The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-03-01
LETTERS ON THE, I'NION.

On Saturday last, the 22nd ult., tn
anniversary Of the birth of Washington
great Union festival was held al Niblo'
Garden, New York. Letters wore rea,
from number Of distinguished states
men, among them Mr.. Clay and Mr.
Webster, from whose letters we make
the following extracts:
E1trncf from Mr.. Clay's Letter.
1t is highly refreshing to rccur, some.
times, to the great principles on which
our Union has been founded, and to the
great men who established it. AMONG
these, the Father of his Country stands
out III bold, prominent and unrivalrd re-
hei. 10 his wise counsels we NAV. with
perfect confidence, repair, to invi gorate
our patriotism, and to stimulate on.
highest eXertions in the support of that
Union which it was his noble ambition
to achieve and pcrpctuatc.
In surveying the actual condition of
our country, we ought not to shut our
eyes TO the dangers which encompass it.
On the one hand, in some of Il ne free
States it should not be disguised that
there Is existing spirit of opposition to
the Constitution and laws, which, if it
be not checked and dscountcnanccd.
may lead to the most cal&mitous conse-
quenccs. On the other, in single State,
from opposite causes, there is a like spi-
rIt prevailing to a great extent, threaten
ing, more Immediately, the peace and
safety of the Union, so far as they de-
pend on the proceedings of one State.
In favor myselfof the supremacy of
the Constitution Of the Union, and ofthe
laws, am equally opposed to all at
tenn is to violate or enc anger them. from
whatever quarter they may proceed. |
hope that the opponents of the General
Government will Solemnly pause before
they venture to make forciblc resistance
TO its lawful operations. No one living
would more drpIore than should, the
shedding Of blood in a civil war. But.
if regardless of the most sacred ohliga
tlons and all consequences, the standard
OF resistance 10 the laws, of rebellion
against the common Government should
be raised, | have no doubt that it will be
promptly and cfectuaIly put down, and
that the moral effect would BE- to add
greater strength and stability to our glo-
rous Union. OF that Union, have NOT
time, if the occasion were fit, to saw all
that feel and think. 1t embodts all
that is great and grand and glorious. and
all the hopes Of the enlightened friends
OF liberty throughout the whole civilized
world. Destroy It, and break us up into
petty, jealous and hpIigercnt fragments.
and there's melancholy annihiation Of
all the bright and cheering anticipations
of mankind.'
Ertract from Mr.. U'eLwrr's Lcttcr.-
"N hen Washington in behalf Of the
Convention presented to the old Con-
gross and to the country that Constitution
which was the production of their patri-
Otto and assiduouS labors he made this
most important declaration :-"In all
our deliberations upon this subject we
kept steadily in our view that which an-
pears to us the interests of every true
American, the consolidation of our T.
mon, in which is involved our prosDeri-
ty, felicity, safety, perhaps our national
existence. This important considcra-
ton, seriously and deeply impressed on
our minds, led each State in the Convcn-
tlon TO be less rigid on points ofinfrri0r
magnitude, that might have been other
wise expected: and thus the ConSitu-
ton, which We now present is the result
OF spirit of amity and of that mutual
Difference and concession which the pc
cullarliy of our political situation rem
dered Indispensable" + AprIause.1 And
when his peculiar career was drawing to
a close, he left to his country, as his last
best gift, his most earnest and Affection
ate cNhortation to uphold that Union as
the main pillar Of Independence, and TO
trown Indignantly on the first dawning
of any attempt to dissolve it. Zap
plause:
This advice is needed now and will be
needed hereafter. utneverlhc!css, there
are some among lis on whom ii is no in
Justice that those frowns Of Indignation
should tall. Cheers. There are those
who are altogether Tor abandoning the
Union, aL( alternating one portion of the
country from the rest. They avow their
wishes, they disclose their PURPOSES
They open their hearts, and in their
hearts there is found no pulSaton for
that UNION which makes all Americans
one people. A II is but the ebbng and
flowing Of the dark, unwhosome, troll-
bled current Of secession, schism, and
Notwithstanding all that we see and
hear, gentlemen, and all that we have
seen and heard for the last twelve
months, some persons affect to believe
that the Union is not, and has not been,
in any danger. They treat your efforts