The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-10-04
HISTORY .. ERROR.


Whatever has been or may be said in disbelief Of any
danger past present to the safety Of the Union we
meet 1t unqualified error in point Of fact There
have been times when the integrity of the Union was SO
seriously threatened that II admitted to be imminent
alarming and fraught with the greatest danger The
leading every party thought So the press thought
so and thought the country The proceedings Of Con-
gress at different times prove this most inoonestab On
these several occasions this momentous subject made
the absorbing business Of the sessions the inn
pending calamity and il ELECTED all the powers and in
uence Of the master minds in both branches of Congress
After the most exciting and painful struggles they
ceeded in restoring tranquility upon the beneGcent and
saving principle of Cancellation The authors ofhese great
achievements received the thanks gratitude Of the ma
ton They called the "peace sayiours
of the country" Itgave TO them garland Of fame that
they long they lived, and is laid a con-
secrated memorial their graves It's act OF superer
ogaton to prove by argument what history has nde
bly, recorded and what is known millions of living
witnesses.
There nothing in the construction of government
to define its duration to make ii indestrucble 1t may
have the elements of great duration and resistance ag
gresson to insure longer life than other govern
power which is the basis of all government with certain
notifications that control the will and regulate the power
1t has been wisely said that @what has been gained by
revolution may be lostby another If this is
axiom it is at least part of history. Our government
has that it lives beyond the reach Of this
tingency .a.
The existence of our government depends upon popular
opinion. 1t that that brought into life and
living by this uncertain tenure We have constantly be-
fore u.s. in the administration of the government the d
versy of popular sentiment and its nfammntory influence
We know how this has increased in intensity and reckless
have grown in size, with elements of dis
cord and their solvents What thought in
the days of Washington is thought by many be
virtue and necessity. This is danger. When popu
lar virtue and love of country lose their potency lose
the restraining influences and incentives that regulate
and give safe direction to opinion and power Corrupt
that opinion by any agency and afoat upon vast
of uncertainty and danger We not false and
fasdious about purity to desire to conceal
weakness and waste of virtue We look out upon land
and whole sections of country repudiatng the
constitution infaming ratrcidal strife disclaming the
sanctty of the Union, and pulling down the strong
holds of our glorious nationality. Are to be told
that there is no danger in this2 Are we to be lued
into fatal sleep by the sophstry of essays and meta
physical reasoning upon distractions that but
many preparations for political effect Are we to heed the
disclaimer of party that they have designs against
the peace of the country and the integrity of the Union and
the supremacy Of the constitution and all the high obga
tons Of patriotism, when them violating each and
all in reckless crusade to gain political power Are
disregard the significant fact that the British and French
press parties this reachey and endorse the leading
of these parties with their unqualified approval
but with more candor ? Hear what they say
owe should be sorry Mr. Buchanan elected because
he preserving the obnoxious institutions they
exist and the unity Of the States. There is no safety for Eu
ropean monarchica IL the progressive spirit of
the democracy of the United States is allowed to succeed
Elect Fremont and the first bow to the separation Of the Uni
ted States s Elected
"our sympathies are entirely with Col Fremont. We
hope tho democratic principle the Un
ted States. It's dangerous TO European governments"
We should be unfahful duty with all these facts
before US withhold the solemn warning that there is
crisis hand repetc with danger demanding all the wis
dom and the virtue of the nation to avert
As this is made debatabe question: is it the part Of
wisdom prudence to risk all the great interests of the
country and the very existence of the government upon
the issue when event all would be lost and in tho
other how infinitely small in comparison would be the
gan2
What is all the prevailing senmertaiy about negroes
what the morbid lamentations about universal emancipa
ton what the artifce and strife about free soil what the
whole chapter Of political can't and all its conceivable
gains compared with everything that is dear and sacred
to thirty millions involved in the perpetuy of the Unien
Would anything but the madness Of political strife and
the guilty schemes of demagogue dare hazard the nappre
cabe blessings OF the for the nsgncance and doubt
full gain of the other
This vast question must be solved by the decision
of the thirty millions of people, who have everything at
stake and confidence in its solution by the election Of
the democratic candidates coexensve with faith in
the great principle Of popular self-government
SPEECH OF EX-GOVERNOR FLOYD IN REPLY TO
MR. BANKS.