The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-03-14

Since the Union was formed, the
number of the states has increased
from thirteen to twenty eight /: two
of these have taken their position in
the confederacy within the last week.
Our population has increased from 8
to 20 millions.-New con mites
and states are seeking protection
under its egis, and multitudes from
the old world are focking to our
shores to participate in its blessings.
Beneath its benign sway, peace
and prosperity prevail. Freed from
the burdens and miserics of war, our
trade and intercourse have extended
throughout the world. Mind, no lon
ger tasked devising means to accom-
piish or resist schemes of ambition.
usurpation, or conquest, is devoting
itself to mans true interests, in de-
veloping his faculties and powers.
and the capacity of nature to minis
ter to his enjoyments. Genius is
free to announce its inventions and
discoveries, and the hand is free to
accomplish whatever the head con-
ccives, not incompatible with the
rights of fellow being. All dis
tinctions of birth or rank have been
abolished. All citizens, whetherna-
tive or adopted, are placed upon
terms of precise equality. All are
entitled to equal rights and equal
protection. No union exists between
church and state, and perfect free
dom of opinion is guaranteed to all
sects and crecds.
These are some Of the blessings
secured to our happy landry our
federal union. To perpetuate them
it is our sacred duty to preserve it.
Who shall assign limits to the a
chievements of free minds and free
hands, under the protection of our
glorious Union? No treason to man
kind since the organization of socie-
ty, would be equal in atrocity to
that of him who would lift his hand
to destroy it. He would overthrow
the noblest structure of human wis
dom, which protects himself and his
fellow man. He would stop the
progress of free government, and
involve his country either in anar-
chy or despotism. He would ex-
tinguish the fire of liberty which
warns and animatcs the hearts of
happy millions, and invites all the
nations Of the earth to initiate our
example. If he say that error and
wrong are committed in the admin
istration of the government, let him
remember that nothing human can
be perfect; and that under no other
system of government revealed by
heaven, or devised by man, has rea-
son been allowed so free and broad
a scope to combat error. Has the
sword of despots proved to be sa-
fer or surer instrument Of reform in
government than enlightened rea-
son.
Does he expect to find among the
ruins of this Uuion happier abode
for our swarming millions than they
now have under it? Every lover of
his country must shuddcr at the
thought Of the possibility of its dis
solution, and will be ready to adopt
the patriotic sentiment, Our feder-
al Union-it must be preserved
To preserve it, the compromises
which alone enabled our fathers to
form common constitution for the
government and protection of so ma
ny states and distinct communities,
of such diversified habits, interests
and domestic institutions, must be
sacredly and religiously observed.
Any attempt to destroy or disturb
these compromises, being terms of
the compact of Union, can lead to
none other than the most ruinous
and disastrous consequences.
1t is source of deep regret that,
in some sections of our country,
misguided persons have occasion
ally INDUCED in schemes and agita-
tons, whose object is the destruc-
ton ofdomestic institutions, existing
in other ections-institutions which
existed at the adoption of the con-
stitution, and were recognized and
protected by it. All. must see that
if it were possible for them to be
successful in attaining their object,
the dissolution of the Union, and the
consequent destruction of our happy
form of government must speedily
follow.
! am happy to believe that at every
period of our existence as nation,