Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-11-08


vadiag Toe entire Uniou. we have grca, reason
% De lhanksil 10 Providence i1r the degree Of
rsr.Urss, 81 tranquility aud Of sat- siaclion
which prevails. u there are local exceptions Al
rhs North and al the South. OF rssh and mis-
guided men. who world madly resiA the eonsi.
tWion and laws % ne United States, let u not
dspair II theFr return, ia seasonable time. to
r-asnn and tu dWy. Boz suppose We should be
disappointed, ard TIA, the standard should he
ru.ed of open resisusce to the Union. the con-
s'nuiion, AMI the law. what /. 10 be dnusl There
eAn be but one possible answer. The power,
The authority, aud dignity o! the Government
ought 10 hs m iusaned, aud resistance pu, down
AT every haDrd. Government in the iaIleu and
depraved s-aie Of man, would loss ~. respect
and aIl mt di grace and contempt il it did not
pCsseu potentially and would not in extreme
cases. practically exercise the right Of employing
force. The theory OF the constitution Of the L.
States assumes the necessity of the existence
and the application Of force, both 10 our foreign
AMI domestic relations. Congress is expressly
authorized TO raise and support armies" ito
provide and maintain navy and 10 'proyide
for calling forth the militia 10 execute the laws. of
vasoRs." The duty Of eIecuing the laws aud
suPpres.ng Instructions is without Limitation or
qualification II is co-eIlensive with the lars-
die,ion Of the United States, and il compartments
every species Of resistance TO the execution Of
laws, aud every form Of insnuection. no matter
under what auspices or sanction il is made
lndiyduals, public meetings, States, may resolve,
~ oiten as their tastes or passions may prompt
them TO resolve, that they will iorcibly oppose
the execution OF the laws, aud secede from the
Union. While these resolutions remain on pa
per they are harmless but the moment daring
hand is raised TO resist, by force the execution
OF the laws, tho duty Of enforcing them arises,
and il the conflict which may snsue should lead
10 civil war, the resisting parry having begun it,
will be responsible for all the consequences.
Since the adoption Of our present Constitution,
and the Union which il created, by the blessing
ofProvidence, we have advanced in population.
power, wealth, internal Improvement and nation.
al greatness, with degioe Of rapidly which,
unparalleled in ancient or modern nations, has
excited the establishment, and commanded the
admiration Of mankind. Our ample limits and
extended jurisdiction, moro than lrpled, have
been made TO embrace all the provinces OF Lou
iSana, the two Floridas, Texas and New Mexico,
and passing the Rocky Mountains, have reached
the Pacific ocean, comprehending Oregon and
California and Utah. Our population has risen
from four 10 twenty three millions; our revenue,
without any onerous burden has grown from less
than three TO near fifty millions Of dollars; our
revolutionary deb, is exlnguished; our mercan.
tile marine is not surpassed by that Of the great.
est maritime power; the abundant, products of
our agriculture satisfy all our wants, and contri.
butte 10 the substance Of other nations; our man
uiaclures arc rapidly tending to the supply oil
all we essentially need from them. and TO afford
surplus for the prosecution of our extended
foreign commerce; the surface Of our and Is strip
ed over with railroads and turppikes, and our
seas. lakes, aud navigable waters resound with |
the roar OF nnumerable steam vessels. Your
own great city illustrates our surprising prog.
ress. Aher the commencement of The operation
81 this Constitution, in 1880, It's population was
33,Isl. by the census OF 1880, il was 5l5,.
5vl, aud our other cities have increased in
scarcely a less ratio Tho problem Of tho ca,
pac''y oil Representative government TO maintain
hee and liberal institutions, on an extensive terri
tory, has been ,sumpban,ly solved by the intelli
gence OF the people and the all.powelfll agency
Of steam and lightning.
Such are the gratifying results which have
been obtained under the auspices Of the Union
which some rash men, prompted BY ambition, pas.
sion, and phrenzy, would seek to dissolve and
subvertl To revolt against such government.
for anything which has passed, would be so a,
lrocious, and characterized by such extreme folly
and madness, that We may search in vain for an
example Of !, in human annals. We can look
FIR lie prototype only &c may be pardoned the
allusion) TO that dabocal revolt which, recorded
on the pages Of the Holy Writ has been illustra..
ted and commemoraed by the sublime genius Of
the immortal Milton.
In conclusion, gentemen,lei US enjoy tho proud
consolation afforded by the conviction that a
vast majority Of the people of the United
States, true TO their forefathers, true TO them
selves, and true to posterity, are firmly
and lmmoyably attached TO this Union; tina,
they see in II safe and sure, if not the sole
guaranty OF liberty, of eternal peace, of prosper.
n.y. and Of national happiness, progress and great
ness that lie dissolution would be followed by
endless wars among ourselves, by the temptation
or invitation TO foreign powers 10 take par, in
them and finally, by foreign submga,ion, or the
establishment Of despotism and that ''uni,sd We
sland-diyided we fall"
am, with the highest respect,
Tour obedient servant,
II CLAY