Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-19
WASHINGTON TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 10, 1856

/ | have not accustomed myself 10 hang ovei
the precipice of disunion to see whether, with
my short sight, / can fathom the depth of the
abyss below nor could / regard him as a safe
counsellor in the affairs of this Government
whose thoughts should be mainly bent on con
sidering, not how the Union should be best
preserved, but how toerable might be the
condition of the people when it shall be broken
up, and destroyed. While the Union lasts We
have high, exciting, gratifying prospects spread
out before us, for US and our children. Be-
yond that | seek not to penetrate the veil.
God grant in my day, at least, that curtain
may not rise. God grant that on my vision
never may be opened what lies behind. When
my eyes shall be turned to behold, for the last
time, the sun in heaven, may | not see him
shining on the broken and dishonored frag-
ments of once glorious Union-on States
discovered, discordant, belligerent-ou laud
rent with civil feuds, or drenched, it may be,
in fraterna blood. Let their last feeble and
lingering glance rather behold the gorgeous
ensign of the republic, now known and honored
throughout the earth, still full high advanced,
its arms and trophies streaming in their orgi-
nal lustre, not stripe erased or polluted, nor
single star obscured, bearing for its motto
no such miserable interrogatories as !" What IS
all this north nor those other words of de
luson and folly, Liberty first and Union at
teracards; but everywhere, spread all over IN
characters of living light, blazing on all its
ample folds as they float over the sea and over
the land, and in every wind under the whole
heavens, that other sentiment, dear to every
American heart, LIBERTY AND UNION, NOW
AND FOREVER, ONE AND INsEPARARLE."
A firm believer in mans capacity for self
government, | will not allow myself to suppose
that the people Of Indiana, hitherto devoted to
the Union, will become 50 blind and led away
by passion and prejudice, as to be willing to
hazard the stability OF government that has
afforded them so much of security and pros.
perity, for the sake Of removing a supposed
evil that exists without their borders, and with
which, politically, they have no concernment.
| will rather believe that they will adopt and
adhere to those true principles-on which
alone can this community of States be lasting
that the people Of each State and Territory
shall be left free to regulate their own domes
tic concerns in their own way, subject only to
the Constitution of the United States. In this
way, each community attending to its own
affairs and leaving others to do the same, we
may look forward with confidence to long years
OF continued growth i'll everything that makes
q nation prosperous, happy, and great. But
take to decide, not only what is for its own
good, but what is for its neighbors also, then,
indeed, shall we have fallen upon evil times"
and the days of the Union may be said to be
already numbered.
| have not the time now to elaborate these
views, but if | shall have the pleasure of meet
ing my fellow. w.eitizens through the summer |
will attempt it then.
Mr.. Buchanan is eminently national man,
of great ability and enlarged experience, and
his past record furnishes sufficient guarantee
that the government in his hands will be ably
and faithfully administered, not upon sectional
but upon national grounds. Ii elected, he will
be the President of the whole Union, not of a
part of it. Colonel Fremont has no political
antecedents, and we all know that he is the
chosen candidate of miserable, sectional,
higher-law' party, that sets at defiance all
constitutional obligations, when they conflict
with their perverted notions of political mo-
ralty.
feel great solicitude that in this contest the
voice of Indiana should be heard above the
battles wreck, proclaining her devotion 10 the
Union and the Constitution. Nor am | willing
to believe that she will maintain any other po.
siton. | will not doubt that Indana--the
Democratic young giant OF the Northwest
will put forth her united strength to preserve
the integrity Of our common government.
Only let her national, Constitution, and
Union-loving people understand the true issue
the living issue-involved in this election,
and from every city, town, and hamlet through
out the length and breadth Of the State they
will rise in their majesty to protect the free in
stitutions our fathers made, and to bury in
merited oblivion the fanaticism and treason
that would rob US Of such priceless inheri-
tance.
Very respectfully and truly yours,
j. d. BRIGHT.
GORDON TANNER, Esq, Sec., &c.