North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-05
PROM LEWIS CASS.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1851.
GENTLEMEN: Happily you have chosen the 22d
of February time for the American people to
together to interchange congra ualions upon
the political blessings enjoy for they will come
together upon the Birthday of him whose counses and
conduct were under Providence, among the principal
causes of their acquisition. The day and the object
in beautiful unison; and though l cannot accept
your invitation, yet my heart will be with you for
devotion to the Union, and in for the
memory of the greatest of its dvocates and founders,
whose warning voice in its defence now speaks
from the tomb, yied to of all the mighty hrong
who on that day, and from TO ocean, will thank
God, that lie gave them such country to love, and
such a countryman to initiate in life and honor in
death. leader in war, ruler in peace and first in
both, and always patriot citizen, obeying the law
like the humblest, even when clothed with The high
est MISUNDERSTANDING power with reluctance, and
surrendering it with aacrityhe guided his country
through the perilous crisis of the revolution, and
through the still more perous crisis, threatening
civil anarchy that followed it, till his hopes and la
bors crowned by a constitution and Union
which, In the expressive language of armo-
rial scroll, have made one from many, and which
now govern and protect mighty community reach
ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and enjoying
larger measure of prosperity in possession, and Of
trle greatness in prospect, than before fell the
lot of any people He has passed the great trial of hu-
man opinion, and history has pronounced judgment
upon his and his character; and of all the he
roes and statesmen, the memory of whose deeds has
not Perlshed with their days, and whose names
inscribed upon the long annals of mankind, the high
est and the purest is the of Washington.
Our liberties We're purchased by toll, and trial, and
trouble, and by sacrifices in life, and of life ITSELF
rare even in the most splendid efforts of human pat
rIotsm. 1t is good, while we look around upon
rosperty and greatness to look back upon their fee
bic origin-to the services and sufferings of IA
theirs. and of him who led them, and who justified
the confidence of his country by life devoted to her
cause. And especially is good thus to contemplate
the present and to recall the past, when strange doc
rines abroad when that present is evil
and the future ntolera5le and the evils whether felt
apPreended, only be avered by the dissolution
of the confederacy and the breaking up of the gov
eminent In the Farewell address-the most i'm
pressive monument of wisdom and patriotism ever
bequeathed by citizen to his countryside retiring
statesman pointed out with prophetic sagacity the
dangers that might disturb our Union and especially
those sectional feeings-inseparabe indeed from an
extensive COMMUNICATIVE, when once excited by
sense ofinjury injustice yield with difficulty
the suggestions of wisdom and moderation. But he
did moi foresee and history furnishes no such exam-
pe that in time of profound peace, in a state of
progress and prosperity such the sun never shone
upon, with power enough to protect ourselves against
the world, and with renown enough TO make proud
OF our country, with system of laws which impos-
es as few restraints upon individual freedom are
compatible with social order, and with system of
government created by all and directed by all, and
which assures to each equal rights and equal hopes
IN It's administration, and with future the most glo-
rious If not marred by discussions that ever
Invited people to exert their energies, Offering the
| richest rewards for their encouragement-with all
these motives for national pride and qualification.
questions have arisen for decision which, by assnm