The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-19

at TIE Dinnn Of the Maryland Hstortcal S0cIssy,
on the 10Th Of May.
The Hon. John Barney introduced Gen. Thomp-
son, with the following remarks:
At this eventful. moment, whom every heart vi
brates in quick pulsation from the lofty peaks OF
the Rocky mountains to the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans with prayers for the Union, It Is most APP
propriate to welcome to our board distinguished
son Of tho South--a Union mana southern pa
triot-always steadfast in the faith; and here per-
nit me TO remark that however widespread seems
to be the disaffection now prevalent in South Car
Dina, it 10 my firm conviction that large ma
jority of her entire population will be found I'M
tainted by the sophistry OF few misguided politi-
cal frebands, goaded BY imaginary wrongs to
prefer the hazard OF an independent sovereignty,
whcrc they may swell into political power and i'm
portance, the countless blessings Of our glorious
Confederacy.
Prompted by the descendant of Carroll, q name
hallowed in the affections OF every friend to human
liberty, whose glorious example in afiixing his
sign manual 70 the Declaration Of Independence.
pledging thereto o fortune unequalled by any Of
his contemporaries, and his subsequent devotion to
the principles and practices Of pure repubcanism,
won for him the title of Ultimus Romanorum, a.
tho last survivor of that illustrious band who
framed this immortal instrument-a Carroll desires
TO tender tribute Of respect 10 our welcome and
distinguished guest:
General waddy Thompson. Of South Carolina
The true champion OF freedom-a Union man."
After the applause had subsidized, General Thomp-
son said:
The sentiment which has Just been announced,
and which has been so kindly and hatteringly re
ceived refers to three subiects--mysolf, Fedc-
raj Union, and my own beloved State. OF the frat,
it is not becoming that ! should speak-of the two
last is; and, If speak feel. il will be to give
utterance to feengs Of pride and Of deep affection.
One Of the earliest and most firmly rooted of my
political opinions has been, that with the porma-
hence ofthe Federal Union are indissoluby united
the duration of our free institutions and the liber.
ties, the hopes, and the happiness Of man in all
time to come ! his opinion has ripened into =
fixed principle, all the more fixed and cherished
from residence in = country subjected to all the
evils, uncertainties, and decentralization Of con-
stantly sueceeding revolutions.
The experiment Of the capacity of man for self
government has never before been made under cir
cumstances favorable. 1t never will DO again;
and once put out the light of great and thus far
successful experiment. and the world il left forever
in the darkness Of despotism-a darkness profound
and hopeless.
have looked somewhat into the history of Other
coniederacies-thsir rise, glory, and greatness
their disruption, decline, and ruin. find there
nothing but warnings not of danger, but Of certain
and entire destruction. will moi make 30 ungra-
cous return for your kindness a. to infiict upon
you long historical dissertation. But there il
something 20 monitory in the trifing causes which
led to the Peloponesian war and its disastrous and
exterminating effects upon the free institutions and
alle 70 the present state fittings amongst US can
not fail to suggest Warming to all right minded
and right hearted men. How few were the causes
Of collision and Of war between the States of Greece
of this Confedsracy. That diversity Unemployment
and Of productions which, whilst we remain uni
ted, constitute the strongest Of all the bonds o.
union, will II we are ever separated, be the fruitful
sources Of collision and of protracted and sangui
nary wars. The single question of extradition o
fugitive slaves would Of inevitable certainty lead K
war in six months. Does any sane man suppose
that If the people Of the North will not yield thai
In min hiatt ev
will yield il after the Union is dissolved, and dis
solved on that very point? would not give rush
for the concession OF the right to secede. leave
that question to abstract theorists and acute dalec
ticians. fa separation to take place with ths
unanimous assent Of all the States, six months
could not BY possibility elapsc before collisions
would occur on the borders which would light uT
the flames of civil war through the whole length
and breadth of the Confederacy; and such wal
without parallel in all the elements of hate, calam
ity. and horror, BY any recorded in the darkcs
pages OF man's history "a war from the contsmpls
ton Of which tho heart shrinks with sickening
row and despair. On what other field have evel
met enemies AZ equal, AZ proud, warke, ~ i'm
placable, and with more than tho proverbial ran
cor and vengeance Of civil wars? freely yield tn,
palm of courage to those who can look with compo
sure upon such future that. confess that hav
not tho courage to do it, But should pity the weak
mesa Of the man who, admitting tho danger, may thu
probability Of all these calamities would refer mi
TO some book Of political economy that nigh
derive consolation from the fact that should pur
chase cotton domestics shade cheaper The mad
of rushing upon such fearful changes with sucl
views il more than equalled by the folly and the fal
lacy of such calculations to say nothing ofthat low
OF country-the result of common struggles, dan
gers and glories, and the sentiment Of pride in be
longing to great nation-that sentiment withou
which no people ever were great and renowned
Yet, sir, nevertheless there time when
would have taken this leap, as fearful ms it was
When the people Of the northern States, wei
knowing that slavery was forbidden by God him
in New -Cul hav hen al
ready admttcd-and forbidden by laws muc
much more irreversible and powerful than tn
Wilmot proviso as God himself was more powerful
than Wilmot If may without irrevercncc sa,
so-yet if, well knowing this, they had persisted
in forcing this drugged and loathsomc cup upol
US. for the sake Of assang the principle, as the,
said, but really for the sake of the insult, would
like the strong man of old, have embraced the pill
lars Of her temple, If only for the vengeance of
common ruin and he is a born slave and deserve
his destiny who would not. With nations a. Wit
individuals, existence is only blessing on certain
conditions and the first of these is an honor per
feet and intact But thanks TO that good Provi
dence which has INCREASINGLY watched over us
and, next to that Providence, TO that noble band
patriots from the free States, at the head OF whom
stands Webster, Yrimus inter pares, and Cas-, an
Dickinson.
This bitter cup has passed from US, and hop
and believe forever. shall never forget the sub
lime spectacle which Mr.. Webster presented
little more than year ago, when he delivered tina
greatest of all his great speeches. Coolies at tn
bridge not called upon for the exercise of high
or courage-a courage to meet q monster befor
which the bravest mon have quailcd, the ardo
ciri,,m prova jubentiur. But he looked at the mag
nitudc Of the interests involved and the immincnc
Of the danger, and noby did he come up to hi
work and dc it. The extent of the obligation
which the country owes him will best be under
stood by inquiring what would have been the con
dtion of tho country now il he had given the pres
tigc Of his great name and the powers Of his un
surpassed eloqueneo to the baleful fanaticisr
which was then pervading all the free States? An
what, on the other hand. have been the con
sequences of the course which he did pursu,
Throughout tho States of the North we have see
the Fugitive Slave law enforced, and fug
tive slave carried through the streets of Bostor
S no r.s,ss y no, single %an y
word aversion inadcquatey expresses. Arc nj
such signs those, and there have been man
with such symptoms Of returning health, resort
the arsenic, disunion!
One word as to my own honored State. al