Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-07
boof ssst Protestant deolainao6s which fehaift in

broken and 6ntlro
The strongest cord Of political character consists
of the many and strong ties that have held together the
two great parties which have, with notifications
, existed from the beginning of the Government They
both extended to every portion OF the Union and strong
ly contributed to hold all its parts together But this
powerful cord has Jared better than the spiritual. 1t
resisted for long time the explosive tendency OF the
agitation, but has finally snapped under its iorcet not
entirely, IN great measure. Nor is there one OF tile
remaining cords which have not been greatly weakened
10 this extent the Union has already been DESTROYED by
agatlon IN the only way it can be, by swapping asun-
der and weakening the cords which bind it together
Ii the agitation goes on, the same force acting with
increased intensity, as has been shown, will hnay snap
every cord when nothing will be left to hold the States
together except force But surely that can, with no
proprety OF language be called Union when the only
means by which the weaker is held connected with the
stronger portion IS force 1t may, indeed, keep them
OF the character of subugaton the part OF the weak
er to the stronger than the union Of fee, independent
and sovereign States one Confederation they stood
in the early stages of the Government, and which only
| is worthy OF the sacred name OF Union
Having now, Senators, exp aimed what Is that en-
dangers the Union, and traced 10 Its cause, and ex
planned its nature and character the question again re-
ours, How the Union be saved? To this answer,
there but way by which it be- and that is by
adopting such measures will satisfy the States be-
longing to the Southern section that they remain IN
the Union consistently with their honor and their safety
There is again, only way by which that can be ell
fected and that is by removing the causes by which this
belief has been produced Do that, and discomfort will
be restored and every apprehension OF danger to the
Union be removed. The question, then, is, By what
can this be done! But before [ undertake to answer
this question, propose show by what the Union can
not be saved.
1t cannot, then, be saved by eulogies the Union,
however splendid or numerous. The cry OF Union,
Unon-the glorious Union l"-can prevent dis
union, than the cry OF Health health glorious heah
on the part OF the physician, save patient lying
dangerously ILL., SO long as the Union, instead OF Pc
ing regarded as protector, regarded in the opposite
character by not much less than majority OF the States
it will be in vain to attempt to conciate them by pro-
nouncing euloges on it.
those who cannot believe to be sincere. 1t usually
comes from our assaants. But cannot believe them
to be sncere for, if they loved the Uaion, they would
necessarily be devoted to the Constitution 1t made the
Union, and to destroy the Constitution would be to de-
stroy the Union. But the only reliable and certain evil
dence OF devotion the Constitution is to abstain, On
the one hand from violating il, and TO repel, the other
all attempts to violate it, 1t is only by faithfully per-
forming these high duties that the Constitution can be
preserved and with it the Union.
But how stands the profession Of devotion to tie
Union by assaiants, when brought TO the test! Have
they abstaned from violating the Constitution Let the
many acts passed by the northern States SET aside and
annul the clause OF the Constitution providing Tor the
delivery up OF fugitive slaves, answer cite this not
that is the only instance (or there many ohers,)
but because the violation in this particular is too notor
Gus and palpable TO be denied Again have they stood
forth faithfully to repel violations OF the Constitution =
Let their course IN reference to the agitation OF the
slavery question, which was commenced and has been
carried on Tor tteen years avowedy tor the purpose OF
abolishng slavery in the Statesan object all acknowl-
edged to be Observation-Disclosures. Let them show
single instance. during this long PERIOD in which they
have denounced the agators their attempts to effect
what is admitted to be unconstitutional, or single mea-
which they have brought forward for that purpose
How we with all these facts before u.s. believe that
they sincere in their profession of devotion to the
Union, or avoid believing their profession is but intended
to increase the vgor OF their assaults and to weaken the
: force OF our resistance!
Nor regard the profession of devotion to the
Union, on the part OF those who not assailans
as sincere when they pronounce euogles upon the
t Union, evidently with the intent OF charging with
disunion, without uering word Of denunciation
against our assaiants If friends of the Union theil
sauts, and denouncing the authors as enemies of the
Union. Why they avoid this, and pursue the course
they dc, 1T is Tor them to explain. ~
Nor can the Union be saved by invoking the nre>Qt
the ustr1ous southerner whose mortal remains repose
on the western bank OF the Potomac. He was OF
us-a STAKEHOLDER and planter We have studied his
history, and find nothing in it to justify submission to
wrong On the contrary, his great fame rests on the
solid foundation, that, while ne careful 10 avoid
doing wrong to Others he prompt and decided in
repeng wrong trust that i'll this respect, profit
ed by his example.
Nor can find any thing in his history to deter us
from seeding from the Union should fail to fulfil the
8 objects for which it was instituted by being permaneg
y and hopelessly converted into the means Of oppTes
sing instead OF protecting u.s. On the contrary we no
n much in his example TO encourage u.s. should we be
forced to the extremity of deciding between submission
- and disunion.
There existed then, as we'll now, a unon-that be-
tween the parent country and her then colonies 1t was
: Union that had much to endear it to the people
of the colonies Under its protecting and supern-
: tending care the colonies planted, and grew
up and prospered through long Of years. until
they became populous and wealthy lis bents not
productions gave birth to ourishng which
# richly rewarded the parent country Tor the trouble and
e expense OF establishing and protecting them Wash
ington was born and grew up to manhood under that
and there every reason to believe that he devoted
, " attached toit, But his devotion rational one.
He attached, not end but to end.
When it failed to fulfil its end and instead OF aordng
protection, converted into the OF expressing
the colonies, he did not hesitate draw his sword and
head the great movement by which that union was for
ever severed and the independence of these States
tablshed This was the great and browning glory OF
his life, which has spread his fame over the whole globe,
and will transmit it to the latest posterity.
Nor the plan proposed by the distinguished Sena-
tor from Kentucky, nor that OF the Administration save
the Union. shall pass by, without remark the plan
proposed by the Senator and proceed directly to the
consideration OF that OF the administration. however
the distinguished and able Senator that in taking
this course, disrespec whatever is intended to him
his plan. have adopted it, because many Senators
OF distinguished abilities, who were present when he de-
vered his Speech and explained his pan and who were
fully capable to do justice to the side they support have
replied to him.
The plan of the administration cannot save the Union
because it can have no effect whatever towards satisfy
ing the States composing the southern section OF the
Union, so that they can, consistently with safety and
honor remain in the Union. 1t is in fact but modif-
cation of the Wimot proviso. ltproposes to effect the
same object exclude the South from all territory ac
qured by the Mexican treaty, 1t is well known that
the South is united against the Wmot provso and has
committed itseby solemn resolutions to resist, should
be adopted. Its opposition is not to the name, but
that which it proposes to eectthat the southern States
hold to be unconstitutional, UNJUST inconsistent with
their equality as members of the common Union and
calculated to destroy, irerievably, the equilibrium be-
tween the two sections
These objections apply equally what for brevity
will call the Executive proviso. There is no difference
Of % and in that espae u pe st mode
that the latter much the least Objectionable 1t goes
toits object openly, boldly and distinctly Il claims for
congress unnHea power t6 eyer e territories and
Mexico, by positive prohibition of slavery. Not SO
the Executive proviso. 1t takes ndrectcourse; and