The republic., 1850-11-30

necessity of their own, the Federal Union is
tinct parts; that there 10 far need Of . super
intending care to preserve the whole aggregate
Union than is required to perpetuate single Slater
Have you considered that. while the people Of Mas-
sachusctts one, not e PIuribus U,um, but abso-
lutely, and whole-therc 10 = great distinction
between that whole and the whole Of the American
people! The American people comprise one peo-
ple But they totally different in every nation
al respect from the Massachusetts people, although
Massachusetts is part Of the American Union, and
30 will continue to be while that Union exists.
lChcersJ The American people are composed of
the separate people OF the several dstinct States
bound together by the closest ties of kindred. by
continuity OF race, and contiguity Of position, but
bound together still more by the cultivated and ac-
quired habits Of their education, which teach them
TO love, cherish, and support one another.
The States Of the American Union may be com.
pared to the primordal atoms of which geologists
bound together like primary MOLECULES raShae tsud-
ing OF themselves to repei each other, but 10oWod
with an independent and indestructibIe individu-
ality, which, all made up, constitutes the Federal
Union The Union is an aggregation Of separate
parts, forced state, composite structure, house
made with hands, system Of bodies, fragile, but
beautiful and certain. Beautiful is the system,
however, it is butfragile. A breath has made, and
a breath can unmake it.
1t is the peculiar infelicity, the terrific calamity,
may say, OF our people, that the attention of Anne
rica is now hxed upon subject on which We differ
according to geographical iines-a subject on which
we know that dispute cannot be maintained with
out producing ILL blood evaporation between diff
ferent quarters, tending to hatred az bitter
death. blame man and party for this state
of things. Circumstances have forced this state of
things upon the American people, and down to the
time when the compromise measures were intro
duced into Congress do not know that any one
party is more to blame for it than another.
g But yet the pity Of it,
Iago! o, Iago! the pity of it. IagoH'
But how appalling is the guilt Of that man who
chooses to go on and continue this accursed agita
tion one hour beyond that time! What has been.
since then the result OF that agitation? Ii there
man amongst them who can say, when laying his
head his pillow, after his prayers said this
night that he, in this respect leaves the American
Union where he found 1t twelvemonth ago? Is
| there man aInongst them shallow, wicked
blind bold to dare to say that the events
of the last year have left the American heart where
they found il? That they found again the DID, af-
fccionate fond regards the bonds Of love and bro
therhood between man and man, as strong ~ they
were before? Can any one say that these ties are
as powerful as they were year ago? Has not all
the influence of the past twelve months been tend
ing to marshal one portion Of the land in array
against anoher' Has not, fellow citizens, the tre-
mcndous apparatus brought to bear either upon tho
reason, sentiments feelings of all classes Of the
people, produced it's full effect Of dscord and exas-
peration? 1t were idle, indeed, 70 imagine that
such all powerful engines, playing with such u
constancy, produced no iii effect. Review the
whole course of public proceeding for several years
back, down to the time when President Fillmore
gave his sanction 10 the peace measurcs-and
thank God that he did so-consider how many hum
dred speeches were made in Congress. all to show
the necessity probability of disunion; how maay
| thousands and tens of thousands Of documents to
| that effect were circulated from the Capitol What
terrific cabalngs, combinings, and conspirings in
committee rooms took place; how the American
prcss, with some honorable, but few exceptions,
was engaged in the mere mandatory Of local OPT
MONS; how one half of the country was taught and
melted to hate and despise the other half; how
Converts assembled at the very tomb OF Jackson
to express mere local opinions, and disunon opin-
ions at that-and, stranger than all, that the
60 buried majesty of Denmark"
did not rise to rebuke them consider how few
great men, whether in the halls Of legislation or
holding the control OF the press, have proved be
bove the breath or check Of the pitiless storm of
partisan indignation; and how delicate thing il
public opinion, and how omnipotent its power, %
that, when once moulded in any particular direc-
ton, not all the of Borodino or the bayonets
Of Austerlitz can avail TO change it. Consider all
this and then thank God that. thus far, this coun
| try has escaped the threatened peril.
Do you believe that the constant agitation of the
last twelve months has done nothing, and tendcd
To nothing that the constant iteration that the
North, with its aggregate intellect altogether
| arrayed against the South THAT the South with
its proud luxurious and lustful people, Ar they are
| termed. was up IN arnls against the Northf Do
you believe that all this can have been continued
for a twelyemonth without producing any injurious
| effect Depend upon 1t, Mr.. President, depend
upon it, citizens. that the seed thus sown,
not nipped in the bud, will produce harvest Of
armed men, and armed, moreover, with some ething
beyond the weapons Of the self styled philanthro-
pists OF the day
Bot, MIR. President, and fellow citizens, / am
trespassing too much on your patience, as had the
honor to say at the Outset, and II il consideration
OF which my heart is full, bold our Union to be
in extreme peril this day, and hold il to be every
mans bounden duty to use his beat efforts for its
preservation That is his duty, That 10 the
sponsbillty which rests upon him. And, in the
second place, submit that there is something for
US TO do towards accomplishing this end. Some
thing which we can do, something which will
do-p, at least. God willing, viii do whatever
may) Towards avertipg the danger which threat
ems the Constitution and the Union. Loud cheers
But how IL this TO be done. Not by empty and
frothy declamations about the value of the Union;
not by binding our eyes with abandagc, and stop
| ping TO tho cries Of nulifca alton; not by
| placing our arms akimbo and declaring thnt we
will stand no bullying from the South; not by this
can we secure the end Of safety which seek
Not thus, not thus, felt and acted those great men
who gave to us our Constitution and Govern
ment oh that there might rise some other such
! men, and in the mean time, oh that we may have
the virtue to profit by the example that they have
set us ll
But, gentlemen, how is this great peril OF which
have spoken to be avcrtcd? There s but one way
one way-one way. IL is for the American people
TO generally accept the entire series of compromisc
measures passed at the late scssion Of Congress in
the spirit Of their fathers. And after that IL done
and am not afraid Of any ridiculc that may be
showcred upon me for saying 80, either from the
prcss or any other quarter-it is for every man to
| set himself at work TO put end, from this time
forward to the political agitation Of the subject of
slavery in any form whatever. Vehement APP.
| plause.
Under the operation OF these compromise mea-
surcs, feel no manner Of doubt that not a slave,
hcnceforwsrd TO the end of time, will ever set his
foot upon the vast accession OF territory which We
| have acquired, beyond the limits Of Texas. These
measures, too have put end to tho slave trade in
the District ofCoumbis. They provide, to be sure.
for the restoration oil the fugitive slave his mas
ter, and while J. like all Of you. regret that any hu-
man being should be held as slave, have not tho
slightest particle Of doubt that it the duty Of
Congress TO psss some law this subject; that il
had entire Constitutional power to pass this par
ticusr law, and that il ia the duty OF every man,
out of mad house or out Of Jail, to exert hmse Il
TO the utmost, when - legally required, to cary
/ iis provisions into execution and effect.
And now, then. fellow -citisens permit me 10 s.v
that there s but way TO the peril in which
the Constitution and the Union Of our country arc
now placed And II 10, In the first place. to accept
tins oompromisc seros in the spirit Of the Consttu-
ton I'm which u WINS made and, in the second place,
70 do ALL ~ far IA in lice, TO suppress the agita
ton of the subject of slavery as political matter
altogether. Let the political ties he