Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-07-05

Gan they have The madness or the folly
- believe that our Southern brethren
would submit 10 be governed by srch 4
chief Magistrate Cheers Would
I've be required TO follow the same rule pre-
scribed by those who elected hlm' IN ma
kim his appointments II a man '''I"s
Snn,b Of Mason and DiXon's line be not
worthy 10 be President or Vice President
wonId i, he proper TO select one from the
same quarter. as one Of MS Cabinet Conn
Gill; or to represent the nation m Iofe'g"
country Or. indeed, TO r"lec! the rev
enuc, or administer the laws OF HE Unl'
ted States ? If not, what new rule Is HE
President 10 adopt in selecting men for
Office, that The people themselves oscar"
in selecting him!
These are serious, but Hractira! qnfs-
lions. and in order to appreciate them inI-
Ilv, il is only necessary to turn the tables
upon ourselves. Suppose that the South
HAVING majority OF the electoral votes
should declare that they would only have
shareholders for President and Wee Pres
idcnt and should elect such by their eX-
elusive sullraees to rule over us al the
North. Dovou think we would submit
tou! No, not for moment. zap
plause.) And DO you believe that Your
Southern brethren are less sensitive on
this subject than you are, or less jealous
of their rights ? (Trcmcndous cheering
| If YOU do, let me tell YOU that you aye
mistaken. And, therefore, You see thai
liz this sectional party succeeds, it leads
inevitably to the destruction Of tins beau
Iuful fabric reared by our loreIalhers, &C.
mcntcd by their blood, and bcquealAed to
US as a priceless Inheritance.
tell YOU, my friends, thatl speak
warmly on this subject, for feel that W"
are in danger. am determined TO make
4 clean breast of it. will wash my hands
of the consequences, whatever they may
be and tell you that we are tfeadmg
upon the brink of a valcano, that is liable
at any moment to burst forth and over
wheIm the nation. might, by sOil
words. bold ont delusive hopes, and there
bv win votes. BIT can ncUer consent
10 be one Ming 10 the North and GnOih,
or 10 the South. ! should drspise my,
| self if could he guilty Of such evaSlons.
! CFumulluous appIausc.) For my con
science would still ask, with HE dramatic
poet:
| is there not some secret curse
! Some hidden thunder red Wi immortal wrath,
To blast the wretch who owes his greatness
! To his couhtry's ruin - (Checr~
In the language of the Iamentcd, i'm
mortal Clay, Il had rather be right than
be President" Enthusiastic checrs.)
Ii seems TO me impossible that those
engaged IN this can have contemp lated The
awful consequences OF success. If 1t
breaks asunder the bonds Of our Union,
and spreads anarchy and civil war thro'
the land, what is il less than moral trea~
son. Law and commor sense holds a
man responsible for the natural Conse-
uuence of his act and must not those
whose acts tend to the destruction OF the
government, be equally held responsible
| (AppIause.) And let me also add, that
when this Union is dissolved, ii will not
be divided into two EcpubIics or two
Monarchies, but broken into fragments
and al war with each ether.
But, feIow-citzens, have perhaps
said all that was necessary on tins sub
iect, and | turn with pleasure 10 be less
important, but more agreeable topic
| (Cheers) 1t has been my fortune during
my travels in Europe, TO witness once or
twice the reception of Royalty, in all the
pomp and splendor Of military array where
The music was given 10 order, AM the
cheers at word OF command. But, for
myself, prize the honest spontaneous
throb of affection with which you have
welcomed me back to my native Stale
above all the pageants which royalty can
display. (Cheers.) Therefore, with
heart overGowlng with grateful emotions,
return you thousand thanks, and bid
you adicu. prolonged aPpIause.)