The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-09-05
ICONCLUDED.l i

Sir, in thus permitting England to
divide our strength by lines of local
interests, and to conquer those inte-
rests, one by one, because of our un-
willingness to hazard war in their
separate defence, we shamefulIy disre-
gard the great object Of our Federal
Union, and the obligation it imposes.
That Union was formed with refer
ence. mainly, to dangers of aggression
from abroad, and chiefly, from England
herself. 1t was formed, that the whole
of our interests might be successfully
protected, as our Revolution was a.
chieved, by the joint efforts of the
whole people, in the defence Of each
one of those interests, regardless of
their separate locality.
Yes, sir, it was to guard against the
anticipated dangers from abroad, and
chiefly from England, that this FEEDER
al Union was formed. The American
colonies were the first part of her en-
pire to revolt. She beheld, in their in
dependence, the uprising Of a mighty
rival, which threatened to divide, with
her, the commerce Of the world, and,
by the example Of its institutions, to
undermine the whole regal SYSTEM
The men Of the Revolution understood
all this. They saw, in the new rela-
tions which these States must, as free
States, necessarily bear TO monarchal
Europe, and especially TO Great Britain,
that she at least, smarting under the
huniiating dismemberment of her en-
pire, which she had warred so long,
and at such cost of lite and treasure,
to prevent, would ever remain hostile to
those States, and therefore see k eveiy
opportunity to cripple them, when that
might be done, with impunity. twas
the prime object Of the States, to meet
and repel these dangers, by their union
in the Federal compact. But Of what
use is this compact if, instead of every
section standing forward to support the
interest of each, when threatened from
abroad, all, save the section whose in
terests are exposed, stand off, and leave
those interests to be sacrificed? But,
what is yet worse than this, such an
abandonment Of the endangered inter-
ests of one State, by the others, leaves
those interests without any defence
whatever. For, by the very terms Of
the compact, which makes it the duty
of all the States to guard, jointly. the in
terests Of each, against foreign wrongs,
the power of each State TO enforce even
its most sacred rights, separately, by
war, is expressly taken away. What
was the fact with regard to Maine
Great Britain first asked the Federal
Government to cede TO her part of that
territory: the Government refused.-
Great Britain then claimed it as rig ght.
and threatened war; the Government
to buy peace, surrendered it. Maine
had TO yield, because the Government
refused 10 defend her soil, by war, II
necessary, and because, the Constitu'
ton forbade her to defend it herself. by
war. Had Maine never become 9
member of the Union, she would have
had the right of war, for the defence O
her territory. And thus, the very fact
that, by the Federal compact, the 9th
er States had agreed to aid, jointly, If
her defence, by war if necessary. upor
condition that she would surrender the
right, separately, 10 defend herself, by
the same means, left her, practically
without any defence at all. This wa
not the fault of the Constitution, but o
| those who We're entrusted with the ad
ministration Of its powers. Great Bri
tain, ever armed herself, and knowing
that the safety Of every country, as
whole, depends upon its readiness Il
defend its smallest and remotest parts
knew, also, that ours was country un
pre- pared for war, and whose opposlt
parts were separated afai from eac|
other.
By the threat of war upon all tn
parts, unprepared for it as they were
she hoped to make it the apparent IN
terest of most Of them, to purchas
peace, by surrendering the interests O
the others. By separating, for thes
reasons, Maine from Oregon, in tn
negotiations, she has obtained the ter
ritory Of the former, and will, by tn
same diplomacy and threats, obtain tina
: of the latter, if this Government shal
) again show, that itfeels the fear Of Eng
, land more than Its own obligation Q
/ selEdefence. c
: But why this feara Isit because
has any sound foundation in England