The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-10-10
remain among our posteriiy.

) MT TreSiuent, at the peflod OF the Tor
e nation of our Constitution, and after
# wards, our patriotic ancestors apprehend-
s ed danger to the Union from two causes.
One was, the Allegheny mountains, di-
8 vlding the waters which flow into the
. Atlantic ocean, from those which found
their outlet in the Gulf OF Mexico. They
seemed to present natural separation.
} That danger has vanished before the no,
Bile achievements of the spirit of internal
, Improvement, and the immortal genius
, Fulton. And now, no where is found
a more loyal attachment to the Union,
than among those very western people,
who, 1t was apprehended, would be the
first to burst its ties.
The other cause, domestic slavery
happily the sole remaining cause which
is likely to disturb our harmony, COLI
tInues tc exist. 1t was this which crea-
ted the greatest obstacle and the most
anxious sollcitude in the deliberations of
the Convention that adopted the general
Constitution, And il is this subject that
has ever been regarded with the deepest
anxiety by all who are sincerely DESTROYS
ofthe permanency of our Union. The ia
ther OF his country, in his last affecting
and solemn appeal to his fellow-citzens,
deprecated, as most caIamitous event,
the geographical divisions which it might
produce The Convention wisely left
tor the several States the power over the
institution of slavery, as power not
necessary to the plan of union which it
devised, and as one with which the gen,
eral government could not be invested
without planting the seeds of certain de-
struction. There let it remain undis-
turbed by any unhallowe hand.
Sir, am not in the habit Of speaking
lightly of the possibility of dissolving this
happy Union. The Senate knows that
have deprecated illusions, on ordinary
occasions, to that dreul event. The
country will testify that, if there be any
thing in the history of my public career
worthy OF recollection, it is the truth aud
sincerity of my ardent devotion to its
lasting preservation. But we should be
false in our allegiance to it, if we did not
discriminate between the imaginary
and real dangers by which it may be as
sailed. Abolition should no longer be
regarded as an imaginary danger. The
abolition SIS, let me suppose, succeed in
their present aim of uniting the inhabit.
ants ofthe free States as one man against
the inhabitants OF the slave STA es. Union
on he one side will begel union on the
other. And This process of reciprocal
consolidation will be attended wi h all
The violent prejudices, embijered pas
sons, and iElplacable animosiies VIII Oh
ever degraded or deformed human ma
lure.
A virtual dissolution of the Union will
have taken place, while The forms of its
existence remain. The most valuable ell
ement of union, mutual kindness, the feels
ings of sympathy, the fralernal bonds,
which now happily unite Us, will have
been extnguished forever. One section will
be in menacng and hostile array against
the other The collision of opioion will
be quickly followed by the clash OF arms
| will not attempt to describe scenes
which now happily lie concealed from our
view. AboItionsts themselves would
shrink back in dsmay and horror at the
contemplation Of desolated fields, confIa>
grated cities, murdered inhabitants, and
the overthrow Of the (airest fabric of human
Government that ever rose 10 animate the
hopes of civilized man. N or should these
aboItioniss flatter themselves that, if they
can succeed in the object Of uniting the
people of the free States, they will enter
1.-The contest with numerical superiority
that must ensure victory. All history and
Experience proves The hazard and uncer.
Ilainty of war. And we are admonished by
holy writ, that the race is not to The swift,
nor the battle to the strong. But if thew
were TO conquer, whom would they cons
quer2 A foreign foe one who had in.
suited our flag, invaded our shores, and
our country laid waste No, sir: no, sir
1t would be conquest without Iaurels,
without gory--a self, suicidal conquest
"a conquest of BROKERS over brothers, IL
chieved by one over another portion OF the
defendants of common ancestors, who no.
BY pledged their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honor, had fought and bIed
side by side, in many hard battle
on land and ocean, severed our country
from theBriish crown,anc established our
national independence.
The inhabitants Of the slave States are
sometimes accused by their northern 5reth,
rem with displaying too much rashness
and sensibilily to the operations and pro-
ceedngs Of abolitionists. But before they
can be rightly judged, there should be a
reversal of conditions. Let me suppose
that the people of the slave States We're to
form societies, subsidize presses make large
pecuniary contributions, send for the nu-
merous missionaries throughout all their
own borders, and enter into Vaccinations
to burn the beautiful Capitos, destroy the