Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-05-15
Adverting to the idea seemingly en-

'er'a'heo py many that Tie hrst drop OF
blood shed in civil strife will be the
kneil Of the Union, the New Orleans
Picayune says:-
But whence comes the idea that the
only fabric Of free government on earth
is TO disappear with the smoke Of the
first gun fired 10 its defcnce2 Or where
Is the warrant for surprising that the
whole structure Of American liberty il
to fade into nothingness, peaceably and
quietly and ANONYMOUSLY 7--for this re-
suit il argued as a coroIlary from the
supposition that the Union cannot be
saved by visiting with the penalties Of
treason such as combine 10 lay il in ash
es. The conspirator 10 taught TO hold
himself beyond The reach Of punishment
because the means necessary to enforce
his responsibility to law involve, accord
ing to these wise teachers, the annih.-
lalion OF The sovereignty whose law is
outraged. According TO tins school of
ethics, treason 10 alone a thriving yoca
tion in the Ian |, for what sanction have
good aud true citizens if the turbulent
can bring confusion and dismay upon
them because they cannot be queled
without qutlling the Government with
them? This species Of argument may
keep disorganizers in heart till they
commit some overt act against the
state. We apprehend lhat-from that
moment-they will find 10 little comfort
in their logic as they will security in
theoretical impunity.
But whence do they derive the fancy,
for it is merely sucA, that this Union is
to dissolve like a mist that il is to die
out OF inanitlon2 Is there any exam
pie in ancient or modern times of pow.
erlul and prosperous people losing their
nationality without struggle 2 Has
any independent state ever succumbed
TO foreign force or internal Vaccinations
without first stewing the land with
death ? There is no example Of even
bad governments suffering themselves
to be exlingui-hed like candle, or
sponged from the family of nations like
a bad sum from school-boy's slate
The most barbarous, as The most civil
ized, states have only submitted to dis
memberment after thorough exhaus-
ton. The progress Of time IL dotted
with the grave stores OF dead nations
but wherever II sovereignty has been
laid in the dust, there the sword and
the brand have been busiest with the
lives aud the habitations Of men.
Even now tie fires qucnched IN blood
break forth again, to Il test the bitter
mss with which remnants OF people
hold on to their tottering natonalities -
The greatest example of natural decay
and extinction, which history furnishes,
admonshes 8 Of The scenes which the
agonIes OF an expiring state evoke
/ The crumbling fabric OF the Roman em-
/ pure, though worn out by civil wars and
cancerous with corruption and debauch-
/ cries, involved the civilized world in
Il five centuries of darkness. There was
yet in that cankered and tyrannous or
ganlza'ion the strength to deluge Chris
tendon IN blood, aud blacken the area
Of civilization with fire. What then
may be expected of II nation expiring
in The vigor Of lis youth ? What will
he the 'hroes of Il people brought into
collision by excess Of force: by dlscon-
tents augmented, If not commenced, in
the uneasness OF abundance? Even
malconten,s, when not vaporing in their
disloyal vocation, extol the United
States as the only abode OF liberty on
earth. and the greatest and most pros
porous people known to the history ni
mankind. Yet they affect to believe
that such Union can b. discovered
without Il struggle, and such people
thrown hack upon their defective and
separate colonial organizations without
a murmur. They cannot and do not
think so.
The people who hold the only abode
of freedom aud are prosper Gus and
progressive beyond any precedent OF
ancient or modern times, are not gong
10 cas from them "A constitution uhich
Covers them with It's protection, or drive
oil into distlnc. and hostile tribes at the
bidding Of either northern or southern
sccessionsts. That which has secured
liberty to mankind, and advanced three
millions OF oppressed and isolated colon
isis INTO a commanding. thriving and
happy nation, is worth the blood which
our ioreia,hers shed in achieving, and
as much more as may be necessary to
MAINTAIN il. Ii is idle to imagine that
the great masses OF the people will
tamcly submit to the dissolution OF a
government which is their only safe
guard against foreign aggression or do