The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-24

brlstung Dattaions oil mighty empire anu ia 'i'
other, with timid counsels. open or secret oPposi
ton, and opinions as various as the different untS
of northern winter and southern autumn. The
unnatural foe, the victors in a hundred European
battles, were beaten in many cnsanguined field,
and finally overcome; while in the civil contests the
irresolute, the depending, and the reasonable
yielded to the power of persuasion, OF argument
and truth, skunk away to more congenial scenes
Even after the establishment of our Govern
ment, and especially during the administration OF
the elder Adams, the fears of many good men were
excited for its efficiency and continuance. The
spirit of party assumed almost fiendsh aspect,
and in the bitterness OF elimination and recrimina
ton, went far beyond the epithets and slang OF
modern political warfare But the patriotism and
good Of the American people carried them
safely through this portcntous period, as well az
through subsequent and alarming trials, and until
recently the whole country had come to believe
that a smooth and easy path was before US to per-
petual peace, prosperity, and renown.
al have referred to these epochs in our history,
fellow citizens, with two. fold obect-to show that
even our Government Heaven favored as it was
did not come into existence, or continue for any
length of time, without difficulty danger, and
trial, and that through all passed safe and
united by the aid of Providence and the good sense
and patriotism OF he people themselves, who, being
the rulers well the governed, arc the persons
TO suffer from anarchy, discord, and disunion
Another epoch of danger and difficulty has
been upon us.
''H would i'll become any man of sense and OBJ
sereation to deny, that in the last two years mo-
mentous crisis has arisen in our country, one
which has caused the heart of the patriot to sink
within him, and was well calculated to dampen
the ardor of even the most hopeful. Excitement
and apprehension pervaded the land, and the 3lst
Congress assembled amidst dependency and
gloom. But, fortunately for US and our children, a
band of thoughtful patriotic, and wise statesmen
was found in that body, who gave their days and
nights TO the work of evoking, from the dscordant
and alarming elements around them spirit of
reflection and Cancellation, which might spread
abroad its benign influence, and rescue our be-
loved country from the horrors that threatened it.,
The celebrated Compromise measures were the re-
suit ofther labors; and we in Tennessee, whose cit
zens yield to no portion of the country in devotion
to the Union, should be ready to render all honor
to the statesmen and patriots who projected and
carried them through; and to the present Exccu-
tive of the United States, who has nobly sustained
them. He has proved TO be the man for the crisis.
Calm and thoughtful, firm and decided, he rose
above the exciting scenes by which he was sur
rounded-above all sectional considerations; and
guided by the polar star of his political faith-the
Constitution of the United States-and looking
alone to the great interests Of the whole country,
he announced his adherence to the Compromise
in terms which could not be mistaken, and which
were unpalatable alike to the higher law men of
the North and the seccssonists and disunonists at
the South, but which poured gladness and JOY into
the hearts of the moderate and patriotic every
where All honor, therefore TO MILLARD FILLMORE,
and his able and distinguished Cabinet.
al rejoice to find that, since the passage of those
measures reason again assuming her throne, and
that the people are cvincing the intention to main
tain the Constitution and the Government as they
were established by their forefathers. And how
could this be otherwise, when their calm Judgment
had had time and opportunity TO act? Who ure to
be the sufferers by disunion, and anarchy, and
civil war? Not royal dynasty, from whose cruel
and oppressive hands sceptre is to be wrcsted;
not reigning monarch, whose crimes are TO be
punished, or whose inefficiency weakness is the
cause of existing evils; not hereditary nobility
whose offices and honors beyond the hope of all
not belonging TO their favored class; no, no-but il
ia the people themselves 1t Is upon their heads.
and the heads Of their wives and children, that the
structure must fallif fall it should; whose founda
ton laid amidst privations and trias by the
forethought and firmness of their ancestors, and
which have since attained such magnificent proper
tons and so towering height to attract the at
tention and admiration of the whole world
"When we look calmly and thoroughly at the
matter il must strike US as idle and insane to talk
about seeding from dissolving the Union, in
quiet and in peace, by consent. This is impossible
Civil war will inevitably and naturally follow the
one or the other Secession is separation, and, dis
guise il you may it implies and intends separate
organization and separate government. Should
State prove successful others would seek to fol.
low the example, and, in the course of time we
should probably have thirty more petty repub-
lies, wrangng, and quarreng, and fghting-for
our people cannot quarrel long without fighting
until come ambitious leader, taking advantage of
the universal disorder, might succeed in CONSOLE
dating the discovered parts into central and un-
republican government.
Pregnant with evils as great if not more disos
trous would be the establishment of two confedera-
| cies-the Northern and Southern rcpubics-even
| ifthey could be established peaccably and by mu-
| tual agreement. The very cause of separation
would prove constant source of irritation, and,
| being fomented and aggravated by conflicting in
| erests and dissimilar habitudes and modes OF
thought would soon bring about the usual results
OF fratcrnal discord, jealousy, hate, and mutual
wrongs, and terminate in bitter and bloody war,
| alike melancholy and deplorabe for the victors
and the vanqushed.
"But the details of such state of things would
be painful, and let US draw the curtain, therefore,
upon the horrors which lie beyond the time, but
which will follow close after, when this great and
united people, as if tired Of happiness, prosperity,
and renown, should consent to pull down the pill
| lars of the Constitution and the Union, and pass,
nfuriatc and insane, the shattered fragments
| TO dip their hands in each others blood.
1.-THE Compromise measures have avcrted
! these evils from our heads, and am convinced
| they will continue to exert beneficial influence
the more they discussed, and the more the
| sound sense and patriotism of the people APP
| pealed to. While have the honor to occupy the
position of Chief Magistrate of Tennessee, shall
| support and sustain them by all the means in my
power, because believe that their continuance on
the statute book will promote prosperity and har-
mony, while an interference with them will inovi-
! tably produce agitation, mischief, md misery.
81 have though, il not inappropriate, fellow
| citizens, to devote large portion of my remarks
on this occasion to this important subject, cspc.