The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-04-04


mittee Of New York, to attend celebration Of
the recent anniversary Of the birth of Washing
ton, in that city. True patriotic fire glows
through every line Of these letters, and while
we know that the names OF their distinguished
authors will ensure them reading, we feel
equally assured that their psrusal must crafty
every friend df the Union Mr.. Webster's un-
qualified condemnation Of The Boston outrage,
must of itself plove highly acceptable to South>
ern readers.
LETTER OF Mr.. WEBSTER.
WAHlNeToN, Feb. 90, 1851.
GENTLEMEN: It j. a sodrce of deep regret to
me that my public duties absolutely prohibit me
from having the pleasure of accepting your in
vitation, in behalf of the Union Safety Commit
tee, TO attend public dinner on the twenty
second, in honor of that auspicious day. Aus
picious indeed! Al good influences; all omens
OF independence, liberty, free government, the
creation of nati'n, its prosperity, happiness
and glory hung owe the hour when the eyes of
Washington first qened to the light. Zap.
plause.
You say truly, Gentlemen, that the present
moment admonishesus to rally in support of his
prineiples--to exprss anew our admiration o..
his character and or gratitude fo. his parting
lesson of patriotismlnd wisdom.
You say truly, geflemen that the great duty
deyovng or US is bat of regarding the Union
as the foundation olour peace and happiness,
and The constitution S the cement of that Union.
So Washington regarded them; so he coniured
his fellow citizens, ii all generations, to regard
x.ho "A 4 l.
country shall be FORGOTTEN, and its admonitions
rejected by the peopli of America, from that time
it will become farewell address to all the bright
hopes of human ibeEy on earth. (Great Cheer
ing)
Gentlemen, the character of Washington is
among the most cherished contemplations of my
life. it is fixed sRr in the armament of great
names, shining notwithstanding or observation,
with clear, steady, benefcent light. 1t is assoc
ciated and blended with all our reflections on
those things which are Aear and dear to us. If
we think of the independence of our country,
we think Of him Whost efforts were so promi-
nent in achieving il; if We think of the constitu~
ton which is over US, We think of him who did
so much to establish it, and whose admnistra.
ton of its power is acknowledged to be model
for his successors.
If we think of gloryin the field, of wisdom
in the cabinet, of the purest patriotism, Of the
highest integrity, public and private, of morals
without a stain. of religious feelings, without
intolerance and without extravaganza, the au-
gust figure of Washington presents itself as the
personation Of all tlese IDEAS. (Applause. }
You do well, gentlemen, at this interesting hour
to invoke bis example, to spread over the land a
knowledge of his principles among the rising
generation, and ferventy to pray Heaven that
the spirit which was III him may also be in us.
When Washington iv behalf of the Conven-
tinn. presented fn the old Congress and to the
country that constitutisn which was the produc-
| ton of their patriotc and assiduous labors, he
made this most important declaration: SIN all
our deliberations upn this subject, we kept
steadily in our view tht which appears to US the
| interests of every trueAmercan, the consolida.
ton of our Union. in which is involved our pros.
perity, felicity, safety perhaps our national ex-
steuce. This importat consideration, seriously
| and deeply impressed on our minds, led each
State in the Conventin to be less rigid on points
of inferior magnitudethat might have been 9TH
wise expected: and this the constitution, which
we now present is theresult of spirit of amity
and of that mutual difference and concession
which the popularity of our political situation
rendered indispensable" (Applause.) And
when his peculiar carer was drawing to close,
he left to his couutryas his last best gift, his
most earnest and affetionate exhortation to up
hold that Union as tie main pillar of indepen-
dence, and to frown Indignantly upon the first
dawning of any attempt to dissolve it. Gap.
plause.)
This advice is heedd now and will be Needed
| hereafter. But nevertheless there are some
among us on whom tits no injustice that those
| frowns of Indignation should fall. (Cheers.)
| There are those who are altogether for abandon
! ing the Union, and alenating one portion OF the
country from the rest. They avow their wishes
they disclose their purposes. They open theil
hearts. and in their hearts is found no pulsatior
! for the Union which makes all Americans one
people. All is but he ebbing and flowing o
the dark, unwholesone, troubled current OF Sc
| cession schism, and separation.
Notwithstanding al we see and hear, gentle
men, and all that We have seen and heard fo
the last twelve months, some persons affect tt
believe that the Unim is not, and has not been
in any danger. They treat your efforts, madt
/ for its preservation, with Indifference and Otter
with derision. Itapears to me that the tempe
of these persons is very much like that OF thost
who, when the foundations of the great deep hal
been. broken up, the windows Of Heaven opened
and rain had fallen upon the earth forty days AM
forty nights, until every thing but the peak Q
Ararat was already under water, did not still
believe that there would be mucn OF shower
| (Grcat applause.)
We have seen propositions for secession tor
mally brought forward, and solemny discussed
| in the legislatures and conventions OF severa
of the States. Other conventions are soon to
holden under regular legislative provisions {
consider the same subject. In one importar
State, recent elections show that there prevail
among the people almost an entire unanimit
Of sentiment in favor Of breaking up the Unloi
and this dissolution of the Union, it is supposet
NAV not take place without conflict in arms
Ministers of war are therefore provided, schoO
of instruction in military tactics established, an
an armed air and attitude assumed. These al
prebensions of conflict, in case secession be a
tempted, are not only well founded, but in m
Judgment certain to be realized. Secession cal
not be accomplished but by war. do not b.
lieve those who favor it expect any other resul
Their hone is that their cause and its objec
NAV spread; and that other States, by local syn
pathies. or a supposed common interest, may
led TO esuouse il; so that the whole country ma
come to be divided into two great local partie
and as such to contend for the mastery.
But Providence has not forsaken US.
This object, believe, has been defeated
! the measures Of adjustment adopted by Congre
,h loet sosson. and by the spirit, ability, al