Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-25
TO : 7HANaY = aNeH F. GO
zas - RAVENNA OHIO MONDA7 FEBRUARY 25 1850

j do mol 50 understand our own duties or
! the rights of the people. There is a grea,
difference between a proposition to do what
We have no right to do, and a remonstrance
against doing ii, when there is reason to
apprehend it may be done. The one asks
US to violate our oaths and the constitution,
and the other TO recollect the obligations of
both. st rr
The petition asks US to dissolve the Un-
ion. | shall, vote for rejecting it: and if
there were any other mode by which our
indignation al such wicked and foolish
proposition could be more powerfully ex-
pressed, l should adoptit with pleasure.
.lIAsl had seccasien aso1ae. time SINCE, and un,
dsf much less. imposing 4eircufastaneesi iiaas
The present, to say we ought TO have one
unpronounceable word, as The Jews had OF
old, and lhat word ';disso,ution." repeat
The sentiment-and with a stronger con.
victien, if possible, than ever of its, truth
and Importance.
- We talk as .Hippantly of breaking up
this Union as we talk about dividing a
township. The great difficulty Of our po-
leiiiou 10, Sii, tllot We w uot huoW now we'll
we ATE off. The sun never shone on so
prosperous country rs this; and yet we
reject almost contemptuously the blessings
OF God, and seem utterly insensible to the
favors he has showered upon US. Look
over the pages of ancient history, sir;
look round the world as it is; and where
will you find more freedom, more happi-
ness, less oppression, less misery, than in
this country? And yet we seem from time
to time ready TO reject all these elements
Of public and private prosperity, and to
destroy this government, the worlds bes,
hope and our own. Instead Of this eternal
system of Complaining, We should bow our
knees in gratitude TO Hin who gave US
these blessings. and who. | sometimes fear,
will strikeus with Judicial blindness, as He
ibid His chosen people of old.
Is. That we have difficulties sometimes 10
encounter is but the common lot OF human
lily, Individual as well US national; but,
when these come, let them be adjusted in
proper spiri. Of compromise, and the fu.
ture may bring US all that the fondcst as
piration can desire.
This petition asks US to take measures TO
dissolve this Union peaceally. It profess
ses 70 come from The followers of William
Penn, the great apostle of peace: from a
portion of The most respectable Society Of
Friends, whose high moral qualities. no
man appreciates more than do. But
what kind OF a proposition is This! 10
s.dfssofre Mis Union pe0ceahly! say ii
Ewilh all proper Difference TO the petitioners,
bat say it emphaticalsy, that he who ex-
poets. such a res1lti is already in an insane
Hospital or ought 10 be placed there. He
who believes that such a government as
this, with its traditions, its institutions, it's
promises OF The past, its performance ofth
present. and It's hopes Of the future, living
, in the hearts core Of almost every Ameri-
lean, can be broken up without bloodshed,
has read human nature and human history
| to little purpose. No sir; the Gordian
knot that binds US together will never be
severed but by The sword. To talk, then,
of dissolution, is to talk Of war. Both are
insaparably connected, and the evil day
which brings the one will bring the other.
And what kind of q war will it be? Such
a war, sir, as this, the world has never
seen. The nearer we have been as friends,
the more. deadly will be our feelings as en-
emies. 1t will have all the elements of q
civil war-of an intestine war. Wherev-
er the border may be, it will be marked by
blood and conhagration from one end of it
to the other. Far be it from me TO weigh
the injuries thai each portion might inflict
upon the other, and then strike the balance
OF evil with mathematical precision. 1t is
enough for me to know that ruinous would
be the hopes of both. And where is all
this to end? fjealouses and lancied rival
interests, or real grievances are to divide
us into two confederacles, where is that di-
vision to stop? Similar causes will exist !;
they are inseparable from human nature;
and We shall finally be reduced to Stale
sovereigntes, and may read our fate in the
fate of the Greek Republics, SO vividly por-
trayed by the ancient historians.
| Why, sir, tits but year or two since,
on the occasion with q war with Mexico.
that distinguished Senator from South
Carolina, Mr. Calhoun, still unhappily
detained from his place, by sickness, depict-
ed in glowing colors the danger of victori-
Eous generals returning from foreign con-
lquests Tbelieved then, as believe yet.
that he greatly overrated the danger, and
that there was spressrvative force in this
country which would laugh to scorn the eff
I forts OF military power. And it was but a
day or two since, that the other distinguish
ed Senator from South Carolina, Mr. But.
ler, now in his seat, pronounced splendie
eulogy upon General Scott for the mode
ration he exhibited when he entered The
capital of Mexico. The Senator. if re-
collect right, thought he deserved some
distinguished mark Of his country's appro'
] baton for remaining faithful to her inter
. ests and his own duties, and not placing
, himself at the head OF a Mexican Kingdom
t}Few men, sir, have a warmer personal re
{ gard for General Scott than have, AM
: perhaps still fewer place higher estimate
!. Eupon his services than Edo. He has wo1
|. a high station among the great captains o
K the age, and he has also won almperishabl
: honor for himself and for his country
. The campaign from Vera Cruz to Mexic
!. is one Of the proudest feats on militar
IF record. But, sir. with all this, | have
j thanks to render him for the moderation
& which the Senator from South Carolina q
a hides. | do not believe that the thought
n. such treachery ever entered his mind; NJ
a. do believe that, if he had made the
IN tempt. there wus one American in the arm
,l l,yo deeovted the standard