Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-09-18

which they owe to themselves, to pause,
solemnly to pause at the edge of the preci-
/ pice, before the fearful and dangerous leap
be taken into the yawning abyss below,
from which none who ever take it shall re-
turn in safety
Finally, Mr.. President, and in conclu-
sion, implore, as the best blessing which
heaven can bestow upon me, upon earth,
that if the direful event Of the dissolution Of
this Union is to happen, shall not survive
to behold the sad and heart-rending specta-
cle
! Again in his Frankfort speech what did
he say:
The last session Of Congress opened
under the most lowerins and unfavorable
auspices. The public mind had been
greatly agitated, and distracted, and divid-
ed upon subjects connected with the insti-
tuition of slavery. l had witnessed other
periods of great contest and agitation. In
the case of the admi ssion of Missouri, the
whole nation was greatly convulsed, and
there was just cause of serious apprehen-
sion for the safety of the Union. In the
instance also of the opposition of South Ca
rolina TO the tariff, 1928, there was
great danger Of a civil war with that State
which might, in certain events. have
spread TO surrounding States. But what
peculiarly distinguished the late struggle
was that, far more than OH any former oc-
casion. was the sentiment avowed, not
merely Of the existence Of danger to the
Union, but We heard in various quarters,
an open and undisguised declaration Of n
necessity and design for its dissolution
We behold too what We had never before
seen in time Of peace, the assemblage Of
a sectional convention Of delegates, the ton.
dency Of which was to break mp the con-
fedeTacy.
What also had Gen. Jackson told you as
to the consequence of dissoluion9
In his farewell address to his country
men upon retiring from the Presidency, he
said:
What have You to gain by division and
dissention? Dcludc not yourselvs with the
hope that u breach once made, would be
afterwards easily repaired. If he Union
is once severed, the separation will grow
wilcr; and the controversies which are now
debated and settled in the halls of legisla
ton, will be tried in fields Of battle, and
determined by the sword. Neither should
you deceive yourselves with the hope that
the first line Of separation would b. the
permanent one. Lo-
cal interests would still be found there. and
unchastened ambition And if the recol
lection of common dangers, in which the
people of these United States have stood
side by side against the common foe-thc
memory of victories Won by their united
valor--thc prosperity and happiness they
have enjoyed under the present Consliiu-
iion; if these recollections and proofs of
common interest are not strong enough to
bind us together as one people. what tie
viii hold united the new divisions Of en-
pire. when these bonds have been broken
and this Union dissolved? The first line
OF separation would not last long; new frag-
ments would be torn off. he w leaders would
spring up; and this great and glorious Re-
public would soon be broken into multi
tude of petty States, armed for mutual AZ
Sression; loaded with taxes to pay armies
and leaders; seeking ali against each other
from foreign powers; insuited and tramp
Piled upon by The nations of Europe; until,
harrassed with contli~t and humbled and
debased lii spirit. they would be willing to
submit TO tho dominion of any military ad-
venturer, and to surrender their liberty for
the sake of repose.
What had Mr.. Webster long before said
in reply to Mr.. Hayne. in language SO grand
and noble that 1t seemed almost that the old
fable Of the demigods was not untrue. and
tlat one walked amongst ns?
WHEN my eyes shall be turned TO be-
hold for the last time, the Sun in heaven. |
may not see him shining on the broken
and dishonored fragments of once glori-
Gus Union; on States discovered, discordant
bellgerent; on a land rent with fueds. or
drench:d, it may be. in fraternal blood
Let their last feeble and lingering raze
rather behold the glorious ensign of the
Republic. now known and honored through
out the earth. still full high advanced-not
one stripe erased or polluted, not one star
obscured, but streaming in all their oiigin
al luSre and bearing for its motto no such
miserable interrogatory, as "what is all
,his worth?" nor those other words of de
usion and folly. Liberty first, and Union
forwards" but everywhere spread all
over in characters of living light, blazing I
IN all lis ample folds, as they float over the {
nd la 1