Washington telegraph., 1850-03-27
THE Union.

The u NUN.
We earnestly recommend. as particular
ly appropriate at the present time, the fol-
lowing passage from Judge Story's "Com-
mentaries on the Constitution"
"The slightest attention to the history
Of the national constitution must satisfy
every rejecting mind how many diff
culties attended its formation and adop-
ton, from real or imaginary differences
of interests, sectional feelings aud local
institutions. 1t is an attempt to create a
Lational sovereignty. and yet to preserve
the state sovereignties, though 1t is im-
possible to assign definite boundaries, i'll
all cases, to the powers OF earth. Ihe
Influence of the disturbing causes, which
more than once in the convention, were
on the point of breaking up the Union;
lave since immensely increased in con-
centra:ion and vigor. They have Unequal
lties of government, contessedly found
ed III compromise, were then felt with
strong sensibiity, and every new source
OF diScoutent, whether accidental or per-
rflauent, has since added increased activity
to the painful sense of these inequalities
The North cannot but perceive, that it
has yielded TO the South superiority Of
representatives, already amounting to
twenty five, beyond its due proportion,
and The south imagines, that. with all
this preponderance in representation, the
other parts of the Union enjoy a more
perfect protection of their interests than
its own. The West feels its growing
power and weight in the Union; and the
Atlantic States begin to learn that the
sceptre must one day depart from them.
1t, under these circumstances, the Union
should be once broken up, it is impossible
that new Congress should ever be form
ea. embracing the whole Territory. We
shall he divided into several nations or
contederacies, rivals in power and in
tereSts, too proud TO brook injury, and too
close to make retaliation distant or in-
eifecrual. Oar very anamosilies will, like
those of all other kindred nations, become
more deadly, because our lineage, laws
aud language are the same. Let the
history of the Grecian and Italian repub-
lies warn us of our dangers. The national
constitution is our last and only security
UniIed we stand; divided we fall
"lttheSe commentaries shall but inspire
the rising generation with more ardent
love OF their country, and unquenchable
thirst for liberty, and profound reverence
tor the Constitution aud the Union, then
they will have accomplished all that their
author ought To desire. Let the American
youth never forget that they possess a
uoble inheritance, bought by the tolls,
and sufferiugs, and blood of their ances-
tors; and capable. if wisely improved and
faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their
latest poserity all the substantial bless
img> of life, the peaceful enjoyment of
liberty, property, religion and independ-
euce. The structure has been erected by
architects of consummate skill and fidelity,
its foundations are solid; its compartments
are beautiful as well as useful; its arrange
nen,s are fu: of wisdom and arGer and
ITS detences are iInpreynaiie from with
out. 1t has been reared ior immortality,
if the work of man may justly aspire TO
such title. 1t may, nevertheless, perish
III an hour by the folly, or corruption, or
negligence of its only keepers, THE Peo-
pie. Republics are created by the virtue,
public spirit, and intelligence of the
c.tizeus. They fall when the wise are
3anished from the public counsels, be-
cause they dare to be honest, and the
prohig gate are rewarded, because they
Halter the people in order 10 betray Them.
FATAL AFFRAY. 1t is our painful duty
to record another OF those distressing
events, which have recently become so
common in this neiyhborhood, aud the
results of which seem to be marked by
such peculiar fatality The one now to
he recorded occurred at Monterey,-a
small town in Texas near the upper part
of this parish-on the evening of the first
day of this month, between Reuben Il.
Harrison and John Lester, on the one
side. and John Collins on the other. If
we are rightly informed. the difficulty
originated in the following manner
Harrison mad just returned from trip to
Alabama with his family, and while get
lng off the boat at Monterey. (near which
he iived,) some game chickens, that he
had brought with him, got loose, and
Lester. who was III his employ, while
ordering Il negro 10 catch them, brought
on "A dispute with Collins. ColIlus, who
was blacksmith, went to his shop, and
ntter preparing his gun called to Lester
70 come down if he wanted satisfaction.
Harrison and Lester went to the shop,
and as the latter stepped in, Collins
knocked him down with his tongs. when
he was shot with a repeater by Harrison.
de then turned upon the latter and struck
him OH the head, aud again turned and
struck Lester, when Harrison shot him
second time. After receiving the last
wound Collins threw the tongs at Har-