Washington sentinel., 1856-05-13

to them by the Constitution, to the amount of
hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Consti-
tuition was nullihed, and this law was passed
for the protection OF their constitutional rights!
Will they tamely surrender it? Let the voice
which speaks in tones of thunder from the
United South answer this question. They will
at last, trust and believe, submit to all the
provisions of the Compromise, provided the
fugitive slave law be faithfully executed in the
North; but they will go no further. All the
resolutions even of the Union meetings in the
South speak this language Future aggressions
must cease or the Union will be in imminent
danger.
Let us then resolve to put down agitation at
the North on the slave question, by the force of
enlightened public opinion, and faithfully exc
cute the provisions of the fugitive slave law.
Should this be done, it will eventually extin-
guish those geographical parties-so dangerous
to the Union, and so much dreaded by the
| Father of his Country-which have sprung into
existence; it will ameliorate the condition of
the slaves, by enabling their masters to remove
the restrictions imposed upon them in selfde-
| fence, since the commencement Of the present
| troubles, and will restore the natural and con
| stitutiona progress Of emancipation which has,
| in several States, been arrested by the violence
| Of the Abolitionists.
The Union cannot long endure, if it be bound
| together only by paper bonds. 1t can be firmly
cemented alone by the affections of the people
Of the different States for each other. Would
to Heaven that the spirit of mutual forbear-
ance and brotherly love which presided at its
| birth, could once more be restored to bless the
landl Upon opening volume, few days
since, my eyes caught resolution Of Con
veDtion of the Counties Of Maryland, assem-
bled at Annapolis, in June, l774, in conse-
quence of the passage, by the British Parlia-
ment, Of the Boston Port Bill, which provided
for opening subscription Gin the several
| counties of the Province for an immediate
collection for the relief of the distressed in
habitants of Boston, now cruelty deprived of
the means of procuring subsistence for them
| selves and families by the operation Of the said
| act for blocking up their harbor." Would that
| the spirit of fraternal affection which dictated
this noble resolution, and which actuated all
the conduct of our revolutionary fathers, might
return to bless and to reanimate the bosoms
of their descendants This would render our
Union indissolutle. 1t would be the living soul
infusing itself into the Constitution and inspir-
ing it with irresistible energy.
| am not one Of those who can ever concent
calculate the value of the Union. Its benefits
and its blessings are inestimable. God forbidl
that fanaticsm should ever apply torch to
this, the grandest and most glorious temple
which has ever been erected to political freedom
on the face Of the earth Whilst the friends of
human liberty throughout the world would
forever deplore the irreparable loss of our ex-
ample to the nations, this catastrophe would be
the prolific source Of evils to all the States
North, South, East and West-from the enume-
ration of which my mind recoils with horror.
Would any or all of the injuries which the
South have suffered, or which they suppose
they have suffered, from the agitation at the
North, and from the Compromise, justify re-
sort to the last dread extremity of disolving the
Union? believe not and after the sober
second thought the patriotic people of the
South will, ] have no doubt by large
majority, arrive at the same conclusion.
For Such causes, they viii never forfeit
all the innumerable blessings of the Union,
and subject the country and the lovers of ra-
tional freedom throughout the world to the
most astounding political calamity which has
ever befalen the human race.
1t is not every wrong-nay, it is not every
grievous wrong-which can justify, or even
paliate such fearful alternative. In this age,
and in this country, there is an incessantfux and
retiux Of publicopinion. Subjects which but afew
years ago excited the public mind to madness,
have passed away and are almost forgotten. To
eHlPiOy Tue tioQucHt laHSudSc VI Vhr. DuIhc,
they are VOLCANOES burnt out-and on the lava
and ashes and squalid scorim of old eruptions,
grow the peaceful olive the cheering vine and
the sustaining corn"
The agitation at the North on the subject of
domestic slavery in the South, like every thing
human, will have its day. We have already
reached, and, i trust past the dangerous crisis.
Should this prove to be the case, the tempest
which has been raging will purify the political
atmosphere, and impart new and healthful life
and vigor to the body polite.
But, if, in the midstof such temporary excite
ment, the Union should be dissolved, the mis-
chief will then be irreparable "Nations un-
born, and ages yet behind, J" will curse the rash
ness of the deed Should the silver cord be
loosed, and the golden bowl be broken at the
Fountain" human power will never be able to
re-unite the scattered fragments. IL the AL
mighty Ruler Of the Universe has, in his Provi-
dence, destined the dissolution Of the Union. as
punishment for the sins OF the Nation, hope,
before that day, ] may be gathered to my
fathers, and never witness the sad catastrophe.
Yours, very respectfully
JAMES BUCHANAN.
To Messrs. Josiah Randall, Isaac Hazlehurst,
John S. Riddle, John w. Forney, G. Inger-
soil, and Robert M. Lee.