The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-02

they were led on by thar great man VINO liVes en-
shrined in all our hearts. We must look 20 the
preservation OF the Union and the great interests
which that Union involves. loud cheersl
Mr.. RoeERT c. WETmoRE then read the follow
ing letters:
My DEAR SIR: most painful domestic afiliction
causes me to decline your kind invitation 10 attend
a "Union meeting" of the citizens of New York,
! at Castle Garden, tomorrow evening; but ] APP
prove its patriotic purposes and sympathize warmly
| with the movement
thank you for the complimentary manner in
which you pleased TO aude 10 my humble eff
| forts i'll the Senate, and assure you, that ] long
since determined to stand or fall, "surviye or per-
ish, live or die" with those who would maintain
the integrity of the Union and uphold the genial
| spirit Of our country's Constitution.
BE pleased TO present my best regards to the pa
triotic assemblage, and believe me sincerely
Yours, ID. s. DICKINSON
| To +. s. LATHoRP, esq,
Chairman Committee, &c.
FRANKLIN, N. H., Oct. 2sth, 1850
| GENTLEMEN: Nothing in the world but regard
| for the stae OF my health prevents me from accept
ing at once your invitation, and assuring you OF my
presence at the % Union Meeting at Castle Garden,
on Wednesday evening next. Il rejoice to know
| that such a meeting Ia called rejoice to know
that it will be attended by thousands of intelligent
men, lovers of their country party men doubtless,
| but abject slaves to party and who will not suf
fer either party clamor or party discipline to dry
up within them all the fountains of love and attach
ment TO the Constitution of their country. The
voice OF suCh n meeting Will be heard ana respect
ed it will rebuke dsobedence to the laws, actual
threatened it will tend to check the progress of
mad fanaticism; it will call men who are honest,
| but who have been strangely mised, back to their
! duty, and it will give countenance and courage TO
the faithful friends of Union throughout the land.
/ When the commercial interest of the great me-
tropolis OF the country speaks, with united hearts
and voice., expressing its conviction of the pres
ence of the great danger, and its determined pur-
pose to meet that danger, 70 combat with it and
overcome it, the example ia likely to rouse good
men everywhere; and when the country shall be
reused the country will be saved.
| concur, gentlemen, in all the political princi-
Piles contained in the resolutions, copy of which
| has been sent TO me; and stand pledged to sup
port those principles publicly and privately, now
and always, to the full extent of my influence, and
| by the exerton OF every faculty which possess.
| The eminent men whom you mention, and with
whose names you have done me the honor to aeso-
ciate mine, well worthy of the praise which
you bestow on them. ] shall never forget, and
trust the country will never forget, the patriotisIn
the manness, the courage manifested by them, in
an hour of difficulty and of peril.
The pence measures OF the last session are: the
| Texan Boundary act, the act for establishing the
two Territorial Governments of New Mexico and
Utah, the act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade
in the District OF Columbia, and the Fugitive Slave
law. This last measure, gentlemen, Is not such
measure as had prepared before left the Senate,
and which, OF course, should have supported if
| had remained IN the Senate. But il received the
proper sanction Of the two Houses of Congress, and
Of the President OF the United States 1t is the law
of the land and such is to be respected and
obeyed by all good citizens. have heard no man ,
whose opinion is worth regarding, deny It's consti
tutionality, and those who counsel violent resist
ance to it, counsel that which, if it take place. is
sure to lead TO boodshed, and to the commission Of
capital offences. IL remains TO be seen how far the
deluded and deluders will go on, in this of
fiction, folly, and crime.
There were honest and well meaning members
of Congress who did not their way clear to sup
port these great and leading measures of the last
! y 10
tves of these gentlemen ought not be impeached.
But the measures have been adopted, they have be-
come laws, oonstitutionally and legally binding
upon us all, and no man is likely 70 oppose them
No man is at liberty to set up, affect 10 set up,
! his own conscience as above the law, in matter
which respects the rights of others, and the obliga
tons, civil social and political, due to others from
HIM. Such pretence saps the foundation Of ali
government, and is of itself perfect absurdity and
while all are bound 10 yield obedience to the laws,
| wise and well. disposed citizens will forbear from
renewing past agitation, and re- kindlng the flames
OF useless and dangerous controversy
| II We would continue people, must
quiesce IN the will OF the majority, consttutionally
expressed; and he who does not mean to do that,
means to disturb the public peace, and 10 do what
ne can to overturn the Government.
Gentlemen, am led to the adoption of your last
resolution in an especial and emphatic manner, by
every dictate of my understanding, and embrace
II with full purpose Of heard and mind. Its senti-
ment is my sentiment With you, declare that
range myself the banners of that party whose
principles and practice most calculated to up
hold the Constitution, and 10 perpetuate our gIo-
rious Union"
Gentlemen, ! am hero to recruit my health, en-
| leebIed "a II has been by ten months Of excessive
! labor and Undesirable anxiety The air of these
my native hills renews my strength and my spirits.
feel lts ipyigOrating influences while am writing
these few linesi and ! shall return shortly 10 my
poet, TO discharge its duties as well IA can and
resolved, in all cyents, that far az depends on
me, our Union shall pass through this fiery trial
without the smell of smoke upon its garments.
m flaFna tTarFa~
obliged fellow citizen and ob't serv't
DANIEL WEBSTER
To Messrs. y. s. Lathrop, Gerard Hsllock, Chas
e. Carleton, =. 5, Duryee, Committee, New
York.
J. w. Gerard, esq, then came before the meet
ing He said he had come at the call Of his country
TO meet those who had here assembled, regard
less OF party bonds, 10 concert measures for the
safety OF this glorious Union. Their action would
be heard and felt all through the length and
breadth Of the land IL would be heard in New
England TO the top of her highest hills, and would
carry aid and comfort to every corner Of the
glorious South. Their voice would be heard all
along the seabOard, and every merchant and every
sailor would Join ia the cry raised here, for the
Constitution and the Union. Nor would II die
sway until il had crossed the Rocky mountains and
been echoed from the Pacific coast. Every noun
tsn-top would hear q, and every valley would Join
in the glorious shout raised here ight for the
Union, the compromise, and the Constitution
Sixty years ago this republic was founded upon com
proHises ana Oy copTo4lse alone mas ~ slnce Dccn
preserved. Our fathers proclaimed the Union to
be one and indivisible, and adopted the kngy
eagle the emblem Of our destiny. And well has
The progress of our country justified the selection.
The warriors aud statesmen Of the North and the
South have riyalled each other in their struggles
10 promote the growth and the greatness OF their
common country. The object OF the meeting to
night 10 10 endorse and carry out the peace
sures Of Congress. For ten months the Abolition
lists Of the North and the Disunonists OF the South
blocked the wheels Of legislation, until such men
those whose letters had been read night threw
Themselves into the gap 10 calm the troubled waters.
, These men would be sustained, no matter TO what
party they belonged, from what section they
, came. Sill there we're spirits who would rather
| r. rule in bell than serve in heaven" who we're
still determined 10 renew the strife, that they night
rise the scum 10 the surface. These considera-
tons had given rice 10 three rasoutionstbe hrst
Of which would approve the first class, zoe sccond
would condemn the others, and the third would
recommend the execution and support Of the com
promise measures. The country needs peace,
and must have H. The kings Of the old world
look with compl3ccncy on the growing strife and
discord in tins country. Bui they arc doomed to
disappointment Among the peace measures re-
Z icrred 10 Is the Fugitive Slave law, which has