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

destroy our magnificent political edi6ce, not
leaving one stone upon the other to mark the
beauty Of the design, or the skill of the builders
| When the Desert and the Jordan are passed,
and we have reached the promised land, we hear
the portentous cry,-"To your tents, Oh, Israeli"
And we are called upon to rend asunder this
great confederation, and TO scatter its fragments
to the four winds Of Heaven, committing its
destinies TO the wayward passions of rival and
independent communities, who will have points
enough for contact for the future, as well in DO.
siton and character as in interest, and recollec-
ton enough, of real or imaginary injuries of the
| past, to excite all those angry feelings, which
led to national contests, snd render them the
fie:cer aud the bitterer when once called into
action.
| We are placed together with all the essential
| elements of identity, and with no natural boun-
fdarles to separate us, along which dividing
line may be traced, and If we cannot live to-
gether in peace, with general government ex-
tending over all, and protecting each by the
power OF all, how are we to live together, fer so
We must live, at least in position, when our bond
is broken, and we are left with no common um.
| pire but that last umpire of nations, with which
| God in his judgmen! has so often punished the
offences of mankind? He, who cannot read the
answer in the history of human experience, will
soon read it in bis own, should this fatal con-
summation overtake us.
| To those for whom the past shadows forth the
future, the history and fate oe the Grecian Re-
publics. furnish pregnant lesson for reflection,
as well as solemn warning for the conduct OF
communities, independent Of their rights, but
mutually dependent by situation, affinity and
4 tho mill ond
of one another. They would not live in peace
together, and so they lived in war together,
| till the coOqueror came and with his iron heel
crushed at once their dissensions and their Free
dom, and The fate of Greece became by-word
and reproach among the nations of the earth.
| And shall we follow in the same career, and
| furnish similar example of national delusion,
to the ages that will succeed us, proving our.
selves unworthy of the blessings acquired by
the wisdom and valor of our fathers, and unable
to maintain them? No, no, it cannot be.-This
| Union and Constitution are rooted in the hearts
| of the American people, and they will protect
both, as they would protect their altars and their
| firesides.
i The experience of the last few months, though
there is in it much to regret contains muLh also
to console and encourage us, If it brought
dangerous questions, and with these sectional
excitement, forboidiDg, at one time, the most
disastrous results, it finally brought an ar
rangement of the difficulties, originating in a
spirit of compromise, and which by mutua al con.
cession gave no just cause of offence to any
section or party, and left inviolate the constitu.
tional rights of all. But though it has done
much towards restoring the public tranquility
and will yet, trust, and ere long, complete the
good work; still it is not to be disguised, that in
extensive portions of our country, there is yet a
feeling of discontent, and that measures are adj
vocated, and are assuming indeed an imposing
character utterly inconsistent with the unity Of
the Republic, and the duration of the govern
ment.
rejoice, therefore, that the public voice.
| though it has loudly spoken and rebuked disun-
ion, is speaking yet, and hope It will be heard
in powerful tones from every city, town and viii
lage, from every prairie, bill or valley, and will
be borne onward by every breeze, which sweeps
our fathers flag and our own through the i'm
mense region committed to our care. Time and
reflection are great elements of safety in pop
uIar government. They form that sound public
opinion, more powerful than physical force,
| which pronounces final judgment on men and
measures, and these stand or fall, as it approves
or condemns. The compromise laws of the last
session of Congress are now upon the Statute
Book. There let them remain, in all their es-
sentia features, as nviolable as the Constitution
itself. Let them be considered as the great ma
tional arrangement of the various objects they
embrace, at once a monument of mutual conces-
sion, and pledge, that should similar feelings
arise between various portions OF our country,
they will be met in similar spirit, and harmony
and tranquility restored by forbearance and mods
Grafton. IF such counsels prevail, the Ameri-
can people, for generations TO follow, will come
together as you do now, upon this hallowed day,
and while in the fullness of their hearts, they
interchange reioiciDgs upon their political con-
dition, they will invoke blessings uponthe mem
ory of those, who, struggling with difficulties.
laid the foundations of their prosperity and great
ness in the equal rights of man, and finished
by fabric Of freedom and of power, cemented
together by ties of interest and affection, and
bidding defiance to time and trial, aohen The rains
descend, and The foods come, and the oi'ads blOc,
and beat upon 1t. 1t ioiU not fall, but still more
glorious with age, protecting and protected by
mighty community, it will extend its benefits
far and wide, like the shadOv Of great rock in a
soeary land.
am, gentlemen. with great respect,
Your friend and fellow citizen,
LEWIS CASS.