The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-06-20

'f''hi'S w a. HNiiob o'lii lhtbi Wthulu
the knowledge of all our recent war
with Mexico was under the broad mgis
of the Union as embodied in the stars
and stripes, when our sons marched over
hecatombs of the slain to the very walls
Of the Montc:uinas, and as the very
beams of the sun shot athwatt tho east.
ern mountains, they saw that glorious
flag.
Brothers, this idea of the union co7ers
the proud position which we now occupy
among the nations of the earth. Look
at your present position2 What is it
that peoples our wilderness What is
it that has substituted for the shruhbory
OF the wilderness fields of waving corn
What is it that has whitened with the
sails OF commerce those lakes and rivers
upon whose shores solitude has brooded
for ages. What is it that has carried
our literature language, science and arms
from the shelving beaches Of the Allan
tic. to the shaggy peaks of the Pacific;
II is the union of these States.
Travel from ono end ofour country to
another, with the same length, the same
picture, the same institutions that YOU
see the school house and church throw.
ing their spires heavenward, as you 90
into the wilderness, where you see agr.
culture and manufactures. In every di.
rection you see the glorious heritage Of
the Anglo Saxon race-:he common law
dispensing its blessings from the
northern rocks to the southern cliffs.
throughout all the confines of this broad
country where the moanst rill. and the
broadcast ri-et roars mingled with its
name forever. (Applause.)
Brothers, not only does this idea of
the Union cover the g'orics of the past,
and the blessings of the present, but it
covers the glorious ant cipation of the fu-
turc. (Arplause) Let this glorious
Union be maintained and preserved.
Let the camp fires be lit on every hill.
Let the stars and stripes wave in triumph
on every breeze. CLOUD applatisc.)
Let every heart swell with patriotic
feelings asst contemplatcs our future des-
tiny, when We have performed our duties
here, and have gone to that country
from whose bourne no traveller re.
turns Still these great and glorious
and estimable institutions all continue
and will be Inherited by our postcrty.
But my friends. who is rash enough to
dare lift that veil which shrou9s the fu.
ture in darkness for nnught save clouds
and darkness rest upon the prospect
The Union-ycs, thank God, it is
sentiment which has its home in tho
heart. 1t is identical with liberty it.
self. Destroy this Union and the very
idea of liberty is a wild and senseess alb.
stractlon Assembled, then, as we are
on tins festive occasion, representing ALL
various interests of various sections Of
this country. with freedoms soil beneath
our feet, and freeiori's banner streaming
DER us, ! would invoke my brethren
here, and would appeal to them in Ian
guagc of brotherhood and patriotism,
ask them this question, if our fathers
braved the perils ct the ocean. suffered
! the privations of the Wilderness. cucoun.
tered ali dangers and difficulties, is it
! possible that this tree of liberty nur.
tured by their blood, cultivated by their
best affections, is il possible that we can
not now preserve those institution for
| which tlicy suffered SO much, and made
such great sacrifices to secure to us. |
would appeal to my brother who repre-.
scrts the country where sleep the best of
those who fell on Bunker Hill. | would
/ appeal to those who marched out to the
battles of Germantown and Trenton
would appeal to those in whose veins
flows the same blood that was poured ont
at Guiford ,Camder; Eutaw-if our fth-
crs stood on that trying and dreadful
occasion, shoulder to shoulder, sustain.
4 ing and aiding each other in the hour of
conflict and peril, it this institution, this
Union is the work Of their hands and tho
heritage Of their gift would appeal
to you by the blood of your fathers, will
YOU lay your unballcwed hands on this
Union, cemented by their blood. (Great
applause; II our fathers from the
Northern States, the Middle States, and
Southern States could meet here in con.
vention in 1887, and there agree to sa-
cridce sectional prejudice upon the altar
Of thor country, and bcqucatho us that
glorious Constitution | ask you, in Gods
name is there not enough Of patriotism
left, and Of desotiou to tie memory of
your fathers 70 swear that the hsllowcd
work of their hands shall never be do.
graded.
My brethren, this is no occasion for
mere festivity. 1t is true we have met
together here to enjoy the hospitality of
friendship, aud the generous greeting Of
our Philadelphia brethren. If ! now
understand tho philosophy of this astem.
blagc, the genius of American liberty is
now brooding DER us. There is deep
philosophy in the object which brought
us to this city. The object of our com
Ing here is no secret although there may
be many here who have not entered into
the court of the inner temple There is
no ono here present who las p1t, if l
may make use of an ilustratirn belonging
to tho Jewish history, become prose.
lyte of tho gate, al least aud in talking
of the Union of these States, one senti
ment fills my heart almost to bursting.
when contemplate the possibility Of its
ever being destroyed.
We have assembled here for good,
high, and holy purpose. The only ques-
tion is, whether we bring enough to sa-
cri6cc upon the common altar to save
these glorious institutions. (Applause.) }
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