Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-03-12
From the Hon. Lewis Cass.
WAsu1xoroS. Feb. IL. 1850

WAsH1SGToS, Feb. I3, 1850.
Gentlemen: / have just received your invita-.
ton TO attend the meeting proposed TO be held at
Tammany Hall, on Saturday evening, in " de-
fence Of the integrity OF the UUion." Never was
The Union in greater peril, and never did our
country need wiser heads or sOunder hearts 10
enable her to avoid the dangers which are fast
gathering around us. 1t is TO me a source Of
great qualification, az well as an augnry of safe
ty, that the DeuUcrncy OF The great city of New
York are coming ia The rescue, and are coming
as they have often Come in times of difficulty
true 10 their own creed, and tl.eir fathers creed,
and with a devotion 10 the Union, and to the
whole Union, which considers the rights of each
The rights Of all. This is the true spirit, and the
only spirit in which the crisis can be justly met,
and harmony ard confdcnce restored TO The couu.
try. 1t is evident that neither in the North nor
West is the extent or tendency Ofthe excitement
in the southern States understood or n ppreciaied.
1t sCems to be supposed that this is one OF those
ordinary conflicts of opinion, such as we have of
ten experienced, and to which all communities
are ut times exposed, and that ii may be survey.
ed without inquietude, as it will pass away with
out danger. This error, il persisted in, may he
fatal. The evil day, il not upon US, is near us.
The attempt to force an obnoxious. and, as | be-
licve, An demonstrations aud useless measure
nPon the South, has united that great portion Of
tie confederation together, as enc man, IN resist
~" AA' NSA1h AZ " u " llllR .
and If the contest goes ON, ali other parties will
disappear, and there will be but one party, and
that o9e will be a southern party Tic feelings,
the opinions, tie INTERESTS, tie prejrdie eR sven.
if you please, of a vast community like that, are
neither to be lightly treated nor safely disregard
I'd. Pride of haracter gees as far with States
as with indi, iduals and when positions are
taken in periods OF excitement, they are nCt east
ly abandoned, unless tie controversy is conduct
cd in a spirit of mutual Cancellation. When men
believe that important rights are assaiied, tie
feeling of opposition is instructive. and history
is full of proofs that Il;cy do not sit down sUberiy
10 count the cost before they prepare for resis-
lance. We have now a practical subject under
discussion, to which fourteen States OF this Union
are uppGsed-I may almost FAY as one mana
degree Of Immunity never before presented in
our own history, and rarely. indeed, in that of any
other country. We have reached a grave sec
tiunal question i'll our political Prrgrcss-fhat
question forescen and forcfn'd, and al which we
were 50 sclemuly fcrewarncd by the Father ufhis
Country as the only one which could seriously
threaten the existence OF this government. His
voice now comes 10 us from the tomb. Col
grant that it may be heard and needed! What
ever impressions may prevail elsewhere, | sup
pose there is no intelligent observer at tho scat
Of government who is not seriously disturbed at
The present slate of things. Whether tue dan
ger is greater or less, nearer or more remote, are
questions about which men may differ, and nm
doubleday do differ; but know no lover Of his
county who dies not view the crisis as an alarm.
ing one, and does not see, in the signs of the
times, the approach of one of those political con-
WILSON'S which, if not avcrted BY wise aud timely
measures, may be fatal to us, and TO the cause OF
freedom throughout the Union.
This Union is in danger The first step to-
wards safety is 10 beIieV e that the danger exists,
and the Waterman, when asked what OF the night
who does not sound The alarm, is neither true TO
his own duty nor to the interests of those who
hoy-n - nm mi il oil n M RI Ef tho ENFfro-= rs TIo.r Il
berry 10 his keeping and the next step, aud the
best step, and The only etf3ctual step, is 10 do as
YOU have dOne-to call upon the American peo-
Pile to be up and doing to say to their servants,
here and elsewhere, In tones neither to be misun-
derstood nor TO be d so5eyed: We love the Union;
we have lived in it, and we mean to die in it,
Place ii not in danger BY any unnecessary act
Of yours.
Let him who will, calculate the value Of this
Union, if he can. | spurn the useless effort
Its value is in the past, in the present, and in the
future in its promises, in its performances, and
it's hopes in all it has done, aud is doing, and
is destined yet, | trust, TO do. Its value is in the
heart of every true American. 1t has made ours
the most prosperous country OH the face of the
earth; given us a greater measure of national
freedom than any other people ever enjoyed
placed US among the powerful nations OF the
world, with nothing to fear but our own foIIies !
and crimes, and the judgment of God ii has |
spread an intelligent, a happy, a cOntented, and
a ~virtuous population over our hills and valleys,
and prairies, from the shores of the Atlantic al
most to the base of the Rocky mountains, which,
the hardy pioneer is now ascending; and it has
already brought US the great political offering, 10
be laid upon the altar OF our common country, of
a constitution from a free people, WHO have es-
tabiished their home upon the very shores that
look out upon China and Japan.
All this our Union has done; but il left 60 90
on, its work has but just begun. We cannot ex.
plore the future; it is best I'VE should not. But
we have reason to hope, with proper humility,
indeed, that if not struck with judicial blindness,
the career of this great republic will be as gIori.
Gus in itself as it will be happy for its people and
encuurag ing to the lovers of freedom throughout
the world. The cause of human liberty depends
on us. If lost here by intestine divisions, il is
lost everywhere.
We have not only our own fate in our fands.
but the great question of the power of %selEeov-
eminent is committed TO our keeping. II we
cannot govern ourselves, who can ? If this Con-
stltntion fails, the next.that will govern us may
be the sword. My ardent prayer is, that 1 may
never live TO see that day.
Come, then, Democrats of New York, to the
rescue OF your-country. It is a high and holy
work, and generations unborn may yet live to
bless yon for the deed. Ay, and I will adj
for tie occasion is loo solemn for any profess.
sions of exclusive patriotism-that j trust lie