The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-03-10


could have hardly anticipated even with
their sanRuine hopes directed to 4 far off
future The sentiments l now announce.
were not unknown before the expression Of
the voice which called me here. My own
Posltion on the subject was clear and une-
qu'voca' upon the records Of my words and
my actsi and IL is only retired TO at
this time, because silence mich, nosL.S.L
misconstrued. With the Union mn 80
and deepest earthly hopes arc ebdeS,s%"
Without it, what are they, ndividnsiIr -
collectively! What becomes of The noSIoD
field ever opened for the advancement 60
race in religion. in government, in the arts,
and in all that dighif1es ard adorns man
kind!
From that radiant constellation which
both illumines our own way and points ont
to struggling nations their coufset LEI hus n
single star be lost, and il there be NOT Mt.
ter darkness, the lustre ofthe Whole ii dim
Do my countrymen need any asst}fnncS
such a catastrophe is not to take place while
| possess the power to stay it! II is with
me an earnest and vital belief that as the
Union has been the source, under Proyi-
dence, Of our prosperity to this time, SO il 10
the surest pledge Of continuance of the
blessings we have enjoyed and which we
are sacredly bound to transmit to our chill,
dren. The field Of cam and free discussion
in our country is open and will always be So,
but it never has been, and never con be
traversed for good in spirit of sectionalism
and uncharitableness. The founders OF the
republic dealt with things as they were pre-,
scented to them, in q spirit Of self-sacrifcing
patriotism, and rs time has proved, with a
comprehensive wisdom, which it will always
be safe for us to consult.
Every measure tending to strengthen the
fraternal feelings OF all the members of our
union has had my heartfelt Appreciation
To every theory of society or government,
whether the offspring Of feverish ambition or
morbid enthusiasm, calculated to dissolve
the bonds of law and affection, | shall in
terpose a ready and stern resistance. be-
lieve that involuntary service as it exists in
different States Of the confederacy is re-
cognized by the constitution. / believe
that it stands like any other admitted right,
and that the States where it exists are en-
titled TO efficient remedies to enforce the
constitutional provisions. hold that the
laws Of 1850, commonly called the comprom.
Use measures, are strictly constitutional, and
should be carried into effect. believe
that constituted authorities ofthis republic
are bound to regard the rights of the South
in this respect as they would view any other
legal and constitutional right, and that the
laws to enforce them should be 'respected.
and obeyed, not with a reluctance encour.
aged by abstract opinions as to their propri-
ETY. in a different state of society, but cheer
fully and according to the decisions Of the
tribunals to which their exposition belongs.
Such have been and are my convictions and
upon them l shall act.
i fervently hope that the question is at
rest, and that no sectional, or ambitious, or
f%anatical excitement may again threaten the
durability Of our institutions, or obscure the
light Of our prosperity. But let not the
foundations of our hopes rest upon mans
wisdom 1t will not be sufficient that Sec
tional prejudices find no place in the public
deliberations: 1t will not be sufficient that
the rash councils Of human passion are re-
jected. 1t must be felt that there is no Sc
curity but in the nations humbly acknowl-
edged dep ,ndence inGod and his overriding
providence. We have been carried in
safety through a perilous crisis by wise
councils like those which gave us a consti-
t%utional privilege to uphold It. Let the Pc
rod be remembered as an sdmoniiion, sAd
not as an encouragement In any section Of
the Union to make experiment where expe-
rimchts are fraught with such fearful hoz-
rrl;
Let it be Impressed Upon all hearts ,ha,
beautiful as our fabric is, no power OF wis
dom could ever r%e-unite its brokeh' rag
ments. Standing as | do almost within
view OF the green slopes Of MONTICELLO, and
as 1t were within reach ofthe tomb OF Wash
ington, with all the choicest meriories Of
the past gathering round me like 81, rhany
eloquent voices of exhortation from RSeayeu..
! can express no better hope for my c~ointry
than that the kind Providence which smiled
upon our fathers may enable their children
to preserve the blessings they have inherited.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.