North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-05
UNION MEETING IN NEW YORK.

CITY on the 22d OF February. Mr.. Senator Foote
delivered Grafton, and letters were received and
read from President Fillmore, Daniel Webster. Lew
is Cass, Henry Clay, James Buchanan. Daniel S.
Dickinson, and others. These letters. for the most
part, breathe noble and patriotic spirit. We have
read them attentvely and with pleasure, and shall
lay the best of them extracts therefrom, before
our readers. Mr.. Webster opens follows:
"GENrLEmEN: 1t is source of deep regret to me
that my public duties absolutely prohibit from
haying the pleasure of accepting your invitation in
behalf Of the Union Safety Committee, 10 attend
public dinner the 22d, in honor of that auspicous
day. Auspicious indeed +! All good infiuences-nll
creation of a nation, its prosperity, happiness, and
glory-hung over the hour when the eyes of WASH
ing!on frs, opened to the light. [Applause.]
You say truly, gentlemen, that the present mo-
ment admonishes to rally in support Of his pfinc-
ples-to express anew our admiration Of his charsc-
ter, and gratitude for his parting lessons Of pa,-
otsm and wisdom.
You say truly, gentlemen, that the great duty de-
volving is that of regarding the Union as the
foundation of peace and happiness, and the
sitution as the cement of that Union. So Washing
ton regarded them he conured his ellow-ciiZens,
in all generations, TO regard them and whenever his
Farwell Address to his country shall be forgotten,
and its admonitions rejected by the people Of Ameri-
ca, from that time it will become farewell address
to all the bright hopes of human liberty on earth.
Great cheerng.1
the most cherished contempations of my life. 1t is
fixed star in the armament Of great names, shining
without twnkling obsc ration, with clear steady,
benefcent light. 1t is associated and blended with
all our reflections those things which near and
dear to If we think of the independence Of our
country think of him whose efforts were so PROM
lnen in achieving it if think of the constitution
which is over us, we think of him who did SO much
TO establish it, and whose administration of its pow
ers is acknowledged be model for his successors.
II we think of glory in the field. of wisdom in the
cabinet, OF the purest PATRIOTISM of the highest nteg
rty, public and private of morals without stan of
religious feelings, without intolerance and without
extravaganza, the august figure of Washington pre-
sents itself as the personation of all these ideas.
Applause. You do well, gentlemen, at this inter-
estng hour, to invoke his example, to spread over
the land knowledge of his principles among the RI
sing generation, and fervently to pray Heaven that
the spirit which was in him may also be in u.s.
Mr.. Webster alludes. in the of his letter,
to the in South Carolina and very clear
y nmates that il that State should secede from the
Union she will be visited with fire and sword. He
says:
We have seen propositions for secession formal
ly brought forward and solemnly discussed in the
legislatures and conventions of several of the States.
Other conventions to be holden, under regu-
lar Legislative provisions. to consider the sub
ject. In one important Stale, recent elections show
that there prevails among the people almost an entire
unanmity of sentiment in favor of breaking up the
posed, may not take place without conflict in arms.
Munitions OF war are, therefore, provided schools of
instruction in military tactics established, and an
armed air and attitude assumed. These apprehen-
sions of conflict in secession be attempted are
not only well-founded, but in my Judgment certain
TO be realized. Secession cannot be accomplished
but by l do not believe those who favor il
expect any other result. Their hope is that their
cause and its objec may spread, and that other
States, by local sympathies supposed common
interest," may be led TO espouse ii that the whole
country may to he divided into great local
parties, and as such to contend for the mastery.
This declaration is semi-e6icidL 1t comes from
Mr.. Fillmore's chief Cabinet officer and is no doubt
written after consultation and by authority.
Mr. Webster thus aludes to the Boston outrage
and soon after closes his letter:
ave have recently been informed, gentlemen oil
an open act of resistance law in the city of Bos
ton and if the accounts be correct of the crcum-
stances of this occurrence it is, strictly speaking
case of treason. EGreat cheering.1 If men com
bine and confederate together and by force of arms
or force of numbers, effeetually resist particular
individual. with the avowed purpose of making the
same resistance to the act in its application to
all other individuals, this is levyng against the
United States, and is nothing less than treason.
Renewed applause. Now, understand that the
persons concerned in this outrage in Boston avow
openly their full purpose of preventing by arms,
by the power of the multitude, the execution of pro-
for the arrest of alleged fugitive in any and
shame will burn the cheeks, and Indignation fill
the hearts, of nneteen-twentieths of the people OF
Boston at the avowal of principles and the commits
sion of outTages abominable. Great cheering.
Depend upon it, that if the people of that city had
been informed of any such purpose design was
carried into effect in the courthouse in Boston or
Saturday last, they would have rushed to the spot
and crushed such nefarious project into the dust
The vast majority Of the people Of Boston ne
cessary suffer in their feelings, but ought suf
fer at all in their character and honor, in their 10y
ally to the constitution, from the of such per
sons composed the mob. l venture to say thai
when you hear Of them next, you will learn that
personally and collectively, individuals, and also
as represented in the city councils, they will give
an evidence of their fixed purpose to wipe away and
obliterate, the fall extent of their power this fou
blot on the reputation OF their city. lGreat ap
pause.
i
Gentlemen, the path of duty before you and befor,
me is plain and broad. 1t is 10 do our duty and on
whole duty thoroughly and fearlessy; it is to EN-
brace the free institutions of country and to holC
them up with aliour might if it last strug
gle upon EARTH And then, if the blood of civil wa
shall flow, it will not stain garments if disgrace
full ourages, gaining strength by indulgence and tenn
poary success. shall proceed from stage stage Ill
they destroy the lives of men, women and children
pull down and demolish the temples of Justice, ant
even wrap cities in flames, you and l. and our char
acters and memory, both and with posterity, will
at least escape the consuming confagration of re
Proach."
The next letter in order is from that distinguished
patriot, Daniel S. Dickinson. We give it in full.
also the excellent and appropriate letters from Lewis
Cass and James Buchanan: