The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-15

ished that distrust, with pous reverence, a
tional and patriotic sentiment
But 1t is time TO prevent abuses o that sentiment
Ii is time TO shake off that fear, for fear is always
weakness II is time to remember that govern
Inent, when il arises by chance or accident,
and is administered capriciously and oppressively,
is the strongest of all human institutions sur
viving many social and ecclesiastical changes and
convulsons, and that this Constitution OF ours has
all the inherent strength common TO governments
in general, and added to them, has also the sodty
and firmness derived from broader and deeper
| foundations in natural justice, and from better
civil adaptation to promote the welfare and happi
ness of mankind.
The Union, the creature of necessities, physical,
moral, social and political endures by virtue of
the same necessities; and these necessities are
stronger than when il was produced-stronger by
the greater amplitude of territory now covered by
itstronger by the skiold increase of the society
living under its beneticent protection stronger by
the augmentation ten thousand times of the fields,
the workshops, the mines, and the ships Of that
clety; Of its productions of the sea, Of the plough,
OF the loom and OF the anvil in their constant circle
of internal and international exchangc--stronger
In the long rivers penetrating regions before :
knowp-sronger in all the artificial roads, canals.
and other channels and avenues essential not only
to trade but to defcnce-stronger in steam naviga-
| ton, in steam oeomotion on the land, and in the
| telegraph communications, unknown when the
Constitution was adopted-stronger in the freedom
and in the growing empire of the seas-stronger in
| the element of national honor in all lands, and
stronger than all in the settled habits of
ration and affection for institutions 80 stupendous
and so useful.
men choose that il shall be, but because some gov
| eminent must exist here, and other Govern
ment than this can. III could be dashed to atoms
by the wbirlwind, the lightning, the earthquake
to- day. 1t would rise again in all its Just and mag
nifcent proportions tomorrow.
Ihavc heard somewhat here, and almost for the frs
time in my life, OF divided allegiance-of allegiance
to the South and to the Unonof allegiance to States
| a SIr natl sxxtI
State emulation and pride Of achievement could be
allowed to raise up another sovereign to divide the
| allegiance OF citizen of the United States, lmgh
recognise the claims of the State to which, by birth
and gratitude, beong-to the State OF Hamilton
and Jay, OF Schuyler, Of the Clintons and Of Full
ton--the State which, with less than two hundred
miles Of natural navigation connected with the
ocean, has, by her own enterprise, secured to her
i self the commerce Of the continent and is steadily
advancing to the command of the commerce of the
world. But for all this know only one country
and one sovereign-the United States of America
and the American people. And such my allie
giance is is the loyalty Of every other citizen of the
/ United States. AS speak, he will speak when his
| time arrives. He knows no other country, and mt
| other sovereign. He has life, liberty, property
and precious affections, and hopes for himself and
for his posterity, treasured up in the ark Of the
! Union. He knows well and feels as strongly as
] do that this Government is his own government;
| that he is part of it; that it established for
him, and that it is maintained by him; that it is tho
| only truly WISE, just, free and equal Government
that has ever existed; that no other government
could be wise JUST free and equal; and that il If
safer and more bene6cent than any which time or
| change could bring into its place.
You may tell me, sir, that although all this may
be true yet that the trial OF fac ton has yet been
made. Sir, If the trial of action has not been made
il has not been because faction has not always ex-
isted, and has not always menaccd trial, but be-
cause faction could find no fulcrum on which t.
place the lever to subvert the Union as il can fnd
no fucrum now; and in this is my confidence.
would not rashly provoke the trial; but will not
suffer fear, which have not, To make me com
promise one sentiment, one principle Of truth or
justice to avert danger that all experience teaches
me ID purely chimerica. Let, then, those who dis
trust the Union make compromises To save it.
shall not mpeach their wisdom as certainly can
not their patriotism; but INDUCING such appre-
tensions myself, shall vote for the admission OF
| California directly, without conditions, without
qualifications, and without compromise.
For the vndication of that vote look not TO the
verdict Of the passing hour, disturbed the public
mind now ia by conflicting interests and passions,
but TO that period happily not far distant when the
vast regions over which we legislating
shall have received their destined inhabitants.
While looking forward 10 that day, its countless
generations seem to me to be rising up and passing
! In dim and shadowy review before us; and voice
comes forth from their serried ranks, saying,
"Waste your treasures and your armies, IL you
will; your Notifications to the ground; sink
your navies into the sea; transmit to dis
honored name, If you must; but the soil you hold
in trust for us-give IL TO us free You found il
free, and conquered IL 10 extend better and surer
| freedom over il. Whatever choice you have made
for yourselves let us have partial freedom; let
US all he free; let the reverson Of broad domain
descend 10 us, unncumbcred and free from the
cslamties and the sorrows Of human bondage"