Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-27
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| parliament gave show of unity to the colonies
whole; but when this bond Of connection severed
ythe Declaration OF Independence the thirteen colo
MES stood before the world with strong vocation in
deed to unon but as far constitutional obligations
were concerned, in the attitude of thirteen Independent
States.
Here was the truly critical point in our history, the
point from which the path OF progress dixie that which
lay before young Hercules, branched off in two fold
direction, leading on the one hand to union growth,
prosperity and power, and the other to dscord CT
yll war and desponsI The happy fortune OF the IN
fant republlcs decided thew choice In the commence
ment OF the parliamentary contest far back 1865
when nothing was thought OF but earnest denial Of
the right to tax America it was the obvious dictate Of
prudence to unite in concerted appeal to the luscejof
parliament. As the struggle advanced common in
| terest and common danger produced common feel-
ing throughout the continent, and led to the formation of
committees OF correspondence. The Congress which
met at Philadelphia in 1774, the spontaneous en-
bodment of that irresistible public sentiment which
demanded confederacy. twas union unconscious
y formed 1t sprang from the historical conditions of
the past and the mperlous necessities OF the present.
1t was the law of political existence. Su bsequen
compacs statutes might regulate and define, but
some sort of confederation constitutional me-
| cessy.
Am asked ,Dhy it was SO! what created this neces-
sty will not rest in lower causes, though these
obvious enough. The necessity of a union estab-
lshed by the law OF nature rather OF the
author Of nature which the solitary families,
and has melted families into clans and clans into states
which binds the particles OF matter together which
suspends planet in the sky, or hangs dew drop upon
rose leaf. Our feeble powers OF analysis in
either case fully unfold the principles by which it ope
rates. and in every thing that involves the agency oil
moral beings, their choice becomes portion of the
law. But that the group of colonies planted side by
side on the shores OF the American continent speaking
| the same language, subject to the government,
belonging to the same national stock and reared in the
same circumstances OF national fortune should in AS
sertng by joint act their independence OF the mother
country enter into constitutional union with each other,
at the least certain that they destined TO
a of prosperity. Such union the obvious
condition of mutually beneficial intercourse, of domestic
HARMONY before world.
Or if anarchy, civil war, and the ultimate extinction OF
free government was to be their DOOM the want OF un
ion obviously the first step towards its
pshment. Union was the first condition OF success i'll
the revolutionary struggle; the United States
that declared their independence the United States
whose independence was acknowledged by the treaty
OF 1888 After unsatisfactory experiment OF the ole
confederation the people of the United States by
whom for the purpose OF forming . more perfect I'M
| ion, the present constitution was adopted.
| 1t would be Improbable consumption OF time to
attempt to point the innumerabe ways in which the
union has auspciousy influenced the destnies OF the
country There IS, however, view OF this subject
OF SO much importance that cannot torbear to present
it more particularly to your consideration. Among the
great ideas OF the age, authorized in reckoning
growing sentiment in favor OF peace An impression is
unquestionaby gaining strength in the world that pub
lie war no less reproachul to our Christian cviliza-
ton than the private OF the ieudal chiefs in the
middle ages. The hope of adjusting national conro-
VERSES by system of friendly arbitration, hope
which philanthropic minds have dsrusully cherished
in other periods, has Of late been openly avowed by
men OF more practical class by men conversant
with the policy Of the world and fresh from its strug
ges The last year witnessed the assembling OF apeace
convention OF very imposing character at Paris
similar is about 20 be held at Frankfort the Main.
congress OF nations begins to be regarded as pract
cable measure. Statesmen, and orators, and philan-
thropEts are atterng themselves that the countries OF
Europe, which have existed independent sovereign
ties for thousand years and have united in
movement the crusades, may be brought into some
| community of action for this end. They calling
conventions and digestng projects by which empires,
kingdoms and repubcs-inhabted by different races OF
men-rbes OF SclayQnla1 eatonc Latin ut mixed
ss11dKinq different languages believing M
ierent creeds,-Greeks, Catholics, and Protestans,
men who scarcely willing live the same earth
with each other, or go to the same Heaven, can be
made to agree to great plan OF common umpirage.
If, while these sangune projects pursued while
we are thinking it worth while to compass and land
in the expectation OF bringing these Earring naonaes
into some kind OF union, 10 order to put stop to war;
it. say, at this junctue, the people of these thirty Uni
ted States most OF which of the average size OF
European kingdom destined, if they remain century
entire population of Europe,-States which, drawn to-
gether by general identity OF descent, language, and
faith have not so much formed as grown up into ma
tona confederation;-poss in its central eglsla-
ure, executive, and Judiciary, an efficient tribunal for
the arbitration and decision Of controversies; an actual
peace Congress- clothed witha the powers OF common
constitution and law, and with jurisdiction extendingt to
the individual CITIZEN (which this projected Congress of
Nations does not even hope to exercsel it, while we
grasp at this shadow OF Congress of Nations, we let
go onay, break up and scatter to the wnds-ths sub
stantia Union this real peace Congress- which Tor sixty
years has kept the country, with all its conflicting ele-
ments in state OF prosperity never before equaed in
the world, we shall commit folly for which the lam
guage speak has name, against which if we,
tional beings should fail protest, the dumb stones of
yonder monument would immediately cry out in con-
domination
Friends and fellow citizens, we live at an event!ul
period. Mighty changes in human affairs are OF daily
occurrence, at home and abroad. In Europe the
strongest governments shaken the pillars OF radi-
ton rooted in the depths of antiquity heaved from
their basis; and that fearful war OF opinion, long
Uxtbu JiSlnn
to Archangle. Have you not noticed that in the midst
of the perpexity and dismay-of the visions and the
hopesot the crisis, the thoughts of men have been
turned more and more what has passed and what is
passing in America! They are looking anxously TO
us for lessons IMPRACTICAL freedom for the ISOLATION of
great mysteries of state, that the strongest government
that which, with the least array OF force, deepest
seated in the welfare and affections othe people The
friends OF republican government in France, tainted
with the mpossbility OF making such government
efficient and respectable point to our example as the
sufficient answer Austria, breaking down beneath The
harden OF her warning races, offers them too late
federal constitution modelled on our own and even
in England from which the original elements of our
free Institutions derived, scarce debate arises in
parliament on an important question: without reference
TO the experience ofthe United States. The consttu-
onal worship of mankind is reversed they turn their
faces to the West. Happy for them, happy for US,
| should they behold nough in this to disappont the
hopes OF progress, discourage the friends of free
dom, to strengthen the arm otthe oppressor; and may
God grant that those, who look 10 us for guidance and
encouragement, may be able transplant the gems OF
constitutional liberty to the ancient gardens OF the earth;
that the clouds which darken the horizon of Eu-
rope may clear away; and the long deferred hopes OF
| the friends OF freedom be fulfilled.
But chiefly let us trust that the principles of our fathers
may more and more prevail throughout our beloved
country. We have erected noble monument to their
memory; but we shall not have performed all ourduy,
unless we catch ourselves some portion OF their spirit
Oh, that the contemplation OF their bright example and
pure tame might elevate our minds above the selfish
passons-the fierce contentions,-and the dark fore
bodngs of the day We need the spirit of rs guide
us safely amidst the dizzy activities OF the times While
numbers increasing in an unexampled ratio,
| Europe is pouring in upon her hundreds of thousands
annually and new regions added to domain
which we obliged to count by degrees of latitude and
longitude. In the meantime the most wonderful dis
coveries OF art and the most mysterious powers OF ma
ture. combine give almost tearul inclease the