The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-02-22

have mutual faults neither OF Us is perfect moth.
ing IN the form Of ofhumaniy is perfect, let u.s. then
he kind TO each Other-forbearing forgyins
each others faults--and above all. lei us live in
happiness aud peacs together.
| Mr.. President, ! have said. what solemnly
believe that dissolution of the Union and war
are identical and inevitable; that they are con.
vertble terms, and such war as t would be
following a dissolution of the Union! SIR. we
may search the pages of history. and none 10 fe.
rocious, so bloody, so implarsble, SO extermin
ating-nOt even the wars OF Greece. including
those Of the CommOners of England aud the re-
volutions of France-none. none of them all
would rage with such violence, or be character
ized with such bloodshed and enormities as would
the war which must succeed, II that event ever
happens, the dissolution ofthe Uuon. Aud what
would be its terminationi Standing armies and
navles, TO an extent stretching the revenues OF
each portion OF the discovered members. would
take place, aud exterminating war would follow;
NOT, sir, war Of two or three years duration
but war of interminable duration and exter-
mlnating wars would ensue, until after the strug-
giles and exhaustation of both parties some Phil
lp or Alexander some Cesar or Napoleon would
arise and cut the Gordian knot and solve the
problem of the capacity of man for selfgovern-
ment. aud crush the liberties OF both the severed
Look at all history-consut her pages ancient
or modern-look at human nuture; look at the
| character OF the contest in which you would be
engaged IN the supposition ofwar following upon
the dissolution Of the Union, such as have sug,
gested; and ask you ii it is possible for you to
doubt that the fina disposition OF the whole would
DO some despot treading down the liberties of the
people-the final result would be the extinction OF
this last and glorious light which is leading all
mankind; who are gazing upon it, in the hope and
anxious expectation that the liberty which pre-
walls here will sooner or later be diffused through
out the whole Of the civilized world. Sir, can you
lightly contemplate these consequences Can you
yield yourself to the tyranny of passion amidst dan
gers which have depicted in colors far too tame
OF what the result would be If that direful even
TO which have referred shall ever oocurl Sir,
emplore gentlemen abjure them, whether from
the South or the North, by oil that they hold dea
In this worldly all their love OF liberty-bI
all their veneration for their ancesors-by al
their regard for posterity-by all their gratitude
to Him who has bestowed on them such unnumb
cred and countless blessngs-by all the dutie
which they owe 10 mankind-and by all the du
ties which they owe themselves to pause, solemn
to pause at the edge of the precipice before th'
fearful and dangerous leap is taken into the yawn
ling abyss below. from which none who eve
take it shall return in safety.
Finally, Mr. President. and in conclusion.
limplore, as the best blessing which Heaven cal
bestow upon me upon EARTH that il the direful ant
sad event oil the dissolution of this Union is tt
happen, thatI shall not survive to behold the sal
and heart-rending spectacle. -.
On motion. the Senate adjourned.