The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-02
Letter of Hon. Robert J. Walker.

The recent Union meetings at the North and
South, have elected vast amount of rigmarole,
twadde, profession and hypocrisy from distin-
guished men. We have not seen in all their
letters better spirit, or more good sense than
in that of Mr.. WALKER, to the Philadelphia
meeting. In an evil hour Mr. WALKER gave
his sanction to tho late Compromise measures
measures which the genius Of discord must
have inspired-and which if they are to stand,
will be an nsuperable barrier to the harmony,
the peace, the safety and durability Of the Union.
New YORK, Nov. 81, 1850.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter Of the lth inst, has
been received, requesting me, in behalf of the
friends of the Constitution and the Union, with
out distinction of party, Of the city and county
of Philadelphia" to attend public meeting to
be held by them this evening in your city. Con.
curing with you most fully in the noble pur-
pose of this meeting, l deeply regret that it is
not in my power to attend. ! thank you, gentle
men, for the kind and favorable manner in which
you have been pleased to speak of my humble
efforts to uphold the Constitution and perpetuate
! the Union. The Constitution Is the only basis
upon which the Union can be maintained. 1t is
| the constitution that makes the Union and to
overthrow the one is to destroy the other. If
| there are any who believe that the Union can be
maintained when the fundamental principles and
sacred guarantees of the Constitution are over
thrown, it is a dangerous and fatal error. Among
the guarantees contained in that instrument
and without which it Is we'll known that it never
could have been framed-s that clause requir-
ing the surrender Of fugitives from service. The
fulfllment of this clause, in letter and in spirit,
is demanded by every principle of homer and
good faith; and all who would seek to violate,
evade, or disregard its provisions are enemies Of
the Constitution and the Union.
| The purpose for which our meeting is con-
vened is the most grave and momentous ever
submitted for the consideration Of the American
people, 1t is in effect, question whether we shall
continue to have Constitution, a country and
a Union, or whether all shall be overthrown.
deeply regret to say that all are in imminent peril
that we are, in fact, hurryng on to the brink
of a precipice-and that, unless the friends of
the Constitution and of the Union, shall take
prompt and effective measures, the fatal words
may soon reach us-IT IS TOO LATE :! Who is
prepared to say that week, or a month, or a
| year may not witness some one of the States
| by popular movement nearly unanimous, with
drawing, or at least attempting to withdraw, from
the Union And what will be the remedy :?
Will civil war preserve or restore the Union :?
| Will that war be confined to u single State
! Can q vanGuished State even If she can be van
| pushed, ever again become a member Of the
Federal Union? No, my countrymen; let us
learn, ere it be too late, that this never can be
| Union Of victor and of vanquished, of sovereign
and Of subject States but that it must be n
Union of equals, which is the Union of the Con-
stitution 1t must be a cordial and fraternal
| Union, founded on interest, and cemented by af-
lection. This was the Union founded by Wash
ington and Franklin, and the patriots and states
men Of the revolution and that is the only
Union that can be preserved and perpetuated.
You might, perhaps, by superior force, drcnch
in blood the fields Of sister State; you might
perhaps, wrap her villages in flames; but you
could never afterwards restore such State to
the Union established by the Constitution. No,
fellow citizens when the star of State is
extinguished in blood, it can never beam again
in the banner of the Union-for it will no longer
be an equal, a sovereign, or a sister State. Let
it not be supposed that, in making these sug-
gestions, advocate the doctrines Of notification
or secession. No; | have ever opposed these
doctrines, believing them to be revolutionary in
their character, and leading to the overthrow Of
the Constitution and of the Union. But we
should remember that it is revolution that has
changed or destroyed nearly every government
on earth and if a single State, by the nearly
unanimous voice of her people, even if unaided
by other States, should withdraw from the
Union, although the measure would be revolu-
tionary, it would be none the less destructive of
the Government and of the country. If we
would desire to preserve the Government agains.
revolution, we must remove the causes which
tend to produce such a catastrophe. To ac-
compsh this, nothing is required but fidelity to
the Constitution, and the exercise of just and
fratcrnal spirit towards every State and every
section of the Union.
Your meeting may be attended with the most
beneficial results. Il is assembled at the city
where the Declaration Of American Independence
was subscribed, and where the Constitution was
framed and promulgated, II was through years