The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-27

rur characters and memory. both aud with postery,
will. al least escape the consuming oonfagalion Of re-
proach. IL
am, gentlemen, your much obliged servant
DAN'L. WEBSTER.
ir LETTER FROM D. $. DICKINSON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1851.
GENTLEMES The timely and appropriate celebration
OF the anniversary OF Washngton's Birthday, pro.
posed IN the Invitation which you have kindly
tended me, worthy of the occasion, and Of the glor
GUS cause in which you zealously engaged and
employ no mere form OF expression when assure you
how deeply regret that the condition OF the public
business will not permit TO participate your patriotic
proceedings IL is thrice WELL a time when the institu
lions OF our country have been shaken 10 their founda
ton by agitation from which they yet tremulous
and vbraoIy, to celebrate this day with becoming
monials to review the lessons of wisdom which The
warning voice OF that san,ed patriot taught 10 re-
count and dwell upon the selidenying and manly vr-
tues which characterized his eventual life and 10 take
again upon our lips name around which SO many cher
shed recollections cluster, and al the sound OF which
more hearts leap with emotion than when he stood the
deyereT OF his country from oppression, his brow en-
crcled with the fresh laurels OF victoya name which
the great Napoleon, with prophetic forecast, observed
would be remembered with veneTation when his would
be lost in the vortex OF revolutions.
la signalZing day dear to every Amercan-so
plete with proud renembances and interesting associa
TONS interviewer with the history OF the Father OF
Couniry-inay we not all unite IN common invocation
TO Heaven that double portion OF his spirit may rest
upon people, and animate by all the bright
cries OF the past the fruion OF the present. and the
promise OF the future TO preserve with unfading use
this constellation IN the frmamen, OF political hope
this city OF refuge for the way and down trodden
OF other clmesths holy gathering place OF earhs OPP
pressed and homeless chdrenl ..'.
Through the favor OF my fellow citizens, it has been
my fortune 10 have witnessed the trial which
institutions have expeIieDcedo have observed
from conspicuous public stalon the progress, de-
cline, and fall OF the most fearful agitation which has
threatened the integrity OF coniedeacy lis for
maonto have seen the gathering storm the distance
from It's faint and early murmurings the zenith of it's
fuy-o have withslood with others its "p!iIess pelt.
In hav aI faith nf
eastern idOlatry the bow of promise which has finally
belokened It's termination
The public mind has long bue ted and hope at last
successfully the waves of the dark and turbulent
which this conflict of elements produced, swollen with
the honest blind preudces, and depaved passions
OF halt a century, and bearing along with it the
our humiliation. permitted to disfgue and degrade
humanity The struggle has been and despe-
rate. Times there have been, my fellow Citizens since
lis commencement when the spirit OF evil seemed to pre-
dominate and The Genius of Darkness held his court nn.
molested; when madness ruled the hour when the good
fell back, trembling and abashed, and the bad. like the
last and the worst OF the Ce.ars, prepared TO chan,
their demon notes OF triumph the ruins OF dis.
lonted and falling conederacy. The obg aons OF law
and the supremacy OF the constitution alike openly
deied and deTded and the Infatuated volaes OF dis
union wed with each other in such open, systematic and
wanion violations OF the compact that had the questions
between foreign Saes the aggression would have
been held Just cause OF war throughout the civilized
world. III the corrupt and runous monarches oil earth
had been commissioned 10 let loose upon us an evil
spirit, to scouSxe and distract for having Iepudated
their lmplous theories OF divine right, their Office would
have been most successfully accomplished by casting
among the discord OF slayery agitation. Rut The
sentiments OF aroused and indignant people, under the
guidance OF the same benehcient Being who has sus-
tanned and preserved from the fields OF Lexington
the present moment rolled away The stone from the
sepulchre OF crucifea and entombed constitution, and
brought again TO light and life the genial spiut in which
our confederacy founded Widespread and terrible
has been the desoation like adversely will bring
uses: 1t will teach how delicate is the framework OF
federattye
interests Of independent sovereign States cannot be
vaded with impuniy; it will root the tree of liberty
more firmly IN SOIL and, by arouslng The feelings OF
the quiet masses will 10 lay the foundations OF
freedom broad and deep OF society
and, above all like epdemics which revisit those
who survive them, will not again return and
affiict the present generation.
The measures of adjustment passed at the last session
OF Congress were calculated and intended 10 aga
ton. and, by extending far practicable equal and
exact justice TO all 10 restore aternal relations through
out the con;ederacy Although theee not
IN all respects acceptable 10 the southern people,
assured that they will stand by them the letter. long
as they are carried out in truth and spirit by the free
Sates-and they should be required to do no longer
Upon the North, then depend future prospects OF the
Union. lts destiny is IN her keeping Ii cannot be de-
med that the South has been the injured and aggreyed
party; 1t ought il to be expected that she
will cherish the cold remains OF Union name, when
all ITS nsiIiuona life and vgor have departed. Let
then the North her othcious and Impairment inter
ference with the institutions OF her sister States in the
South let her repeal her acts OF hostile and aggressive
legislation and provide by stringent laws for aiding the
eihcient execution OF every article OF the compact and
lscodant notes. save those OF the demagogue and the
fanatic, viii be heard throughout land We shall
then have obcyed the parting injunction of him whose
Birthday we celebrate, and Heaven will again favor us
with the blessings of fraternal peace.
shall be warmly with you upon this occasion, in spirit
and sympathy, and in prayers for the pepeuty OF
glorious Union in the spr, OF the constitution and
remain, with sincere regard
Your friend and fellow citizen, ,e,....,,
d. = DICKINSON