The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-27
ANOTHER PATRIOTIC LETTER FROM GEN. oAss,
addressed % dc Democratic Macs Meeting AZ Lexington
kentucky

addressed % he Democratic Mass Meeting az Lexington
DErRolr September 90 1855.
GENTLEMEN; I thank you for remembering among
those invited 10 attend the meeting of the democracy OF
Kentucky the 9th of October. IL is gratifying proof
that you consider my sentiments in unison with upon
the italyimporaut questions agitang the country
and forcby described in your letter as threatening the
most disastrous consequences make OF the
great congregation which will up defend the ark
Of the constitution but shall be Of the still greater
number who will regard your proceedings with the deep
est interest and will wish you God speed in your noble e
forts Whenever Rome In danger, that memorable
decree was passed which required the consus 10 take
care that the republic should receive harm, and
those magistrates herenpon vested with unlimited
mower 10 execute the high eonfded 10 them Our
republic in danger but it is for the people
as well as to pass the great decree Of safety Ii
them not for vicarious authority to take that this
conedeated Commonwealth eeeveno HARM but that il be
protected from all injury well from hostile hands with
out as from parrcidal hands within In aid Of thus pa
trotic duty you have summoned the democracy Of Ken
tucy together to consult in regard TO the safety
of the repubc This is the right measure and it is us
fed by the crisis and is taken in the right spirit Let these
uprsings Of the people go from State State and
voice will soon be heard from end of this glorious
confederation the other pronouncng that political
fabric the work Of fathers sacred in the eyes OF then
sons and TO him who lays the hand Of violence upon
it And well il s for Kentucky forward among
the first and n;erpose herself between common conn
try and her peril II is position yoar noble State has al
ways sought aud bravey maintained when that country
has been assailed by external enemies and she will be
equally prompt and fearless at the present nncure when
the danger is unhappy around us and among us
And cannot but hope that many true-heared Amer-
who have heretofore been political opponents and
honorable aud open will everywhere join the democ
rac and combat with it in this the day Of their county
trial Let follow the bright example Of your states
man--the American statesman, indeed---who, though
dead yet lives in the hearts Of his countrymen and who
during long life of honor and patriotism, suffered
his political association withhold him from the rescue
of the constitution in its periods of danger Regrettmg
his loss ut all times, regret it tho in these times
when he living he would be found among the fore
most leading and encouraging his friends and anmang
bis countrymen to the defence Of that Union which he
loved so well and served so faithfully.
You have justly adyerad the causes of alarm which
spread dsquetude wherever the American heart has no,
surrendered itself to of the strange hallucinaons
which mark this day of strange things. The rights o.
man. the religion Of od the obligations of the coDstitu-
ton equally condemned and dsregarded and are
to be excluded from positions OF public trust because
they are not American citizens, because incompetent
unworthy, but because they born upon the soil
oppression and loving institutions sought refuge
the soil of freedom while Others are to placed under
the inerdct because they follow the dictates Of he
conscience in the worship OF God, and members
of prescribed branch Of the church Of Jesus Christ
branch exposed the intolerance of Protesnts who
their very to their protest ages ago against il
injustice their faith. And yet worse can
be- this disqualification is to be extended to alfor such
is the staement--who nearly connected by blood
marriage with believer Of the obnoxious creed whatever
may be their religious opinions II is the Catholic alone
and the connexions of the Catholic who the subjects
of republican persecution in this middle of the nineteenth
century. The Mahommetan, the Pagan and the iufdel
are safe from its violence
But we have another and serious Of appre-
henson which to gather strength, from day day,
and that is found in the denuncatons against the South
and the disregard Of the constitutional obligations
nected with that portion of the Unoa disregard equally
manifested by Legislative acts by Judicial decisions. and
by popular declarations. have heart enlarge upon
this topic cannot reflect upon it. indeed, without the
most painful solicitude. e
And secret societies have been organized and are
in active operation, under smother insure
unity of action and jealous coopera these assaults
upon American principles and institutions. Free open
and public discussions free, open and public elections
and individual convictions and responsibility ele-
ments OF freedom discarded and hidden concavcs shut
out from the light of day and guarded and strengthened
by oaths of obedience issue their which, in the
terms of the obligation, TO be complied nth though Mey
coVct acth personal 7rerences- that personal
ions and thus the process election degenerates into
mere agency By which these mandates DO carried
to effect If this scheme, devised By ambitious men to
turn TO their profit the nrmties of human nature
should establish its permanency in country this heri-
tage OF Freedom acquired by the wisdom and patriotism of
our fathers would depart US but before we
showed how unworthy We're to enjoy il.
1t is impossible that the crusade against the South
should go and this Union be preserved. Even now we
hear proclaimed that there higher law than the
sttuon and that political arrangements sanction
the condition Of slavery take away the right OF others
tointersere for its abotion and this sentiment motive
action rather unknown but short time since has gone
on increasing Till it is the acknowledged cohesion of
Jealous and active party and there those who while
they dsavow it avow doctrines which, if carried out
would be equally fatal to the duration of the confedera-
uon--the repeal OF the fuveave law, the
OF the Missouri Compromise the establishment of the Will
mot provso the Territories and the refusal admit
hereafter State into the Union which toeraes slavery
These measures held out to the American people OBJ
ecs TO be urged upon the consideration Of Congress-
70 DE attained by means utterly Incompatible with the very
nature OF our government. No not enlisted in this
warfare against the Union doubt that if these
succeed success will be purchased by the sacrifice of the
conederacy OF these States Already hear it announced
that provisions for for all Of these purposes will be
introduced into the appropriation bills the next session
OF Congress- and that they will be thus forced through
the government be left without the pecuniary means
sary for its operation.
fear this dangerous experiment viii be made have
no fears that even if persisted in it will prove successful