The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-25

"A
often complex Sometimes it gives and takes,
cnlarges and restraints, enacis ard qualities, mixes
provlso with grant, and exception with rule. No
one hand at all times prepares il and perhaps no
one head gives II full ascent on is able to that
II might not be agreeable if otherwise worded
and conceived. What then Can he disobey il
with impunlty, or disregard il without disloyalty
Scarcely an Important law was ever passed that
Did not Tor while excite surprise. Often requir-
ing the confirmation OF the judiciary always the
reflection of the citizen. STILL it is the law and
IN It's sovereignty IT must be obeyed. [Applause.
Let this disobedience come from what Quarter il
may, 1t is to be condemned. If il appear in the
shape OF sullen and silent discomfort Withholding
express assent, and yet without practical repudi-
alton, and only short of it, let bad taste and bad
leehng reconcile themselves they may II it
proceed to active hostility which Is opposition by
force of arms, II must be put down and punished
with traitors doom. [Applause.l II is treason,
IN the cautious description of that crime found in
the Constitution. II active disobedence involves
an effort and a combination not only to Illustrate
the execution OF the particular statute, but to up
root the foundations Of the Government to set a
torch to the fair frame of the whole system under
which all live and prosper, to cancel and tear 10
pieces the great bond which keeps US in happiness
together-the baseness which deserved contempt
swells with the of positive crime into the
lgnobie dignity that must undergo condgn pun
lshlnent and, IN addition to the present suffering
OF the cuprit, universal execraton overwhelms the
parricide who riots in the spoils of his parent
Try, and consigns him to the perdtion Of everlast
ing nfamy, and brands him with the reproaches of
indeihble shame. Great applause
Let Disunionists beware how they thus trampe
on the laws. fearful agony must befall the coun-
try Il they carry out their plans. Havoc and ruin
would rage amidst hitherto peaceful fields, and
rend asunder the seated hills Of every section
and the rich valleys, now teeming with fertility
and productiveness, would become richer nerb ma
TO remain fallow manured with the bodies of the
slain. Ploughsharcs would be turned into swords,
and pruning hooks into spears. All the pursuits
trade Of war
hat Is the supposed panacea for all ina einary
lie! Dsunlon and secession rather, it would
seem, one OF the sovereign and heroic remedies
presented, with the other In an alternative form.
Disunion, by general consent, which will never be
given until the contagion of madness, which is vet
only sporadic iniirmity, shall become epidemic
through the land. Secession, which is self ting
relief, is resort upon the responsibility of those
who perform it. 1t ia avowed To be in contempla-
ton, and it is threatened along with force-w with
whatever force may be necessary to accomplish the
object This opposition by force OF arms to the
United States, in other words, levyng war against
the United States, is treason
no warrant Tor secession be found in the
Constitution. There is warrant for it in the or
1lnaTy frame OF government. They who are dis
satisfied may depart whenever they will. They
may ind a new country where they,can But they
must not take any part of the country along with
them which they now hold In common with many
more. Those who uphold this doctrine are esne.
clally defenders OF the rights of minorities What
do they propose TO do with those-even supposing
they are mnority-who, attached To the Union
are DESTROYS OF remaining in the fold? Must they
be forced 10 commit treason TO!
1t Is difficult to understand what is the thing
complained OF. You may read with unwearied care
essays and speeches-full of complaint and anger
and threat, and non intercourse, and secession but
why! or wherefore! The ianatica folly of a few do
mesuc or foreign Aboionists is not surely the mo-
i've Tor cutting of fifteen millions of people, What
is the motive?
TOT b.e NJ
the Senate on the 4th of March. The Complaint
resolves itself mainly into the disproportioned
growth OF the North, and thus a destruction in the
supposed equilibrium with which the Union began
what ID there OF equilibrium in the provisions of
the Constitution. Nothing, literally nothing Hence
the argument of an ingenious man is compelled to
seek refuge, not IN remedy under the Constitu
ton, which is the usual cry but in a change of the
Constitution. To this the answer is easy The Con
sututlon provides a mode for amending it. Let
that method be adopted, and, If 1t be reasonable
request, IT Will be listened TO. II it be not every
motive OF patriotism, every dictate of reason eyery
sense OF propnety, requires that il should be
promptly and manfully abandoned. [Great cheer
ingl
Colonel PACE being called for, then rose and
said "l1
Fellow. citizens az one of the oripinators nj the
can under which you assembled | am here to-
night 10 lend effect TO the objects of this meeting
as lar as my humble abilities will permit me to do
co.. So much has been said and so eloquently and
truly said, as TO the matter under your particular
cognizance 10 night, that. if were 10 attempt to
elaborate upon any one point that has been pre-
scented to you i should prove tiresome since the
novelty has gone, and the force of the remarks
would IN a measure be Lost. / will however claim
your attention for very few minutes. / thought
az ola others who agreed with me in this matter
that there was peril impending over our national
affairs. think 30 still, and 80 thinking should
have lacked the feeling and the impulse of an
american II had not come 10 the rescue TO per
form small part in the work Of preserving the
| hat 81.
platform upon which we could all assemble and
that the name Of Wing, Of Democrat and Native
Mouia LOO the present time be laid aside, and we
would stand upon II as Americans and az brotbers
That platform has been presented 70 YOU In the
manner have attempted TO describe and you have
warmly and fcrvently responded TO it. We are
a. 49, 20, party purposes or party objects, but
am an American, every part and parcel Of me
am iesh and blood, bone and sinov American
hhe talk TO American citizens and fellow men,
az HOerty 10 express my sentiments have an utter
adherence for foreign country endeavoring 10 in
terlero between me and my countrymen IAN.
IAuse'I Weare competent 20 mind our own Al.
ao tne best way to manage them Is u stay
nome and mind our own brsin-rs II come of ia of
the NOrth were 10 do that, our brethren al the
oJlth would have nothing 10 complain Of The
i,lIo,Ilanoe Of that duty on your part is 70 let
them alone. We have presented n bi,tforn here
which look upon az the platform Of the oountrv3
OF me Cnion-the platform Of the Constitutions
the aw-of harmony, faith, and order-fap.
P'"N7,I tbst same platform which has been given
I" 10 by the wise statesmen Of the past and pres
eht cay. am willing TO peril my all, sink or
Nlli, survive or perish, Applause on the plat.
IYlm mat was given TO you by Washington and
g'HersOn, which has since been given 10 you by
Jackson and Clay, by Webster and Foote, and
other great and noble men, whose names il will not
- necessary 10 mention % you, for they fresh
IN the memory Of all. We have asked you to take
the platform such a. iti.-great and v ise men have
gwen tito you as the platform Of the Constitution,
The Union and the Law
Ailow ne to say 70 you. my friends that it II for
us on tne Northern States roll BAG the wild waves
81 ahalcisn and TO stem the black tide Of treason.
lhpPiausc'l The South cay, and they say truly,
that the ssues az 10 this Union are In The hands OF
the people OF the North, and ] am glad 10 sec the
.ity Of Penn-ibe people Of Pennsylvania.-rally ~
vac Iescue IN The manner in which you have gath
100 p-hlght hope that this meeting is but the
,,uuv1vctofy 70 many more in a like way, and in a
ne spirt 70 show that there can be no mistake az
uie sentiments Of the people Of Pennsylvania
whatever may be our differences Of opinion as
20 tne meaning OF the measure. Of Government
Whatever may be our differences Of party princi
Pies-let US move from hence 10. night resolved 20
discharge our duties 10 the parties which we be-
long, but resolved at the same time that we will
Encourage no aspirant in any one Of the psrtcs
itss We Know him 10 be the Consttution