Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-08-16
AN APPEAL TO HISTORY.

several of the Southern States for the last two years
as to the value of the Union, il is surprising how
little has entered Of statistical or historical invest
CATION and deduction.
Geographical distinctions, varieties Of soil and
climate. difference Of habits and temper-circum-
stances without which this Confederacy never could
have been brought into existence, and which, by
enabling them reciprocally to supply each others
wants, have hitherto united the States in bands Of
mutual interest: these, with heated appeals TO pre-
iudices and passions stimulated by artful exag-
geraton Of differences which Nature herself has
created between the remote North and the far
South, and which existed in greater extent before
the establishment Of this Government than since,
have constituted the staple Of the argument in favor
of dissolution of the Union. Allegations have been
made, it is true by those who hope to profit by Re-
vouton, Of departure from the principles Of the
Constitution, and Of usurpations Of power. by the
General Government; yet these allegations are
easily answered by reference to the Constitution
ITSELF and to the actual Legislation under it. But if
there has been any departure from the objects Of
the Government, or the powers granted by the
Constitution, it has certainly been in the acqusi-
ton, by purchase and by conquest, of boundess
territories, Of which the Southern statesmen most
highly valued have been the projectors, proposers,
and authors. Of such departure from the princi-
pies Of the Constitution the South at least has no
right to complain.
Lately, however, we have seen attempts made
to prove that any State Of the Union, (SoUTH
CAROLINA, for example,) Withdrawing from it,
would, by assuming separate national existence,
approprating to her sole use her resources of cap
tai and products, becoming her own carrier and
manufacturer, and maintaining an Independent in
tercourse with the foreign world, be rendered more
prosperous and happy, and, above all, more great
and glorious than she now is.
The improbability Of such result from such
procedure we have heretofore, by facts and figures
which no one in the South has so much as attempt
ed to controvert, endeavored to show. Our object
in the present article and in two others with
which we propose to follow it up, is to offer to the
consideration of our readers series of illustra-
tons, drawn from analogy, of the advantages likely
to accrue to any separate Government by breaking
up into fragments the harmonious Whole Of the
Union. With this purpose, we ask the attention Of
our readers to the following
HISTORICAL VIEWS OF THE SUBJECT:
Every operation in Nature is, to less or greater
extent, organization or Reorganization. Animate
and inanimate matter submit alike to this universal
law. The greatest Empires Of the earth, as well
as the most humble individuals which serve to CON-
pose their masses respectively, are liable to decay
death, and dissolution. The causes Of ruin are as
inherent as those of organization. Durability of ex
istence is, Of course, mere question Of time.
On the great Eastern Continent, through all re-
corded ages, we find instability in the History Of
Nations: Grandeur resting on ruin; victory pre-
pairing for defeat; pride, folly, and presumption
boring to obtain humiliation; aggregation merging
into despotism, or division into weakness. Both
extremes producing and perpetuating slavery and
misery in the masses.
To these conflicts between growth and decay, in
political life there is one very remarkable exception
of prosperity, without serious reverse. That ex-
ample is afforded by the Anglo-Saxon Nation of
North America. On the opposing Continent CON-
position and decomposition have waged, with varied
vcissitude, constant warfare. So far of its history
the United States have evinced very powerful prin-
ciples of composition, and with most salutary re-
suits. External pressure has not yet proved more
than the expansive strength Of the New Empire Of
the West Are there no symptoms of the exist
ence Of the opposing law, and Of danger to be feared
from its action Though latent, all history adj
monishes us to acknowledge its existence, and to
guard against its ever wakeful and ever malign in
fuence. Union does not give general safety only,
but also individual safety. In political structures
the parts gain position and durability just in pro-
portion to the strength and cohesion of the whole
fabric. .s
In all our disquisitions on our domestic policy,
we seek, and with the utmost propriety, our ex-
amples Of similarity or contrast in Europe. Hence
are mainly sought or derived our language, GUS
TOMS and the base Of history, and our knowledge
Of the workings Of our institutions. Let us, there
FORE spread before tabular charts Of Europe, in
its political and natural divisions, and from the re.
view see the most prominent consequences of ag-
gregation and Of division Of Empire.
In advance, we may premise that in regard to
territorial surface the United States falls very little
short Of that of all Europe, and that in capabty of
sustaining population the two regions are pro-
badly still more similar. As they now stand,
North America and Europe present most impor-
tant political contrast. In North America, the
United States possess the middle zone, with one