The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-27
will not allow ne the enjoyment Of that high saii. &C.
tion, H F#t al
With great respect and regard am your obedeni s<r.
want,
IL. CLAY
FROM LEWIS oAss.

WASHINGTON, FEB. Is, 1851.
GENTLEMEN Happily you have chosen the 22l OF
February time for the American people 10 To-
getheT To interlzpsc upon the political
blessings enjoy, ,Aeywil come together upon the
under Providence, among the principal OF their
acquisition. The DAY and The object are in beautiful
unison and though cannot accept your invitation YET
my heart will be with you Tor IN devoton 10 the UHlon
and reverence Tor the memory oil the greatest OF It's
advocates and founders, whose warning voice in its de-
fence now speaks to US from the tomb yield 10 none OF
all the mighty throDg who that day, and from ocean
to ocean, will thank God that He gave Them such
try love- and such eountIyman TO initiate IN life and
To honor in death leader IN war; ruler in peace and
hrst in both. and always patriot citizen, obeying the
law like the humblest, even when clothed with the
highest notwithstanding power with reluctance and
surrendering il with alacrity--he guided his country
through The penlous crisis OF The revolution and through
the sui, perlous crisis, threatening civil anarchy
that followed it, till his hopes and labors were ned
by constitution and Union which, in the expressive
lang uage OF armofal scroll, have made
from many, and which now govern and protect mighty
community reaching from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific
and enjoying larger measure oposperiy N possession
and OF true greatness prospect than before fell
the lot OF people He has passed the great trial OF
opinion and history has pronounced judgment upon
his career and his characters and OF all the heroes and
statesmen, the memory OF whose deeds has not peshed
with their days, and whose inscribed upon the
long annals OF the highest and the pares is the
name OF Washington
| Our liberties purchased by toll aud trial. and
trouble. and by sacrifices in lie, and of life itself
in the most splendid efforts OF human patriotism
| II is good while look around upon prosperity
and greatness. to look back upon their feeble origin Ito
the services and suierngs OF fathers, and OF him
who led them, and who justified the confidence of his
country by life devoted to her And especially is
good thus to contemplate the present and to recall the
past, when strange doctrines are abroad, when that
present is pronounced oppressive and the future intoer
able and the evils whether felt apprchended only to
be avered by the dissolution of the conederacy and the
breaking up OF the government, In the Farewell AID.
dress-the most Impressive monument OF wisdom and
patriotism every beqneathed by citizen to his county
the retiring statesman pointed out with prophetic ssgacy
The dangers that might disturb Union. and especially
those sectional ieengs-lnseparable indeed, from
lenslve community which. when once excited by sense
OF injury injustice, yield with difficulty the sugges-
tons OF wisdom and moderation But he did not oresee,
and history furnishes such example, that in time OF
profound peace, IN state OF progress and prosperity such
as the sun shone upon with power enough pro
tect ourselves against the world and with renown
enous h 10 make proad OF country, with system
OF laws which imposes few restraints upon individual
freedom are compatible with social order, and with
system OF government created by all and directed by ALL
and which to each equal rights and equal hopes
in its administration, and with future the gOr Gus,
if not marred by dissenslons that invited
people TO exert their energies, Offering The richest
wards Tor their encouragemen-With all these motives
TOR national pride and gracat0n, questions have arisen
for decision which. by assuming sectional character,
have gwen TO excitement heretofore unknown in
our history, and which threatened to destroy magn
iicen political edhce. not leaving upon another
10 mark the beauty OF the design or the skill OF the build
When the Desert and the Jordan are passed, and
we have reached the promised land, hear the porten
tous cry" 10 your tents, OH Israeli And we are
TO scatter It's fragments 10 The four winds of Heaven
hitting IFS destines to the way ward passions OF rival and
independent communities. who will have points enough
OF contact for the future well in position aud charac
ter interest, and Tecollecons enough OF real
agnay injuries OF the past 10 excite all those angry feel
which lead TO national contests and render them the
heTcer and the bitterer when called into action
We are placed together with all the essential elements
OF Identity and with no natural boundaries to separate
along which dividing line may be traced and II we
cannot live together IN peace, vita general government
extending ALL and protecting each by the OF
ALL how are we TO live ogether-for SO we must live at
least IN posltion-when our bond lis broken, and
left with common umpire but tina, last umpire OF
tons with which God IN his Judgments has often pun.
ished the offences OF mankind He who cannot read the
answer in the history OF human experience will soon
read il in his own, should this fatal consummaon
take To those Tor whom the pas, shadows forth the
the future, The history and fate oil the Grecan republics
furnish pregnant lesson for reflection, well a sol
emn warning for the conduct Of communities ndepend-
ent in their rights, but mutually dependant, by situation,
affinity. and intercourse upon the good will and forbea
ance OF one another. They would not live in peace to-
ge,her and they lived in together, I'LL the
queor came, and with his iron heel crushed al their
dsensions and their freedom and the ale Of Greece be-
came by word and eproach among The nations OF the
earth
And shall we follow in the same career, and furnish
similar example OF national deluslon to the ages that
will succeed proving ourselves unworthy OF the bless
ngs acquired by the wisdom and valo Of fathers
and unable 10 maintain them No. no; canno, be
This Union and constitution rooted in The hearts OF
the American people, and they will protect both they
would protect their affairs and their hresides
Inc experience OF the months, tDOugH
is much to regret contains much also TO console aud
encourage us II brought dangerous questions, and
with these sectional discomfort and excitement forebod
ing at time the most disastrous results. II finally
brought arrangement OF the difficulties originating ~
spirit Of compromise aud which by mutual concession
gave Just OF offence any section party and
si, nvioate the constitutional rights Of all But though
II has done much towards restoring The public anquilli-
y, and will yet trust and long, complete the good
work, still II is not TO be disguised that in extensive
portions OF country there is yet feeling OF discon
tent and that measures advocated, and assuming
indeed, an imposing character utterly inconsistent with
The unity OF the republic and the duration Of the govern
ment rejoice, therefore, that the public voice. though
il has loudly spoken and rebuked disunon, speaking
yet; and hope II will be heard in powerful tones from
every city, town, and vllagefrom every prairie bill
and valley-aDd will be borne onward by every breeze
which sweeps fathers flag and own, through the
immense region committed to our care. Time and reHec-
ton great elements Of safety in popular govern
ment They form that sound public opinion, more
powerful than physical force, which pronounces final
judgment and measures, and these stand tall
approves condemns The compromise laws OF the last
session OF Congress upon the statute book There
lei them remain, 10 all their essential features invoa
BILE the constitution itself Let them be considered
embrace, at once monument OF mutual concession, and
pledge that, shosd similar feelings hereafter arise be-
tween various portions OF country, they will be met
IN SIMILAR spirit, and harmony and tranquility be
stored by forbearance and moderation II such counse
prevail, the American people, for generations to follow,
will come together as you do upon this hallowed
day, and, while in the uness 81 their hearts. they inter
invoke blessings upon the memory Of those who. strug
Cling with difficulties, laid the foundations Of their pros
perty and greatness the equal rights OF man. and fin
ished their work by fabric of freedom and OF power