The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-05

people must depend upon = Just discrimination
between the sepsAis rights and responsibilities Of
TIE 6sates. and your conamon rights and oblies.
tions under the General Government Eni3 hsra
in my opinion, are tie considerations wf3si3Shc,i
form the true basis of future concord in rege ri =,
the questions which have most seriously dist,,hed
public tranquility. If the Federal Government
will oanne itaelf to the exercise powers ciearln
granted BY the Constitution, it can hardly hannen
that ito action upon any question should endanrer
the institutions of the States, or interfere With
their right to manage matters strictly domestic
according to the will Of their own people
In expressing briefly my views upon an ;nonor
tant subject, which has recently ngitated The na
tion 70 almost fearful degree, am moved bv M
os"er impulse than a most earnest desire for the
perpetuation of that Union which has made ~
WHAT we are-showerng upon US blessings. and
conierring power and influence which our fathers
| could hardly have anticipated, even with Their
1nps. sangoine hopes directed to far off future
Ine sentiments now announce were not nnknou,r
before the expression of the voice which called M
! mere. my own position upon this subject uss
clear and unequivocal, upon the record of nv
WGIos ana my acts. and it is only REQUIRED to at
shl' time because silence might, perhans. he ,n;a
construed. With the Union my best and den
earthly hopes are entwined. Without it, what arc
we, individually or collectively What bee mos
o. me MODEST held ever opened for the advance
ment OF our race, in religion, in government in
the arts, and in all that digniies and adorns man
Rlnd! From that radiant constellation wk;cb
Doth llumines our own way and points out to
Struggling nations their course, let but a single
star De lost, and, if there be not utter darkness
the lustre OF the whole is dimmed. Do nv coun.
uymen need any assurance that such catastroobe
Is not TO overfake them while possess the power to
80 ~ AZ - win me an earnest and vital belief
mat, as the Union has been the source under Pro-
vioence, OF our prosperity to this time so il s the
surest piedge OF continuance of the blessin os we
nave enloyed and which are sacredly bound to
transmit undlminished to our children The field
OF calm and free discussion in our conntrv -
ana Will always be 90, but it never has been and
never can be traversed for good in spirit of sec
u .E and unchartableness. The founders of
the Republic dealt with things as thew were nre
eented TO them, in spirit OF self sacrificing natr;
otlsm, and, as time has proved with a CONNIE.
nenslye wisdom, which it will ALWAYS be safe
$500 sVr Us 70 consult. Every measure lending to
strengthen the fraternal feelings of all the mem
oers OF our Union has had my heartfelt an.
PROBATION 10 every theory OF society or gov.
eminent, whether the offspring of feversb am.
J J..ou =. oi morbid enthusiasm, calculated to
uiesoiVe tne ponds oil law and affection which
unite us, shall interpose ready and stern resist
ance. believe that involuntary seryitude as !.
exists IN different States of this Confederacv 10
Iecog nised oy the Constitution. | believe thatit
stanos IKE any other admitted light and that the
states where exists entitled to efficient RENE.
Dies to enforce the constitutional provisions hold
that theiaws OF 1850, commonly called the sCopro.
uise measures, are strictly constitutional, and to
De unnesltaungly carried into effect / believe
tnat the constituted authorities of this Repubc are
bound to regard the rights of the South in this re-
spect as tney would view any other legal and con.
sututlonal right, and that the laws to enforce
tnem should be respected and obeyed not with
reluctance encouraged by abstract opinions as to
tnelr proprlety in a different state of society but
cheeriuiiy, and according to the decisions of the
tribunal TO which their exposition belongs. Such
nave been, and are, my convictions and upon D
tnem shail act fervently hope that the cues
ton Is at rest, and that no sectional or ambitions
or fanatlcal excitement may again threaten the
durability of our institutions or obscure the light
OF our prosperity
But let not the foundation of our hope. rest unou
mans wisdom. 1t will not be sufficient that Sec.
tlonal prejudices find no place in the public delhi.
erations. 1t will not be sufficient that the rash
counsels of human passion are rejected. II must
be felt that there national security but in the
NATIONS humbled, acknowledged dependence up
on God and His overruling Providence
W. nave been carried in safety through peril.
QUE crisis. Wise counsels. like those which pave
US the Constitution, prevailed to uphold it. Let
the period be remembered adlnonitiou and
not as an encouragement, in any section of the
Union, to make experiments where Experiments
are fraught with such fearful hazard Let it he
Impressed upon all hearts that beautiful as our
fabric Is, no earthly power wisdom could ever
reunlte Its broken fabrics. Standing as do almost
within view OF the green slopes of Monticello. and.
as IL were, within reach of the tomb of Wash
1ngton with all the cherished memories of the mast
gathering around me, like SO many ELOQUENT voices
OF exhortation from Heaven, / can express no bet
ter hope for my country than that the kind Proyi-
dence which smiled upon our fathers NAV enable
tnelr children to preserve the blessings they have