The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-01-11

institutions may not in all respects comport
with the ideas of what is wise and expedient
entertained in some. other state. Fresh from
groundless. imputaifons of breach of faith
against others men will commence the agta
ton OF this new question with indubitable
violation Of an express compact between the
Independent sovereign powers Of the United
States and the Republic of Texas, as well as
Of the older and equally solemn compacts
which assure tae equality of all the States.
But, deplorable as.would be such viola
tion Of the compact in itself and in all its di-
rect consequence that is the very least of
the evils involved. When sectional agitators
shall have succeeded in forcing on this issue,
can their pref ensons fail to be met by coun-
ter pretensionsi Will not different states be
compelled respectively to meet extremes with
EXTREMIST And il either extreme carry its
point, what's that so far forth but dissolution
Of the Unionl If new State formed from
the territory of the United States be abso-
lutely excluded from admission therein. that
fact OF itself constitutes the disruption Of
union between it and the other States. But
the process Of dissolution could not stop there
Would not sectional decision producing
such result by majority of votes, either
Northern or Southern, Of necessity drive out
the oppressed and nggrieved minority, and
place IN presence of each other two irrecon.
cllably hostile confedcrntionsf
1t is necessary to speak thus plainly Of pro-
jects, the offspring OF shat sectional agitation
now prevailing in some Of the States, which
are as impracticable as they are unconstitu-
tional, and which, if pcrsevered in, must aud
will end calamitously. 1t is either disunion
and civil war, or it il mere angry, idle, aim.
less disturbance Of public peace and tranquil
ity. Disunion for wiatl If the passionate
rage OF fanaticism and.partisan spirit did not
force the fact upon otT attention, it would be
difficult to believe that any considerable por-
tion of the people of this enlightened country
could have go surrendered themselves to a
ianatical devotion to,ihe supposed interests
Of the relatively few Nieieans in the I'm ted
States as totally to abandon and disregard
the interests of the twenty five millions OF
Americans, to trample under foot the injunc-
tions of moral and constitutional obligation,
and to Ell gage in plans of vindictive hostility
against those who are associated with them
in the enjoyment of the common heritage of
our national Institutions
Nor is it hostility against their fcllow.citi-
zens of one section of the Union alone. The
interests, the honor the duty the peace, and
the prosperity of the people Of all sections
! are equally involved and imperillcd in this
question. Ard are patriotic men in any part
of the Union prepared, on such an issue, thus
madly to invite all the consequences of the
forfeiture of their constitutional engagements
1t is impossible. The storm of pl,renzy and
faction must inevitably dash itself in vain
against the mistaken rock of the Constitution
| shall never doubt it. ! know that the
Union is stronger thousand times than all
the wild and chimerical schemes of social
change which are generated, one ter anoth.
en- in the unstable minds of visionary sophists
and interested ngitators. l rely confidently
on the patriotism of the people, and on the
dignity and seli-respect Of the States, Oh the
wisdom Of Congress, and above ALL on the
continued gracious favor Of Almighty God, to
maintain, against all enemies, whether at
home or abroad the sancity of the Constitu.
ton and the integrity of the Union.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WdshiN0top. December 81 1855.