Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-29

w uSningtOn ) farewell ADDRESS on tnat SuDJec
have proved, recent events will show. In com
pairing these predictions with the history of the
last five years, the far-seemg wisdom and pro
found knowledge of man, possessed by Wash
ington, must indelibly impress itself upor
every considerate mind. In prophetic languag.
he has really sketched the principal events anG
characteristics of the last five years. Withir
that time the Union has been the point in ou
political fortress at which the batteries of ex
ternal and internal enemies have been directed
Many articles have been employed to shake
the stability of our Union, and It is only be
cause our people have understood these articles
and have appreciated the great value Of the
Union, that we are not now another wretcheG
example of the instability of republics Hthat
we are not now the scattered fragments Of q
once glorious Union" We have, indeed, passed
through, in the last FIVE years, tremendous
ordeal.
Almost the entire British press has been di
rected against our Union, externally, while in
ternally, active, intriguing enemies, from diff
ferent causes and different quarters, have com
bined for the destruction Of the Union. There
can be no doubt that the British and American
.abolitionists have been acting in concert and
since the disclosures of the conduct of Great
Britain respecting the emancipation Of the me-
groes in Cuba, it is apparent that that unscru.
pulous nation must now be considered as one
of the chief parties in this abolition movement
Great Britain perceives that if she could com
pei the acquiescence of Spain to the emancipa-
ton of Cuba, they would force the United
States to seize it in selfdefence, and thereby
promote another sectional controversy, that
might end in the rupture of the Union. But
should we not intervene, and allow an indie
pendent empire to be established there, she
sees it would add an irresistible force to the
cause OF abolitionism, and that the defeat of
Intervention would be the success of abolition
ism in this country, and fatal to the interests Of
the Union. Great Britain, therefore, is intent
upon Intervention on behalf of the slaves of
Cuba. She is the only, or rather the most
formidable, external enemy whose policy now
threatens the safety of the United States and,
in my opinion, it is the duty of our Executive
to give her to understand that the people of the
United States will suffer no Intervention on her
part for the purpose intended (; that it will be
certain that interference with neighboring
province cannot fail to give just cause of pro-
vocation to the United States. Slavery may be
considered social evil, and the United States
will never permit it to be made q pretext for
civil war; That negro empire on our borders
will be fatal to us as if that island was in the
possession of pirates. Applause.)
know not that the safety Of the Union is
threatened from any other quarter; but it is
there in Cuba that you must look for the bate
ries of the English press being directed against
us. Democrats, it is from the internal enemies
that we have at present most to fear, and with
whom it is most difficult to deal They are
among us always; and Washington warns that
they act coyertly and insidiously, and that they
employ many articles. Our internal enemies,
by the triumphant election of President Pierce,
were indeed defeated. They were thought to
be entirely subdued. Every patriotic element
seemed to rule without distinction of party, and
General Pierce was considered to be the cham
pion of the Constitution and the Union. (Cries
for Brady, and signs of impatience.) The Bal
timore convention brought fourth platform of
principles, which, it was supposed, would Sc
cure the fruits of that great victory, and that it
would be impossible for the enemies of the
Union ever again to come forward. What were
those principles? They are written in our an
nails, and no man can expect to hide them by
(Applause.) Ihave adyerted
to the Importance of the Union, and to the te-
nacity with which the British nation has ad-
hered to a policy which threatens the safety Of
the Union. And have done this because / be-
ieve, in 1852, the people voted for General
Pierce, not 80 much because he was the candi-
date Of the democratic party--not merely be-
cause he was elected to make safe President,
but because he was the nominee of the friends
of the Union. Cloud applause) He was con-
sidered to be the champion of the Constitution,
and all its parts and provisions. Renewed ap-
plause.) The wing party went before the peo-
pie with a candidate who had long made war
upon the south. The democratic nominee was
to contend with freesoil principles. I do not
know whether any freesoilers were in that con-
vention. If they were there, freesoilers had no
thing to do with nominating General Pierce.
(Applause.) 1t was the Union men.
They nominated General Pierce, and they did
so from no personal considerations growing out
of his intellectual superiority over others, but
because, from his known sentiments, the peo.
pie felt that they would elect man who wouldbe
true to the Union, and not compromise with its
enemies, (applause,) and who would reserve
his appointments and favors for men who had
never warred against the Union. Had New
Hampshire been tainted with fee-soil princi-
pies had General Pierce been hostile to the
compromise measures, or even neutral in re-
gard to them, who believes that his name
would ever have been mentioned at the Balti-
more convention? General Pierce himself.
When IN congress, pursued liberal and ma
tional policy. (Applause.) Under these cir
cumstances the Union men gave to him their
confidence and how that confidence has been
returned you all know. Much confusion, and
calls for Cutting, Brady, &c.; the speaker con-
tinued. From his history, the whole people
of the United States felt assured that General
Pierce would be the defender as we'll as the
nominee Of the national democratic party.
Loud applause, and evidence of much impa
tience.) If General Pierce or his cabinet de-
signed to conciliate the free-soil party, they
have fallen far short Of the mark. In the ma
ture Of things it was impossible. The vital
mistake Of General Pierce was the attempt to
conciliate the freesoilers. If he had let them
alone they would before this have given up
their organization. Loud applause. But as
it is, no inducement is given them to abandon
their hostile measures to the Union. General
Pierce, ! think, is, from the convictions Of his
own mind, now in favor Of the principles of the
Baltimore platform; and my conviction is,
could he get rid of those men who have been
his advisers, he would be restored to the conf
dence Of the democratic party. (Applause.)
Let us hold fast to the injunction of Washing.
r 81 IL Il