might go on SO MS to include
not classes or individuals only--but man
himself, in all the wide relations Of his
nature.
Let any one look abroad over this land
the magnificent dover which Freedom
has bestowed upon her chosen people g.
lie. him view the ground work Of society
here firmly laid in the Anglo Saxon gran.
tie let him regard the elements which
enter into the formation Of our composite
architecture wherein all Europe is repre-.
s~ented--each nation most advanced in
civilization being transferred hither BY her
immigrating sops--nnd let him ask him.
self il this majestic temple, with the Hea-
vens COR its dome and a hemisphere for its
foundation, is to be rent asunder and dis
mantled by any power less than omnipo-
tent!
1t is absurd to talk of it it is wicked
to think OF it.. The idea is repugnant to
common sense, at variance with the pro-
gress Of society and civilization, repealed
by every consideration of common lnte-
rest, by every feeling Of brotherhood I;
disowned by the glorious recollections Of
the past. and destructive OF every promise
held out by the future.
We have wrought into our system the
individuality Of European civilization +:
the separate States with their subordinate
municipal and local organizations denote
IL. We have also the grander idea which
embraces and encloses the other-the idea
of comprehensiveness--of the general
OF the expansive--and this is indicated by
the Federal government. Society adj
vances under the influence of both it
stands on a wide platform not circumscrib-
eG by the limitations OF classes or any
artificial distinctions the citizen is recog-
nized as a man.
But there is m thing to be remember.
ed by those who talk about the value OF
the Union, and venture to hint at its DISCO
luton. When the old Articles OF Con-
federation were found Intellectual, and dis
order and distraction came in because Of
the impotency Of the Continental Govern.
ment--what was done? Was the Union,
such as then existed, dissolved! No.
The powerless shadow OF an imperfect
Government was thrown aside, and Inc
present Constitution was formed. Lei u
be supposed that States Rights uitrals's'
abolition monomaniscs, factious dena-
gogues, or any other class Of d,sorgan'z.
ers, shall succeed 10 paralyzing the action
of the Government under the ex'suhg
Cons,;,u,ion-what then I? Let the result
he aseer,ained by looking TO our W past
history there are no analogies to be
500 elsewhere. The Union will take
.are oritseIf-that much is certain.
We have left out Of view the more i'm
mediate practical considerations which
constitute what may be called the material
liraments that bind US together as one
people. The progress Of Improvements
Eby railroads and canals, by which State
boundaries become mere imaginary lines ;
~ Is - ~ - A~A.koA