The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-02
The Great Union Meeting in New York.

1.-The commercial interest OF the great me-
tropolis" has spoken in favor of the Union, the
Constitution, and the supremacy of the laws,
with distinctness and an unanimity not to be
mistaken. The murmur of faction, the camor
Of party, the jealousies of sections, have sunk
into insignhcance, and the voice Of the people
has been heard. Ii has been as the ripping of
the rill to the roar of the mighty cataract. The
meeting of New York has settled the question
the majesty Of the laws of the country will be
maintained the integrity of the Union will be
preserved; the peace compact will be carried
out impartally and faithfully neither party to
that compact shall have cause to complain that
its provisions are imperative or unequal. The
imminent danger which menaced the Union,
like the warlike invasion Of enemies, has quiet
ed the party differences which divided the pa
triotc people of New York, and we find them
declaring their willingness to sacrifice their
party preferences without hesitation to the
maintenance of those great principles which had
convoked them.
In the language which we quote, the sur
render of party allegiance to the perpetuity Of
the Union was made without hesitation.
Mr.. GERARD said /" | have been member
of the Wing party from its commencement.
like my party much, but love my country
more; and before will fight under the banner
and for the abolition principles Of some of its
leaders, ! will see the Wing party broken into
ten thous and fragments"
Mr.. CHAs. O'CoNoR states, that he did not
50 knoW pyacfly ,yn1l ,ubora ba ITt,ore
but even if it be in u cellar, am ready to 90
there and vote for any National Wing, in pre-
ference to Free-sol Democrat" Loud and
continued cheering.
Such were the patriotic expressions Of men
who esteem party measures Of inestimable I'M
portance in the administration of government,
but whose good sense teaches them that mere
measures of policy are Of no consequence what
soever when the form of government which is
to administer them is threatened with destruc-
ton.
The resolutions of the meeting are very well
written, and seem to us to embrace every pro-
position which the friends of peace and of the
laws could desire. They attribute the "power,
dignity, and prosperity" Of the country to the
Union--assert that the Union was the result of
compromise, and that it can alone be perpetuated
by the same principle-approve the Legislation of
Congress the agitation since the pas
sage Of the compromise-declare the Fugitive
Slave law constitutional, and pledge all lawful
means for maintaining and executing it-affirm
that the obligation to maintain the Union is
paramount to the ties of party, and declare that
they will Grange themselves under the banner
of that party whose principles and practice are
most calculated to uphold the Constitution
and perpetuate the Union.'
We regard this meeting as an exposition of
the intelligent interests of the country as the
language spoken by those who have had the
fairest opportunities 10 test the value of our in
situations, who have intercourse with every
cline and interests in every country, who know
that the evils of which we complain " are evils
found everywhere, but the advantages which
we have here are found nowhere else" These
men know the value of the Union by expert
ence, by observation, by comparison; and we
esteem their declarations testimonial of its
value, and an assurance that its hold upon the
ing the resolutions as the voice of the practical
and unbought interests of the nation, we know
that it will be responded to by the yeomanry who
have fought its battles, maintained its burdens,
and lived in happiness under its protection. If
these constitute the body guard of the Consti-
tuition, where is the power that dares to lay its
unhallowed hand upon that sacred instrument,
dafanJaI bu ba a.
vous arms of its invincible defenders2 To
those devoted patriots who advocated this great
measure Of peace-to the Administration of the
Government, which has evinced its determination
to enforce the laws without fear or favor-ths
demonstration brings peculiar satisfaction. 1t is
the approval ofthe people, to which no republican
can be Indifferent. 1t proves that the authority
which empowered approves their conduct, and
will sustain their acts. II is this honest con-
yiction Of duty which comes TO cheer the sol
der in the hour of danger When he goes
forth with a calm heart, pure conscience, and
the confident assurance that his cause is Just,
he leaves the defence of consequences to the
motives which have caused them.
With the patriotic approval of the great in
dustrial interests Of the country-with the ear
nest hopes of the wise, the good, the oxpe-
renced-with the conviction that the happi-
ness Of unthinking thousands depends upon the
impartial execution Of the laws and the main
tenance Of the Union-who that wears the sem
blance, or feels the spirit Of man, could hest
tate to endure unmoyed the obloquy Of disap-
pointed and disaffected demsgogues, or to en-
force at any hazard the duties which have been
entrusted to him2 If there be in public station
one man who deems himself unequal to the duty
or 10 the sacrifice, let him leave his post. and
seek in privacy position where neither irreso-
luton nor incapacity can leopard the success
of the friends Of the Union in the desperate
conflict with its enemies, which now threatens
them. In such a crisis, timidity is worse than
treason.
The voice Of the commercial interest must
always be potent. That interest is ever the