Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-12-15
PAQUEAlINE IBERVILLE, Is, 1866.

self-government. We have had long train
ing for it. We think that we are capable OF
it, and We intend to assert our right to il. Lei
none interfere with us in this great work
| Our adopted fellow citizens, received unde,
the sanction Of our laws, are bound as much
as we are TO assist in this great work Wher
! thousands and hundreds of thousands are
pouring into the country from the oyerhowine
population Of foreign lands we must guard
! this right. The satne obvious policy demand.
| it at our hands. We must do it and we will do
it. applause. and cries of we will.
This great principle will 60 on. 1t may be
| reved. Those who maintain it may be re.
viled; but the principle which is SO congena
| to an America. heart, will indicate ITSELF and
| it will be triumphant. (Applause.) ! DO not
doubt this at all. Only let us be true to our.
selves. Let no reproaches be cast upon Us by
disappointed parties or partisans, or disappont.
ed dema ogues turn US aside from this great
| work. Persevere, and success is inevitable.
1t is feeling in the heart of every American
citizen Bans
1t is proud thing for any to say, ~ attn a
citizen Of the great commonwealth of PEN
| nsylvania. But is it not a greater thing to
say, Il am a ctizen-an American citzen-a
citizen of the United States of American
(Applau,e.) That we can now all say.
What is the prospect of this UniOn7 Did
the world ever before afford 10 any people
upon the face of the earth the prospect it af-
fords to you! What was Rome with all her
conquests-what were all her legions in COM
parison to the power OF this mighty Empire!
There is in the lives Of this people-it is in
their hands to WELD sceptre greater than
Rome in her greatest majesty ever held-to
give law, if you please. to the world Only
keep united. That is all that is demanded Of
you. Preserve what you have. Preserve the
Union of the States; and the Imagination of
man cannot surpass in conception the Empire
which we are to possess and rule. (Applause.)
Is it not worth preserving! Isit not worth
standing together as American citizens for!
You have only to entertain the ordinary pride
of ci.izeus-the pride of country No reason-
ing is necessary to prove thi-. Instinct will
prompt you to il as the best cause that Wisdom
dictates. Be true TO yourselves and You can
not then be false to anybody. Only be true
to yourselves, and keep he country which God
has assigned you. Preserve your Union as
the great pillar which sustains your liberties,
and which will make you the greatest and
mightiest people npon the face of the earth
This is our desiny--our rightful destiny
How smali--bow ,rninutr do the questions
appear which aretne4 made to 40 agi1ate and
distract this Uaiou. How small do they appear
when comparable" the mighty destiny and pros
pect OF this grest empire They appear as
nothing at all. And yet there are men in this
country at one end talking about secession,
and at the other about dissolution, One
insists on the abolition of slavery, the other
replies that each State has right to have
what institutions it peases under the Consti-
tuition. 2@ ''s'' 's-e.'s,
Shall we fall ont about this! We are uni
ted on principle Of freedom, reciprocal free
dom. perfect independence of one another.
On that oar Union, our brotherly and affec.
tionate Union, depends. @aa s-