The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-09-03
WOODSFIELD MONROE COUNTY, OHIO, SEPTEMBER g. 1856

our view Of our duty and the reason of it
are a stumbling block and foolishness.
To such you can have nothing to say, and
for such you can have nothing to hope
But if there are those again who love the
Union as we love it, and prize it as we
prize it: who regard it as we do, not mere
| ly as vast instrumentality for the protec-
tion of our commerce and navigation; and
for achieving power, emenence and name
among the sovereigns of the earth, but as
a means of improving the material lot
and elevating the moral and mental ma
ture, and ensuring the personal happiness
ofthe millions of many distant generations;
| if there are those who think thus Justly Of
Iit-and yet hug the fatal delusion that,
because tits good, it is necessarily immor-
tai; that it will thrive without care; that
anything created by mans will is above
or stronger than his will; that because the
reason and virtues of our age of reason
and virtue could build it, the passions and
stimulations of a day of phrenzy cannot
pull it down; if such there are among you,
to them address yourselves with all the
earnestness and all the eloquence of men
who feel that some greater interest is at
stake and some mightier cause in hearing,
than ever yet tongue has pleaded or trum-
pet proclaimed. Ifsuch minds and hearts
are reached, all is safe. But how spe-
cious and how manifold are the sephisms
by which they are courted!
They read and they hear much ridicule
of those who fear that geographical par
ty does endanger the Union. But can
they forget that our greatest, wisest and
most hopeful statesmen have always felt,
and have all, in one form or another, left
on record their own fears of such par
ty? Thejudgments of ofWashington, Mad
ison, Clay, Webster, on the dangers of the
American Union-are they worth nothing
to conscientious love of it? What
they dreaded as a remote and improbable
contingency-that against which they eau
toned, as they thought, distant genera
tions-that they were so happy as to die
without seeing--is upon us. And yet
some men would have US go on laughing
and singing, like the traveller in the satire,
with his pockets empty, at a present peril.
the mere apprehension of which, as dis
tant and bare possibility, could sadden the
heart Of the Father Of his Country. and
dictate the grave and grand warning of
the Farewell Address. &.
They hear men say that such a party
ought not to endanger the Union; that,
although it happened to be formed within
one geographical section, and confined
exclusively to it; although its end and aim
is to rally that section against the other
on question of morals, policy and feel
ing, on which the two differ eterrally and
unappeasably; although from the nature of
its origin and objects, no man in the Sec
tion outside can possibly joint, or accept
Office under it without imfamy at home;
although, therefore, it is a stupendous Or
ganization, practically to take power and
honor, and a full share ofthe government
from our whole family of states, and be-
stow them, substantially, all upon the an
tagonistic family; although the doctrine of
human rights, which it gathers out of the
Declaration of Independence pas
.sionate and eloquent manifesto of revo-
lutionary war--and adopts as its funda-
mental ideas, announce to any southern
apprehension a crusade of government
against slavery, far without and beyond
Kansas; although the spirit and tendency
of its electioneering appeals, as whole,
in prose and verse, the leading articles of
its papers, and speeches of its orators
are to excite contempt aud hate, or fear
of our entire geographical section, and
hate or dread or contempt is the natural
impression it all leaves on the northern
mind and heart; yet, that nobody any
where ought to be angry, or ought to be
frightened; that the majority must govern,
and that the north is a majority; that it is
ten to one nothing will happen; that, if
worst comes to worst the south knows it.
is wholly to blame, and needs the Union
more than we do, and will be quiet aceor-
dinghy. ssf
But do they who hold this language for.
get that the question is not what ought.
to endanger the Union, but what will do.
it? Is it man as he ought to be, or man
as be is, that we must live with or live
alone? In appreciating the Influences
which may disturb political system, and
especially one like ours, do you make no
allowance for passion, for pride, for mfr
nifty, for the burning sense of every imag-
mary wrong? Do You assume that all
men, or all masses ofmen ia all sections,
uniformly obeyreason; and uniformly wise
ly see and calmly seek their true interests?
Where on earth is such FOOLS paradise
as that to be found? Conceding to the
people of the fifteen States the ordinary
and average human nature, its good and
its evil, its weakness and its strength, /,
for one, dare not say that the triumph of
such party ought not to be expected nat
urally and probably to disunite the States.
With my undoubting convictions, know
that it would be folly and immortality in me
to wish it. Certainly there are in all sec
tions and in all States those who love the