Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-10-03

Mr.. Choate began by saying that h,
regarded the approaching election as ont
OF more interest 10 the whole country, an(
TO the States of the North. IN a presents
nent degree. than any which had prece
ded IT. The peculiarly of this election
he continued, is that while it involves al
the questions of mere policy, which are
ever suspended on the choice of Presi
dent-questions of The Currency, of ih,
Lands, Of Internal improvements, of Pro
lection. of Foreign policy, and all else
while it involves, IN the broadest extent
the question, hoU shall the country be gou
erned? Ii involves-rhe first President
ial election that has dune so--the further
more fundamental. and more startling
| question, what shall the nation be; who
shall the nation be /; where shall the ma
ton be; who, what. and where is, and is
to be, our country itself Is il to be any
longer The Union which we have known
which we have lnved-to which we have
ed, altogether ? or is it to be new one,
enlarged By the annexation of territory
out of which forty States, Of the size OF
Massachusetts, might be constructed a
territory not appended equally 10 the east.
the centre, aud the south not appended
equally 10 the slave states and the free
states to the agricultural and the plant
ing TO the IocaIlies eff free trade and
the localities of protection not SO aP-
pended as to work an equal and impartial
enlargement ard assistance TO each one
Of those various aud heterogeneous ele
ments of interest, and sentiment and posi-
ton; out Of whose struggle comes the
peace, out of whose dissonance comes
the harmony of our system not so, but
appended, in one vast accession, to one
side, one region, one interest, of the many
which compose the State; so appended
as to disturb the relations Of The parts; 10
change the seat of the centre, to counter
act the natural tendencies of things TO
substitute a revolution Of violent and NOR
bid policy, in place of the slow and safe
action of nature, habit aud business, un-
der 9. permanent law so appended. in
short, as not merely 10 make small
globe in larger one, but to alter the whole
figure of the body; TO vary The shape
and the range of its orbit. to launch it
forth on new highway OF the heavens,
change its day and night, its seed time
and harvest, lis solar year, the great cy-
Gle of IFS duration itself.
This it is that gives TO this election an
interest peculiar and transcendont. II
is question, not what the policy of the
nation shall be. but what, who, where,
shall the nation be 1t is not question
of national politics. but of national iden-
iity. For even If the Union shall survive
the annexation Of Texas. aud the discus
sions of annexaiion, it will be new. a
changed. another Uuion, not this. II
will be changed, not by time, which
changes all things; man, monuments.
states, the great globe itself not by time
but by power; not by impereeptible de-
grees. but in day; not by successive
growth, unfolded and urged forward BY
an organic law, an implanted force, a
noiseIess and invisible nutrition from be- |
meath and from without. OF which every |
region, every state takes the risk /; bit by |
the direct action of government, arbitra
ry. violent, aud unjust, of which no part
has ever agreed to take the risk. Ii is
10 this element in the coming election.
that wish to night, passing over all the
rest. to call your attention.
| shall consume but little of the time Of
such an assembly as this. in attempting TO
prove that the success or failure of thus
of annexation is suspended, i
for the present, perhaps for our day. OF
the result of the pending election. You,
at least, have no doubt on this point. Is
there one man now before me, in the first
place, who does not believe. and who
does not greatly and nationally fear. thai
if Mr.. Polk Is the next President. Texas
will come in-under the unostentatious,
aud not so very terrible form of aterrIto-
~, of course, in the first Instance, in IL :
monhs-uuless some great and exraor-
binary interposition of the people should
prevent it? Does any one, Qf such an
me may be supposed among you to nIghi) /
who, opposed to Texas. as you are. has
yet laundering for Mr.. Polk, and means
10 vote for him. if he can obtain the con-
sent of his conscience, who wants to vote
for MIR. Polk but shrinks from the idea Of
annexation-does any one say,
o. it don't follow that it he IS chosen
Texas will be annexed? Be 1t so; but
does it not increase the chances of an
nexa,ion1 Does it not tremendously en-
hsnce The difficulties OF resistance! Does
il not. at least, expose you to the terrible
hazard Of being compelled he.eaiter, to
encounter, by memorial, by Convention,
by remonstrance, by extreme aud extra
ordinary action, thai which you can now,