The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-29
THE REPUBLIC.
N.w YoRK. April 25. 1851

Allow an old friend to address you Familiarity
upon subject that by no means remotely concerns
either yourself or your correspondent, citizens as
we are OF the American Republic. As near rela-
tive Of one Of tho signers OF the Declaration OF
American Independence, keenly feel. in common
with my Union loving brethren, the indignites
Gently offered the Hon. Secretary Of State of the
United States while sojourner in tho midst of his
friends. The act of the Boston mayor and alder
men, in refusing the Of Fanueil Hall to the
friends of Mr.. Webster, is disgraceful to those
who participated in it it is beneficial to the dis
tinguishcd gentleman thereby shut out from the
building whose timbers yet vibratc with his elo-
quencs, and still redoent with the national odor
Of the lofty sentiments poured forth from his patr
otto heart. DANIEL WEBSTER forbidden to speak in
"FdnueiI Haur Methinks now see those yenera-
BILE, time honored walls moistened with the tears of
bitterest grief and the veneraed forms that adorn
those walls frowning with deep indignation and
scorn upon the shameful deed, and rebuking with
merited severity the men who, by their inexcusabe
official conduct, have dishonored the sacred MEM
DRY of their illustrous ancestors. True, they have
since rcscinded their henous resolutions. and thus
bowed to the imperative mandate OF an incensed,
outraged, intelligent, and Union loving commu.
nifty, that have no sympathy with such madmen
and fanatics as Horace Mann, Wendell Phillips,
the name of Garrison, for the same reason that
would omit the word Mister, when having occasion
to speak of the father of lies) But to rescind il
one thng-to efface the stain that those resolutions
have affixed to their orgnators, is quite another
matter. This official act of the constituted author
tiles Of Boston, in closing the doors of FdnstaI
Hall against DANIEL WERsrKR, (thc very men,
ton Of his name is his eulogy-no more need be
said,) was the planting OF thorns upon the brow of
every true lover Of his country, reside where he
may. But from those thorns have already sprung
forth harvest of flowers, with which the PEOPLE,
in whose breasts there beats an American heart
large enough to embrace affectionatcly the entire
Union, are now strewing the pathway of the man
whom they delight to honor. As recently said to
a gentleman here, when l next visit the towering
obelisk that crowns the glorious heights Of Bun
ker hill, expect to upon its apex the blush of
modification and shame, induced by the recent
conduct of men residing within its shadow.
But ] am confident that brighter days are COM
ing, and those days not in the far distant fu-
ture. No; already the golden tints that FORE
shadow their approach. Heaven speed their pro-
gress. He who stilleth the noisy waves of the sea
has equally under his control the mind Of man.
If not in Faneuil Hall, sin the open air'' hear
the sound of that voice which uttered the follow
ing patriotic sentiments still ringing in my ears:
81 profess, cir. in my career hitherto, to have kept
steadily in view the prosperity and honor of my
whole country, and the preservation of our Fede.
raj Union. II IL to that Union that are chiefly
indebted for whatever makes US most proud Of
our country. Every year of its duration has
'tesmcd with fresh proofs Of its utility and its
blessings and although territory has stretched
out wider and wider, and our population farther
and farther, they have not outrun its protection
or its benefits 1t has been to us all a copious
fountain of national, social, and personal happi
ness. have not allowed myself, sir, to look be-
yond the Union, TO what might be hidden in
the dark recess behind. have not coolly weighed
the chances of preserving liberty, when the bonds
that unite us together shall be broken asundcr.
: have not accustomed myself to hang over the
precipice of disunion, to see whether, with my
: short sight, san fathom the depth Of the abyss
below; nor could regard him a safe counsel
lor in the affairs of this Government whose
9 thoughts should be mainly bent on considering,
not how the Union should be best preserved, but
how tolerable might be the condition of the people
when it shall be broken up and destroyed. While
the Union lasts. we have high, exciting, gratifying
9 prospects spread out before us, for and our
children. Beyond that seek not to penetrate the
VEIL God grant that, in my day at least, that
curtain may not rise. God grant that my
vision never may be opened what lies beyond.
When my eye shall be turned to behold, for the
6 last time, the sun in heaven, may not see him
8 shining on the broken and dishonorcd fragments
of a once glorious Union States discovered,
discordant, belligerent; land rent with civil
feuds, or drenched. it may be- in fraternal blood
Let their last feeble and lingering glance rather
behold the gorgeous ensign of the Republic, now
known and bonored throughout the earth, still
full high advanced; its arms and trophies stream
9 ing in their original lustre-not stripe erased
or polluted, not a single star misunderstanding
for its motto such miserable interrogatory as
Uhat is all this toorth Nor those other words of
delusion and folly-Librfy first and Union after
yards; but everywhere spread all over in cbarac-
tiers of living light, blazing all its ample folds,
as they float over the sea and over the land, and
. in every wind under the whole heavens, that
6 other sentiment, dear to every American heart
: LIBERTY AND UNION, NOW AND FOREVER, ONE AND
{ INsEPERABLE."
These noble sentiments, glowing with the ex-
allied patriotism of him who uttered them nearly
twenty years ago, and whose love of country,
whose wisdom, whose ardor and diligence in his
country's service has diminished not, have taken
deep root in the hearts of the American people,
both North and South, East and West
True, and pity that true it 10, that, like tarcs
among the wheat there are those at the North and
At the South whose deeds to be deplored, whose
wisdom is folly, whose counselis mischievous mad
ness, whose end is destruction. But their name is
not legion and well for our country that it is not;
for Belzebub do quite mischief enough with
even small band in his trail. On the field of po-
litica warfare their numerical force is proportion
ate to the bghted kernels and thrifty field of grain.
These deluded mortals bloated with zeal, but lank
in that wisdom which the Scriptures commend,
rave and foam, and blow their puny rams horns,
as if they supposed that the Federal Constitution
could thereby be readily overthrown were the
walls Of Jericho in oden time, when the LORD
tho side of the assalants; forgetting that He who
conducted the May lower to shores still watches
and defends the legitimate and therefore faith
full defendants of the noble band who, on board
that fondly remembered bark, laid the foundation
for the glorious superstructure subsequently reared
by men, the latchet of whose shoes their modern
defamcrs not worthy to unlooso.
Here it becomes me to lay down my pen; and
hoping that you will not deem me intruder upon
your valuable time, subscribe myself your friend
and countryman, j. II. w.