Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-02-08
The Union OF the States.

at the present time, by ultra men Of both
parties:
The preceding remarks have been con-
fined to the domestic aiflirs of our ow n
State; but as nothing that concerns the
Union Can be alien to us, am unwilling 2
to close this commune ltun withou some
reference to our relations aud duties to
the Constitution and Government of the
United States.
This seems to be made more ilnpera :
lively my duty, by the deplorab!e agita-
tons and political exci,emen;s which
have recently been but too manifest in
the proceedings of one branch of Con-
gress, and which if they do not threaten
and endanger the tranquility and integrity
OF The Union, haze excited solicitude for
lis safety.
The Constitution Of the United States
WAS made by the whole people, and no
compact among men was ever made with
more deliberate solelAnity. lnvioIable
respect and o5e hence to that highest law
of the people, in all It's consequences, is
the boundcn duty OF all. While it con
firms all our. State Insti utions, it uni!es
US for national purposes, as one people,
one great Republic. It is in that Union
alone we exist as Nation, anu have our
bond of brotherhood. From it, as from
rich fountain, public prosperity has
sttrcamed over our whole land, and from
the bosom of our great Nationll Repub-
lie spirit has gone lor.h throughout the
world to quicken and raise up the op-
pressed, TO teach them new lesson of
freedom, and, by pointing to oar exam
Pe,, show them the way TO self-goyern-
men!.
The heart of man must swell with con-
scious pride at being the free,ciiizen Of
such Republic.
Dear as Kentucky is to us. she is not
our whole country. The Union, the
whole Union, is our country; and proud
as we justly are of the name Keniuckim,
we have lofier ami more far-fmed IT,
tle--that of american Citi-ea--a name
known aud respected throughout the
world, and which, wherever we may be,
has power to pro;ec. US from the despot-
ism of Emperor or King.
As party to the Constitution, Ken.
lucky, interchangably, with the other
States, pledged herself to abide by and
support the Constitution AMI the Union
which II established. If that pledge were
her only obligation, it ought to be lnvio-
Rut nr
Stamped upon 1.-THE thousand glorious
recollectionS associated with It's origin
the benefits and blessings it has conferred
the grand hopes 1t now inspires, have,
day by day. increased our attachment,
until the mere sense of plighted faith and
is lost in proud grateful and
affectionate devotion.
| can entertain no apprehension for
the fate Of such Union.
2 The approach of any danger to it,
would be the signal for rallying to its de-
fence-.he first moment of itsperil would
be the moment of its rescue. per
su lde myselilhat there will be found in
Congress, on the exciting subject which
has given rise to the late agi'a'on and
alarm, a wtse forjearance, and a wise
patience, that will secure US from dan
ger; and that the very men who, in the
heat and language of defiance and men
ace TO the Union, will not be hindmost
in making sacrifices for its preservation.
The Union has further security, in the
present care and guardianship of its pres
ent illustrious Chief Magistrate, and, far
above all other securities, it has the all
powerful public opinion and affections of
the people.
To Kentucky and the other western
States in the Valley of the Mississippi,
the Union is indispensable to their COM
mercial interests. They occupy the
most fertile region in the world, eloquent
ly described by celebrated foreigner.
as the most magnificent abode that the
Ain ighty ever prepared as dwelling
place for man. These, already populous
and productive, are rapidly increasing.
and in no long time must become the
most populous and productive portion of
the United States. They are remote
from the sea; and to enable them, with
any advantage, to dispose of their bound
less productions and purchase their sup
phi IS, they will require the use of all the
channels or avenues of commerce, and
Of all the markets, ports and harbors,
from Boston to New Orleans. Under
our present Union we enjoy all these fa-
cilties, with the further advantage of
force capable to protect, and
actually protecting our commerce in ev-
cry part of the world.
Disunion would deprive us, certainly,
to some extent, and most probably, to
great extent, Of those advantages and of
that protection. cannot enlarge on the
subject. A moments reflection will show
the ruinous consequences of disunion to
the commerce of Kentucky and other
western States The most obvious con-
siderations Of interest combine, therefore
with all that are nobler and more gener-
Gus, to make the Union not only an OBJ
jecl Of attachment, but of necessity to
us.
Kentucky is not more insensible to the
causes which have produced SO much
cnn,tb.lst,,