Washington telegraph., 1850-03-13
The VALUE OF THE UNos.- time

THE VALUE OF THE UNION At time
IKE the present, when the elements of
discord are at work all over the land
when disunion is boldly avowed by GER
tain factionists. in Congress and elsewhere
1t is good TO turn back and see what
was thought and said of the Union in
days that are past. In the winter of
1929 and 1830-twenty years ago this
winter-Mr. Webster, in answer to Gen.
Hayne, of South Carolina, the champion
OF the South in those days of nullifcation.
thus eloquently spoke of the benefits aris-
ing from the Union:-N. O Bulletin.
cit is to that Union that we owe our
safety at home, and our consideration and
dignity abroad. 1t is to Union that we
are chiefly indebted for whatever makes
US most proud of our country. That
Union we reached olrfy by the discipline
OF our virtue, in the severe school Of ad-
versity. II had its origin in she henecessi,ies
of hsordered finance. PROSTATE commerce
aud ruined credit. Under its benign in.
auence these great interests Immediately
awoke, as from the dead, and sprang forth
with newness of life. Every year of
its duration has teemed with fresh proofs
of its utility aud its blessings; and although
our territory has stretched out, wider aud
wider. and our population spread farther
and farther, they have not outrun its pro-
lection or its benefits. 1t has been to us
all a copious fountain of national, social
and personal happiness. | have not al
lowed myself, sir, to look beyond the
Union, TO see What might be hidden in
the dark recess behind. / have not coolly
weighed the chances of preserving liberty
when the bonds that unite US together
shall be broken asuuder.
II have not accustomed myself to hang
over the precipice of disunion, to see
whether. with my short sight, I can
fathom the depth of the abyss below; nor
could I regard him as safe counsellor
in the affairs of the government, whose
thoughts should be mainly bent on con-
siderlng. not how the Union should be
best preserved, but how tolerable might
be the condition of the people when it
shall be broken up and destroyed. While
the Union lasts. we have high, exciting,
gratifying prospects spread out before us,
tor us and our children. Beyond that I
SCCh uOI " pcHCSioIO shS CNii' oOO
that in my day, at least, that curtain may
not rise. God grant that OH my vision
never may be opened what lies behind.
When my eyes shall be turned to behold,
for the last time, the sun in heaven, may
| not see him shining OIL the broken and
dlshonored fragments of once glorious
Union; on States discovered. discordant,
beligerent; OH land rent with civil feuds.
or drenched, it may be, in fraternal blood.
Let my last feeble and lingering glance
rather behold the gorgeous ensign of the
Republic, now known and honored
throughout the earth, still full high ad-
vanced, its arms and trophies streaming
in their original lustre, not stripe creas-
ed or polluted, not single star obscured
hearing for its motto no such miserable
interroyatory as what is all this worth!
nor those other words of delusion and folly
Liberty first. and Union afterwards
but every where, spread all over i'll charac-
ters of living light. blazing on al its
ample folds. as they float over the sea,
and over the land. and in every wind
under the whole heavens, that other
sentiments. dearer to every true American
heart-Liberty and Union. now aud tor
ever, one and inseparabe."