The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-24

The Union.
We have always been taught to regard this glorious
Union almost sacred institution. We almost feel to-
wards the religious men of old felt when they APP
preached the Temple and took the sandals from off their
feet and exclaimed, The ground which thou standes
is holy ground" We have uniformly regarded il the
of prosperity home and of power and great
consideration abroad But have been taught to
calculate its value measure its Importance Others
have attempted the experiment; but with their cacuIa
tons and with their measurements we have nothing to
do, Yet while we make this declaration, must add,
that, nestimaby precious it is, when it is grossly
abused for the oppression of any of its partners and after
repeated entertainments after every amcabe expedent for
redress has been exhausted, after is converted into
government without limitation of powers" the parties
to the compact have right the powers which
they have conveyed to it, The Virginia of ratification
expressly says that "he powers granted under the
stituton, being derived from the people OF the United
States, may be resumed by them whatsoever the
shall be perverted to their injury oppression" The
powers OF the federal government be extended
beyond the consttutionor that constitution contains
the terms and conditions Of the Union. The rights Of
the States must not be ramped on and the conditions of
the Union must not be disregarded
we uuiu tudl Tue only True anu legitimate sovereignty
residesin the people: not in the people of the United
States a body polttie-for there is such body
politicbut in the people Of the separate sovereign
ties-the separate States which constitute the United
States OF hold tina, sovereign
and that all governments established for the benefit
of the peop-authozed by the people discharge GER
tain duties, and, natural consequence, inhibited from
doing anything except what authorized by the CON-
81 ~ IL =. AZ.
point Of view say that each and every State is
bound TO adhere the Union according the compact
but when ntoleabe oppression is imposed by gross
abuse OF the powers of the governmentwhen the fed
era government goes decidedly beyond the powers which
have been nlrused TO 1.-THE parties may rghtfully
withdraw from the copartnership.
But, while say this, we say also that the State
which arrays itself against the edederal government as
for itself fearful responsibility No human intellect
calculate the value of this Union to pos
teri,y. No human imagination estimate the unnum-
bered evils which must inevitably flow from its dissolu
ton. The interests OF civilization and Chrstianiiy-all
the hopes OF human advancementare bound up with the
fate Of the confederacy It'll filled with untold benefits and
its destruction would bring untold evils. Between
the two there is wide gulf Let him who
We confess the task is beyond our powers The man is
yet living who feeble people, scattered along the
shores OF the Atlantic, with only thirteen States and three
millions OF people. Now confedeacy embraces thirty
States, with other Territories rising rapidly into the dig
nifty of States It's population numbers twenty millions OF
freemen whose sails wh,en every coast, and whose flag
is respected on every Our empire extends from the
shores of the stormy Atlantic TO those of the tranquil Pa
cifc. The world has witnessed astonishing
phenomenon Of growth of enterprise, of industry Of wis.,
dom, OF all the qualities which constitute State OF
"men, high minded men" The world has produced
wonderful and prosperous people, crowned with
the wreaths OF every art and surrounded by the trophies
of every science These the fruits OF free people,
living under the shade OF the Union. Had that Union
not been formed. the States OF the confederacy would
still have been weak, feeble, and contemplate. The
products by which we hold the command OF commerce,
the resources which have made powerful and respect,
ed, would have been unknown and undeveoped but for
the Union And bu, for the Union the stars and stripes
which command the respect OF the haughiiest ma.
TONS would be unknown, and the banners OF the States
would command comparatively but little respect. The
great rivers which percoate our country like the veins
Of the human body, giving life and vigor to the nation
would have been the dividing lines of hostile States and
every prominent point along their shores would have
brstled with frowning Notifications The substance Of
the people would have been eaten up by standing
armies, and civil rights would perish before the
rules OF military authority Even the old confederacy
was found 10 be insufficient, although the States
then united by the recent memories OF common strug
gle and common triumph. The spirit of the peo-
pie carried through the revolutions and the old
federacy found too weak for the business OF
peace Every sagacous statesman that the federal
authority must be remodeed and closer union formed
in order to develop the OF the nation and COM
mand the respect of foreign powers The following
tracts will show the views OF George Washington
at the time Of which speak and the inesmable
value which he at that time attached to the Union
EXTRACTS FROM GEN. wAsHNcroN's CORRESPONDENCE
IN THE 9TH VOLUME or HIS WRITINGS.
To Jamo Madison
Mourn VERNON, November B. 1856.
II any be csssed with the important, questions
of the day. and merted the serious auenon of the
assembly Fam would hope that the great and most inn
porant OF all subjects the fdra gopenmsnt may be con
sdered with that and deliberate attention which The
gntude Of II critically and loudly calls for Let pejo
does calouses, and local interests yield to
and betaltY. look to our national cbaac