Washington telegraph., 1851-08-27


a subject Of which my heart is full, and
I have not been wiling to suppress the
utteraEce of its spontaneous sentiments.
l cannot even now persuade myself to
relinquish it. without expressing once
more my deep conviction that since it
respects nothing less than the Union OF
the States it is Of most vital and essential
importance to the public happiness. l
profess, sir, in my career hitherto TO have
kept steadily in view the prosperity and
honor of the whole country and the pres
ervatiun Of our Federal Union. 1t is TO
that Union we owe our safety at home
and our consideration and dignity abroad.
1t is to that Union that we are chiefly
indebted for whatever makes us most
proud of our country. That Union we
reached only by the discipline of our vir-
tues in the severe school of adversely.
1t had its origin in the necessities Of dis
ordered finance, PROSTATE commerce and
ruined credit. Under its benign inluen-
ces these great interests Immediately
awoke as from the dead and sprang forth
with newness of life. Every year o! its
duration has teemed with fresh proofs OF
its utility and its blessings, and although
our territory stretched out wider and wi
! der, and our population farther and farther,
they have not outrun its protection or its
benefits. 1t has been to US all copious
fountain of national, social and personal
happiness. | have not allowed myself,
sir. to look beyond the Union to see what
might be hidden il The dark recess be-
hind | have not coolly weighed the
chances Of preserving liberty when the
bonds that unite us together shall be bro
ken asunder. l have not accustomed
| myself 10 hang over the precipce Of dis
| union to see whether with my short sight
| can fathom the depth Of the abyss be-
low; nor could | regard him as a safe
counsellor in TIE affairs of this govern
ment whose thoughts SHOULD be mainly
bent on considering, not how the Union
| should be best preserved but how tolera-
| bile might be the condition OF tie people
| when it shall be broken up aud destroy
ed. While the Union lasts we have
| high. exciting, gratifying prospects spread
/ out before US, tor Us and our children.
! Beyond tha, | seek not to penetrate the
veil. Cod grant that in my day at least
that curtain may not rise. God grant
1 that OH nv vision never may be opened
wha, lies beyond. When my eyes shall
! be turned to behold, Cor the last time, the
sun IN heaven may [ not see him shining
| on the broken and dishonored fragments
of a once glorious Union; on States dis
served, discordant, belligerent; Oh land
rent with civil feuds. or drenched it may
in ffaternaI blood. Let their last feeble
and lingering glance rather behold the
gorgeous ensign of the Republic, now
known and honored throughout the earth
still full high advanced, its armies and
trophies streaming in their original lus
ire, not stripe erased or polluted, not Q
single star obscured bearing for its mot.
to no such miserable interrogatory as
What Is all THIS qo0rtIE nor those othe,
words of Geusion and folly. Liberty Ersl
and Union attorlgardS.' but every where
spread all over, in characters of living
light, blazing on all It's ample folds, aa
| they float over the sea and over the land
auI in every wind under the whole hea.
veus, that other sentiment, dear TO every
true American heart. LIBERTY AND UNION
NOW AND FOREVER, ONE AND INsEPERABL Z
WEBS TER.