The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-25

Il. uarts cohere, the spirt in which Il originated
will have departed, ard the value ~ yhAk re-
mains viii not cOmpensnte the trouble nndersaken
for its preservation. But above ~ things, the
idea Of force welded by moiety o. these States
10 coerce obedience from the other mo.ety, ~ most
preposlerous. We may, by proper ana speedy
ad iustment Of this delicate point in our relations
with each other, open the INV leaf Of our national
history with tie most cheering prospect Of in
scrihing thereon the peaceful progress of arts,
commerce, aud manufactures-the story OF peo-
pie wisely continuing to govern themselves by
the honest observance Of mutual good faith, and
steadily developing the resources, physical and
intellectual, Of a noble country. Byproving our
selves unequal to the duty which lies before us,
We may write upon that page the last history Of
splendid empire, whose bright hopes were pre-
niaturely crushed by the unworthy jesousies, the
unbridled cupidity the reckless ambition OF her
own degenerate sous, for future ages 10 contem-
plate with grief and wonder.
have not spoken Of disunion. Kentucky has
not contemplated il. With answering confidence
in the good faith Of the great body Of the people
Of other States, she continues TO rely upon the
maintenance of the Union as fixed hct-an AK
iom--a thing taken granted. She makes no
calculation Of its value oil her political arithmetic
embraces the good and glory of our common coun-
try. To peril the Union by any policy which inn
pairs its value and integrity, will be deemed by
her people a crime OF the deepest dye. To mem
ace its safety and perpetuity by unconstitutional
and oppressive legislation, inviting resistance to
usurpation, is to summon the people whom rep
resent to look to the security Of their hearth
and the honor Of their families. To do any act
which should dissolve the Union, would be to
concentrate upon their heads the horrors which
must attend such scene. My mind refuses to
contemplate the Transformation Of Kentucky in
the event of such a catastrophe. look back up,
on her origin, wilderness-upon her present, q
garden--upon her future, the very centre and heart
Of glorious and mighty nation, claiming sympa-
thy IN the reyerses Of its remotest ex-
tremties, with all the pride and devotion Of fila
affection. Amid her green-woods, cities have
risen, where enterprise and toll garner wealth
from growing commerce. Upon her fertile fields
industry sows with the assurance of abundance
in the harvest. Amid her cottages, the merry shout
Of innocence is heard, and in her churches the
PRAYERS of pious age. peace tnkles on the
shepherd'a belI and sings among her reapers J
Her homes are abodes Of plenty, and the fires
OF patriotism still burn upon her affairs. Were
this Union lost, the bugle would wake the echoes
from her hills, and the martial drum would sound
along her vallies-the pruning-hook would be ex
changed for the swOrd-the church would be turn
ed into barrack--her fields would be trodden by
the feet Of soldiers, instead Of farmers, and hel
frontiers would constantly bristle with bayonet
for protection or aggression. It IS for her Z
proposition to exchange the smiles Of peace fol
the frowns of war--prosperity for adversely
abundance for desolation.
have seen war upon the face of one country
and whether force be can army Of occupation" Of
Of invasion, l know that the presence Of an army
is stern and awful calamity. ! am native o
Kentucky. Never by act Of mine will she b
made the Belgium, upon whose bosom is to be re
peated in America the contests Of rival nations
behold her interests plainly. know her people
intimately. Her voice strikes upon my ear from
beyond the mountains with the authority of pa
ternal command. She is true to the Union
When her assembly inscribed upon the marble
from her quarries, fashioned for the monument Il
the Father Of his Country, "Under the auspices o
Heaven and the precepts Of Washington, Ken
lucky will be the last to give up the Union, they
only engraved upon the stone the undoubted sen
timent which throbs in every pulsation of her owl
great heart. Her delegation in this Congress-
with unanmity, will lend the sentiment full ant
unequivocal appreciation.
Kentucky is thus attached to the Union, becaus,
she regards it as Union of equal sovereign States
based upon equal rights, equal dignity, justice
good faith, international regard, as well as consti
tutiona obligation. She knows her own duties
and rights in the Confederacy. She will perform
the one and maintain the other.
tons Of the course Of her sister States, and lin
of conduct be entered upon by them destructiv,
of the value of the Government; by an abuse o
power for the manifest purpose of oppression, o
70 attack the right TO and security of, property
held by Kentucky, as well as her more Southern
neighbors, by tenure independent of the Con
stitution, no suggestion Of the proper remedy vii
be required by Kentucky. She will be found fl
for "honor's toughest task, ready to vindicat
her rights, and to redress her wrongs. hope
however, that spirit of justice will preside here
that patriotism comprehensive enough to EN-
that, by wise and timely concessions to on
another, patriotic forbearance and regard TO
the interests as well as rights Of each other, thu
landmarks set by the fathers of the Republi,
may not be lost sight of, and the Union may b
immortal.