The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-05-28

, powerless.
Power is always respected among ma.
tions. The belief in the European world
that our Union is not stabe-that it i.
, exposed any moment to dissolution-haS
in some degree deprived US of that glo-
rlous character, the greatest, frcest, most
happy and prosperous people that ever
existed are entitled to enjoy. Among the
despotic governments of Europe the wish
may be father to the thought, because
our existence is a constant reproach to
them, and our example inspires them with
terror. There are, however, many, wise
and good men in every foreign land who
view our union as the lone star of hope
in benighted world, and would regard
its dissolution as q fatal catastrophe to
human liberty
Disunion is word which ought not to
be breathed amongst us even in n whisper.
The word ought to be considered one of
direful omen and our children should be
taught that it is sacriIege to pronounce 1t.
Let the time ever arrive when faction or
faraticism shall drive the people of any
State to the brink of the precipice-let
them have full view Of the yawningguIf
beneath, and they will recoil with instine-
tive horror from the abyss.
/ In regard to the future destiny of my
country, Iconfess l am an optimist; and I
have an abiding faith that majority OF
the States and of the people will always
eventually redress every wrong which may
be committed againt any portion of the
country. Strange as it may seem, my
faith was never stronger in this belief than
at the present moment. We have already
reached and almost passed the dangerous
crisis on the subject of domestic slavery
The yalcano is nearly exhausted The
material for continued agitation no lon
ger exists. And why! Because l hold
it to be quite impossible that any consid-
cradle portion Of our people can long
continue to contest the elementary repub-
lican principles recognized in the territori-
al legislation of Congress-
This is nothing more than the power
possessed by the people of every free
State since the world began. [. is the
foundation-the elementary principle ofa
democratic republic. Without cheerful
submission to the will of the majority, no
democratic government can exist. We
have thus reached the end, or to use an cx-
pressive Americanisnl, the fnaiity of our
legislation on this subject
What man in the United States who
values his character will rise among his
fellow-citizens and seriously urge the re-
peal of a law declaring that the majority
shall govern? None-not one ] re-
peat, we have reached the finality of the
question: We have arrived at the ele-
mentary principles of freedom, that the
majority shall govern-a principle essen
tial to liberty, and Interchangeable as liber-
ty itself.
i After the tempest has passed away it
requires some days for the waves of the
ocean to subside; so after the agitation in
j the public mind for many years on the
slavery question, it will require some time
before this shall cease. That it viii dc
so, except among those fanatics who arc
Igoverned by a higher law than the Con-
stitution, l feel an abiding confidence.
/ And is it not high time that the agita-
ton on this question should subside and
the intellect and energy ofthe American
i people be directed to their objects? Our
foreign relations demand their serious at
tention. Our mercantile marine is now
the largest in the world, and our merchant
vessels cover every sea; but where is the
navy to protect them.
To be sure what we have is composed
of the best and braycst materials; but we
have too little of it, although we do not
require anything like SO large q navy as
that of Great Britain or France. The
first commercial people in the world, we
are but third or fourth rate naval pow.
Ter Never have been so convinced as
during my residence abroad efthe wisdom
of the maxim of the Father of his Coun-
try, that the best mode fpreserying peace
is 10 be prepared for war.
/ beg to return to the gentleman
+ who addressed me on the part of the coun.
ellis, and to yourself, Judge Giles, my sin.
cere thanks for the manner in which you
, have respectively performed the duties en-,
{ trusted to you; and / need not say how
gratiied ] am at the reception which has
: been extended to me by the people of al
E parties in this beautiful city--a city which
in addition to the recolleetions / have al
Iready alluded to, is endeared to me by thu
q fact that the first political speech / eyel
+ made in my life was made in appealingte
. my fellow-citizens at home to raise volnn
! teers to defend it against the foreign inya
! der, which l followed by enrolling m.
). name in the list of those who offered Il
= march to its defense, and with them
A came here to offer my humble services.
e / once more return to you and to tn
! Icitizens of Baltimore my sincere thank
: for your generous welcome Whateye
e may happen to me in the future, shal
O always esteem this one of the proudes
: days of my life.n
r 1t is almost impossible, says the Bal
tt;n,ore Sun to convey the impression pro