Washington telegraph., 1851-09-03

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INplvIsIBILITY OF THE UNIoN.-The National
!nte'l'gencer, in commenting upon the correspon-
dence between Mr.. Webster aud a citizen Of North
CaroI'na, on the question Of the right Of any State
ut It's option, to withdraw from the Union, uses
the following pertinent illustration:
ut was the language of Washington, that the
Union constitutes US our Government. Such
was the doctrine and the language of all the
Fathers of this Republic. The Government was
twenty years old before the notion publicly
avowed, and then with general reprobation, of the
right of a State to withdraw from the Union.
The letter of Mr.. Webste ter to his North Carolina
correspondent, reminds us that we have seen the
name Of the late Nathaniel Macon, of North
Carolina, cited as favorng the idea of the right of
any State to break up The Union. He could have
held no such opinion. We have heard him, ON
different occasions, express, in language strong
as ever flowed from the lips Of man, opinions
directly the reverse of this
One of these occasions our memory enables US
directly to refer to. 1t that OF debate in the
House Of Repres ent alives, in March, 1912, on the
occasion of the reception and disposition of
Message from the President of the United States,
transmitting to that body series Of papers (the
commission aud correspondence of John Henry,
British, AGENT proving, in the language of Mr..
Madison, that. at a then recent period, whilst the
two countries were still at peace, "a secret agent
States in for,enting dsaffecfon the constituted
authorities of the nation, and in lntrgues with the
disafected for the purpose Of bringing about re-
sstance to the laws, and eventually, in concert
with British force, of destroying the Union, and
forming the Eastern part thereof into political
eonnexion with Great Britain" This exposition,
as may we'll be conceived. produced a great ex-
ctement, in and out of Congress. NJ one believ-
ed the persons in New England, with whom Henry
held communion, had any thought of "secession"
from the Union though some OF their public writer's
had made violent protestations of what they would
do. Yet. from feeling that this disclosure re-
fected upon them in some degree, some of the
old Federal party in Congress resented it, whilst
others affected to ridcule the whole matter; upon
which demonstrations Of feeling old MIR. W.dgery
--1oe then thought him od--frou. down East,
quoted, agans; those who made them, tho old
saying among gunners, that .you may know the
wounded pigeons by their futfering." Towards
the close of this debate, the patriot from
North Carolina took part in it, in a speech reported
in the National Intelligencer OF March I2, 1912,
from which quote much as to show what
his opinion of the invioability Of the Union, and
OF the conduct Of those who should conspre to
dissolve it:
"Mr Macon said this was of those debates
winch sometimes arose IN the House, in which
all were side Of the question: Nothing can
be more true than that these papers do prove that
Great Britain has not yet ceased her attempts to
disturb the peace of this nation. In this case, a
man who had been in the service of this Govern
ment, prelerring the British, was, whilst in Canada
engaged by Gov. Craig to go into part of this
country to endeavor 10 procure division of the
Union. Mr. NJ said he hao four years ago stated
that both Great Britain and France had agents
in this country. Had they not had them in other
countries? They had; and he cited Holland as
particular instGace
"lhe Constitution (said Mr.. VI is founded on
the Union Of the States; and Of | may be allow
ed to a word once Isshiouable,) ON TIE IN
pIvIsIBILITY OF THE EMPIRE And what was the
object ol Great Brlainl For what did she employ
this man2 To separate the Onion; to destroy the
Constitution, the greatest Work of the greatest
men this country has produced Sir, was almost
struck with HORROR when such doclme were
reading, to see that any man could laugh at them.
They expose an attempt, not TO stab an individual,
but to stab a nation"
Il understood enough Of the papers, as read, to
know that he tlanryl was agent of the British
Goyernuent sent here to 500 disuni0n, and that
Was enough for me. So long governed
by interest, mutual wants, or by common seuse,
so long shall continue united. We are placed
in such situation that we ought TO love each
other; and we alw iys should, did not our mad
pasSions sometimes dsaay ,pith u.s. One part
of the nation delights i'll using the sea; another in
agriculture; we supply each other's wants. zoe
ought neuer to dream Of separation"