Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-05-16
The Union .

JOAH MCDOWELL, - published oy request u
several who were present. Eds. Pal.
The Union.
Ladies and Centle,nen:-I should have been
r,uch Oratfied had some individual moro wor-
t,,v ana bette r capable Of addressing you than
n,yseif beer se ected 10 fill my place on this &C.
cnsiou. There always 10 something peculiarly
embarrassing 10 the young MIND ia appearing
h. fore a public audience; but az have ever held
!, 10 b. a fixed maxim, that feeling should be
s,e rGc~d to the performance Of duty | will
prese Mt TO your minds a few thoughts ON our
CsioS-its formation, importance, and the duties
which dey olive upon this generation with regard
to it,
Al the close Of the revolutionary war, tho ar.
tcIes Of the old confcde ration were found insult
6cixni TO bind the old States together in one har-
.nouious chord Of union. The fathers OF the
Republic, saw that some more permanent system
OF GOVERNED mt must be established 10 order 70
.ecu,s the welfir. aud prosperity OF the coun-
try The probability, too, that the consent oil
MANY of the States could never bs obtained To
Oh. government 10 enter into the subsequent
.orr.m.nt Of 1857. The Convention. compo-
..d Of de egates from twelv. States, met in Phil
sd~Iphia on Friday, the 21th day Of May, 7oI;
and was organized by elrcting Gen w ASKING
ron ~sident. Never. in tho annals Of the
wo,ld. has a more patriotic body assembled to
form laws Tor poster'ty. almost fancy tina.
can sec them celebrating over the means
hest calculated to hand down those rich political
blessings, which their valor and patriotism had
40 nobiy Won. We behold. in their midst. the
oliio.ophic FaASxLIS; the mild. but stat.man-
s,hr N amso.., aud tiIe Immortal FATHER OF Hls
CoUNTsy; together with q host Of others, whose
v.lor in the field and craftsmanship in the cabi-
net. rende red them illustrious. They all met
together for the high and holy purpose of form
ing q ne W government for new world; and. by
a mutual surrender of State sovereignty in or
der to form general government, and by mu-
0,x,t.. fya.V
national harmony, they succeeded in forming
our present glorious Union. " iih IT'S formation,
\ new era seemed to commence IN human af-
iajrs;--an era, chnract. rized by the great free
dom Of political institutions, and the general in
tvilipeuce Of the governed; one III which the
right of man TO govern himself-a right which
could not be obliteTatrd by the desPotism of CEN
turies, was successfully vindicated. adopted and
put in practice
10 she second part Of my subect-the import
snce Of the Union. 1t may appear idle in me TO
saw any thing Of the importance of the Union,
when the fo nders Of liber rites, the author Of
the Declaration Of lDdepe ndence, and tho fra
mers Of the Constitution Of the United States
have all enforced its importance and warned us
of the evils which would flow from its separa-
ton; but sentiments which have lately sprung
up, and which now openly advocated-pr0-
claimed from tho pulpit, and Numbered forth
from the TOstruIn;-s nfs when are heard
in your town halls-n your State leg islatures,
and even in the councils Of the nation, make IT
nee ssary for every American, young and old. to
place II proper estimate upon the glorious con-
federacy Of our country. What a sublime scene
is ere presented to our view: thirty sovereign
and indie pc nde mt States, bound together by no
other and stronger ties than common interest
and mutual fric ndshp.--prcsenting to the world
tho rare spectacle OF State indepe ndencc and
National allegiance. Ours is the model country
Of the world. The eyes Of all mankind are fix
ed upon US. We ure tho last hope OF liberty
tho last resting place Of freedom. Ii we fal
liberty falls; if our Union lasts. freedom sV6
wives II is the Union Of our States in the holy
bonds Of frie ndship, that secures to rs the ines
tin,abie and peculiar blessings which We as II
Nation enjoy. IL in this Union which gives our
country peace and prosperity at home. and ON
mandy universal resuect aud confidence abroad.
II is this Union which secures to us a firm Ma
tional character; and, let 'nc ask what can be Of
more importance than this! Nothing! repeat
it-nOthing. All history proclaims--all expert
ence proves, that as soon as Nation loses her
national character; as soon as she fails to give
10 her cjtize ms an honorable protection. she ~
gone. gone! gone. Thus was il with the Roman
Empire, that carried its arts and arms over the
whole Eastern continent. Although she had,
bv the va Tor and discipl Of her troops. plant
cd the Roman eagle on the walls Of every East
ern city; she yet failed to give to her citizens
that protection which justice told them they
might expect from the government. Her citi
re M lost all respect for, and confidence III. her
NO more! Our country, from its geographical
position, appears to have been destined by the
Almighty as the dwelling place of one Nation;
unlike Southern Europe, II possesses no bays or
Rulphs reaching to the very centre of the coun-
try and affording commercial advantages to a
great number Of ndepe ndent States; but il pos
eesses mighty rivers, running through great cN-
tent Of country touching in their course the hor-
ders of many States Thus making the middle
States de per dent. us it were, for commercial
privile gees upon those bordering upon the coast
To illustrate this point, let us suppose the Union
to be divided, and n citizen of Illinois or Missouri
starts with a cargo OF provisions Tor the vest IN
dies: he passes down the river until he comes
within the territory Of Louisana,-hr he is
required to pay such heavy DUTY on his articles
as 10 make him lose money by the operation. Let
me ask YOU: would commerce be pursued unfeI
such circumstances as these No! The corn
which now floats so peacefully down this river
1.-THE great father of waters,l would he suffered to
decay in the hanns Of the farmer. The argicul-
turist would no longer possess market for his
surplus produce, or If he did, he would not have
the means Of reaching it. Thus YOU see. u - the
Union Of these States that secures TO the citizens
Of the inland States, all the privileges they pos
sess in common with those upon the coast. i
our Union were dissolved, what scene wouic
present itself TO our view: a scene which woulc
shock every true phiIanihropi>t. II thought
the sun would ever set on the disme IN berment o
our once glorious con federacy; l would not en-
w the prophets power to unveii the FUTURE
should shudder AZ the thought OF oehoihiHg thiT
~ petty States, controlled by petty princes, anC
involved in civil wars and internal connections
But fear your patience is wearied on this par
Of the subject, and pass to notice the third viz
What are the duties Of the present generation
with regard to the unionl--
In n monarchy. man may he governed wi,hou
obtaining . knowledge Of his country's institu
sions; but in . republic. country where the
people rule and the majority govern. it is essen
iisliy necessary that every citizen should thor
eushiy unde rstand the principles Of his govern
ment. II 10 the first and greatest duty Of TIT
American to obtain thorough knowledge Of hi
country's institutions. The present safety n
well a. the future prosperity Of our country, de
ponds upon the general intelligence Of the PEG
pie who compose it. Then. is it not the duty o
the American people, to aid every institution
which has for its object the education of tn
American mind! Let US. in the LANGUAGE o
Washington in his farewell address. "Promote
NJ N object Of primary Importance. institution
for the general diffusion of knowledge" lie