Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-08-23

my consideration would have been Of a far
different character, and my action upon it
must have corresponded with my convic-
tons:
Ought we now to disturb the Missouri
and Texas compromised Ought we at
this late day, in attempting to annul what
has been SO long established and acquiesced
in, excite sectional divisions and jealousies !;
to ALLEVIATE the people OF different portions of
the Union from each other; and to endanger
the existence of the Union itself?
From the adoption of the federal consti-
tution, during period of sixty years, our
progress as a nation has been without ex-
ample in the annals of history. Under the
projection of bountiful Providence, we
have advanced with giant strides in the ca
reer of wealth and prosperity. We have
enjoyed the blessings of freedom to a great
er extent than any other people, ancient or
modern, under government which has pre-
served order, and secured to every citizen
life, liberty, and prosperity. We have now
become an example for imitation to the
whole world. The friends Of freedom in
every cline point with admiration to our in
stitutions. Shall we, then, at the moment
when the people of Europe are devoting all
their energies in the attempt to assimilate
their institutions to our own, peril all our
blessings by despising the lessons of expe-
rience, and refused to tread in the footsteps
which our fathers have trodden? And for
what cause would we endanger our glori-
Gus Union !! The Missouri compromise
contains prohibition of slavery
throughout all that vast region extending
twelve and half degrees along the Pa
ci6c, from the parallel of thirty-six degrees
thirty minutes to that Of forty-nine degrees,
and east from that ocean to and beyond
the summit of the Rocky mountains. Why,
then, should our institutions be endangered
~because it is proposed to submit to the peo-
pile of the remainder of our newly acquired
territory, lying south of thirty-six degrees
thirty minutes, embracing less than four de-
gress OF latitude, the question whether, in
the language of the Texas compromise,
they "shall be admitted Gas State) into
the Union with or without slavery?"s Is this
a question to be pushed to such extremites
by excited partizaas on the one side or the
other, in regard to our newly acquired dis
tant possessions on the Pacific, as to endan-
ger the union of thirty glorious States which
constitute our confederacy? I have an abb
ding confidence that the sober reflection
and sound patriotism of the people of all the
States, will bring them to the conclusion that
the dictate of wisdom is to follow the ex-
ample of those who have gone before us,
and settled this dangerous question on the
Missouri compromise, or some other equita-
ble compromise. which would respect the
rights of all, and prove satisfactory to the
different portions of the Union.
Holding as sacred trust the Executive
authority for the whole Union, ard bound
to guard the rights of all, should be con-
strained, by sense of duty, to withdraw
my official sanction from any measure
which would conflict with these important
objects.
[ cannot more appropriately close this
message than by quoting from the Fare
well Address of the Father of his country.
His warning voice can never be heard in
vain bv the American people. If the spirit
# prophecy had distinctly presented to his
view, more than a half century ago, the
present distracted condition of his country,
the language which hethen employ ed, could
not have been more appropriate than it is
to the present OCCASION. He declared:
STbe unity of government, which consti-
tutes you one people, is also now dear to
you. Its justly so; for it is a main pillar
IN the ed.fce lf your real independence, tie
support of your tranquility at home, your
peace abroad, of your safety, Of your pros
perity, Of that very liberty which you SO
highly prize. But as it IS easy to foresee
that, from different causes, and from differ
ent quarters, much pains will be taken,
many artiices employed, to weaken in your
minds the conviction of this trath-as this
is the point in your political fortress against
which the batteries CT internal and external
enemies will be most constantly and active
lv (though often covetly and insidiously)
directed it is of infinite moment that you
should properly estimate the immense value
of your national Union to your collective and
individual happiness that you should cher
ish cordial, habitual, and immovable at
tachment to it; accustoming yourselves to
think and to speak of it as a palladium of
your political safety and prosperity; watch
ing for its preservation with Jealous anxiety;
discountenancing whatever may suggest
even suspicion that it can in any event be
abandoned and Indignantly frowning upon
the first dawning of every attempt to alien
ate any portion Of our country from the rest
or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now
link together the various parts.
~For this you have every inducement of
sympathy and interest. Citizens by birth
or choice ofa common country, that country
has right to concentrate your affections.
The name of AMERICAN, which belongs to
you in your national capacity, must always
exalt the Just pride of patriotism more than
any apellation derived from local diserimin-
ations. With slight shades of difference
you have the same religion, manners, bab-
its and political principles. You have in
common cause fought and triumphed to-
gether. The independence and liberty you
possess are the work Of joint councils and
joint efforts, Of common dangers, suferings
and success" ~ et
"With such powerful and obvious mo-
tives to union, affecting all parts of our
country, while experience shall not have de-
monstrated its impraeticability, there will
always be reason to distrust the patriotism
of those who, in any quarter, may endeavor