The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-28

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similar feelings and expressions towards the people
OF the North. Can any man be weak as to sup
pose that if feelings Of this kind are permitted to
grow and increase, until they pervaded large
Can our paper Constitution hold US together when
the people have suffered national feeling to die,
md all fraernal regard between the inhabitants OF
different sections OF the country TO depart! The
idea is very absurd, that. in order to dissolution
Of our Union, there must be regular compact
drawn up and signed by the parties to it, or any
equivalent ceremony. Tho practical results of
union arc produced by the operations Of a govern.
ment; and if you withdraw the element Of national
feeling, the machinery Of this Government will not
work, and the Union will be dissolved when that
occurs. Let VI not deceive ourselves; the repre-
sentatves of angry constituents, embittered with
hatred against each other, may, on any day dur
ing an excited session of Congress, stop the wheels
of Government, and then, where is the Union!
let US try to cultivate good feelings let us f5rbear
angry controvcrsy-let Us think and talk on topics
which shall not excite i'll blood. Nobody denies the
legal right Of discussion but it the part of wisdom
to orbear the exercise Of legal rights when good
can be accomplished by such exercise. suppose
that man and his wife, bound together in the most
sacred Of all unions, would each have right To dis
cuss point of difference, say their religious creed,
in which they might sincerely differ-but let them
exercise this right every morning at the breakfast
table, until they become excited and angry, and
how long do you think their union would be worth
preserving!
Our united Government, gentlemen, il Just in the
high career of it's usefulness. Its blessings have
been extended, not only to the native inhabitants Of
our own land, but to hundreds Of Thousands who
have sought its protection from foreign countries,
and found here prosperous and happy homes. Now
it has extended itself to the Pacific ocean, and the
genius OF American liberty, looking to ASIA in
yites her teemng millions to come and partake Of
the fruits of the Government established by her.
Shall the Union be broken up now? i trust not;
and therefore, let US resist the first dawnings OF
every attempt to destroy it.
But-and here lies the of strife, the great
stumbling block in the way Of harmony is said
we have three millions of slaves. True, we have
There in this Republic three millions of the de-
scendants of Africa held in bondage. Africa is one
of the oldest nations of the GARTH She has had her
opportunity Of improvement and progress equal to
any other nation. Since the commencement Of
the Christian era, what advancement has she made?
Where on earth are there, at this moment, three
millions of her well provided for, far adj
vanced in the arts Of civilized life, and in know
ledge of the true religion, the three millions of
slaves in the United States Of America?
Allow me, in conclusion, to say word or two in
respect to the position occupied by the committee
under whose supervision the festivities Of this day
have been prepared The motives which influence
the action of this committee have been criticised,
and violently assailed. This was to be expected.
The duty with which this committee is charged is
to carry out by correspondence and otherwise, the
great objects Of the meeting held in this city the
3Oth OF October last which are declared 70 be- ito
revive and foster among the whole people of the
United States the spirit in which the Union was
formed, and the Constitution was adopted, and to
resist every attempt to ALLEVIATE any portion Of our
country from the rest to cnfeebc the sacred ties
which now link together the various parts,
The committee has in no instance departed from
the line of duty thus clearly defined; that it
means to pursue strictly in future: Il is not our
is to awaken national feolingto bring citizens OF
opposing views to act together Americans. II
we able to execute our own intentions, we shall
stand on national ground
we are charged with being influenced by inter-
ested motives and this brings me briefly to notice
the character and objects of the business com,nu-
nifty in the city of New York, composing, as it
tropolis. The business men Of New York arc vir-
tually factors or agents their principals, or con-
sttucnts, arc scattered all over the country, and
compose no Uncomfortable part of the whole effec
tive population Of the country. They represent
the farmer, who grows the wheat, the corn, &C.,
and those who manufacture these articles; also the
sellers, purchasers, and consumers of the same.
suppose everybody knows the fact-and rejoices
that it Ia so-that interest prompts the North to
trade with the South, and the East, and West;
and, on the other hand, it ia the interest Of the
South trade with these various sections. Nobody
can doubt that If the Union is in danger, the bust
interest Of the country is the first to dread the
threatened disaster. Tho men who represent the
business interests of the country are those who
would naturally first give the alarm in such an
emergency. Their interest is to- preserve the
Union; equally is il the interest of the vast multi
tudc they represent.
. In the Farewell Address of Washington he did
not deem appeal to the interests of his country
men unworthy of him. He says
"But these considerations, however powerfully
they address themselves TO your sensbilty, arc
greatly outweighcd by those which apply more i'm
mcdiately to your interest. Here every portion of
our country finds tho most commanding motives
for carefully guarding and preserving the union of
the whole.
"The North, in an unrestrained intercourse with
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mon government, finds in the productions of the lat
ter great additional resources ofmaritime and COM
mercial enterprise and precious materials of manu-
featuring industry; The Souta' in the .ame inter
sees its agriculture grow and its commerce expand.
Turning partly into its own channels the seamen Of
the North it finds its particular navigation invigo-
rated; and while it contributes in different ways to
nourish and increase the general mass of the ma
ional navigation it looks forward TO the protection
of maritime strength, to which itself 10 uncqually
adapted. The East, in like intercourse with the
Wsaf already finds, in the progressive improvement
Of interior communications by land and water, and
will more and moro find valuable vent for the
commodities which it brings from abroad, or manu-
features at home. The Hest derives from the East
supplies requisite to its growth and comfort-and.
what is perhaps OF still greater consequence, 1t
must of necessity owe the secure enjoyment Of in
dispcnsabc outlets, for its own productions, to the
weight influence, and the future maritime strength
of the Atlantic side of the Union directed by an in
dissoluble community of interest nation.
Any other tenure by which the Vest can hold this
essential advantage, whether derived from its own
separate strength from an apostate and unnatu-
raj connexion with any foreign power, must be in
Einsicaly 2recarious.
"Whic, therefore, every part of our country thus
feels an immediate and particular interest in union,
all the parts combined cannot failto find, in the
united mass of means and efforts, greater strength,
greater resources, proportionably greater security
from external danger, less frequent interruption
of their peace by foreign nations, and what's of in
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| exemption from those broils and wars between
themselves, which 30 frequently aflct ncighboring
countries, not tied together by the same govern
ment, which their own rcvalship alone would be
sufficient to produce, but with opposite foreign
alliances, attachments, and intrgucs, would stim
uiate and cmbitter. Hence, likewise, they will
avoid the necessity of those ovcrgrown military
| establishments which, under any form of govern
ment inauspicious TO liberty, and which arc to
be regarded particularly hostile to republican
liberty. In this sense it is that your Union ought
TO be considered a. the main prop Of your liberty,
| and that the love of the one ought to endcar to
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