The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-08-16
value OF tine Union.

IL Is common and iiippant Ieniaih OF The
fusionists, when told that the success of
their measures must bring about diSsolu-
ton of the Union, that the south dare not
dissolve the Union-that they can: live
without It, &c. If the south would lose by
il. have these fanatics ever taken the pains
TO consider whether the north would be the
gamer. We have On this subjec, 3 few
hints from the pen Of one Of the ablest New
England wings, which we commend 20 the
consideration Of such as are in the habit Of
looking lightly upon this question 0: disso-
luton
Whenever i. shall come 10 pass that one
half of the states composing this Union shall
nominate and elect President, and that on
grounds and issues directly opposed TO wha.
the other half believe to he their Just con-
sti;utional right and privilege, the days of
the republic are numbered, and the knell of
the Union tolled. The truth of this propo-
sition is self-eyident, and it is from the point
of view presented by it that the claims of
the republican party TO the confidence and
support of the people are 10 be looked upon.
have never lcarcd to calculate the value Of
the Union | have lived in the hope that
tiren would tTer wIrness -ne condition of
things which should render such 4 calcula-
ton necessary will not undertake to cal
culate il now; but invoke the manufactu-
rer, the merchant, the ship owner, the me
chanic-every man who has the smallest
stake in the prosperity, the wealth, the hap
piness Of the country-to consider how his
interest and the welfare of those with whom
bis interests are bound up, would be affect
ed by violent disruption or even Peacea-
ble dissolution of the union Of these states.
1t i common to hear the remark that the
north can take care of herself Doubtless
she can. The enterprise of her people is
boyndlcss, and their energy indomitable.-
But it must nc remembered that a dissolu-
ton Of the Union with the formation of a
northern republic would cause new combi-
nations. Commerce is essential to national
wealth, ne less than national greatness. The
north is not an exporting region, and from
its climate, soil and productions, cannot be
so to any uniformly general extent. II Is
mainly from the south and southwest that
we are indebted for the immense carrying
trade which employs our navigation. 1t is
in the same states that our manufacturers
find large market for their goods and our
importers no inconsiderable proportion of
solved, and the northern states forming one
republic, and the southern and southwest
ern states forming another. Suppose, what
under such condition would inevitably be
the case, this southern republic, with little
navigation of its own 10 foster and with no
manufactures to encourage, in reciprocal
commercial intercourse with all the manu-
featuring counties Of Europe on the basis
of absolute and unqualified free trade sup
pose, what under the sentiments of animosl-
ty cngendered by the disruption would be
no less likely 10 occur, discrimination
against our ships and goods Of the north,
and where would DC that prosperity which
now gladdcns our manufacturing towns and
fills our seaports with life and activity? 4
dissolution Of the Union would depreciate
the value of the property of New England
fifty cents on the dollar. The wheels of our
manufactures would be stopped, the implc-
mcnts Of the mechanic would be put by,
our ships decay at our dccaying wharves,
and the grass spring up In the streets of our
towns and cities. These would be the ma
terial consequences The moral consequent
ces may be summed up in single lIne.-
The destruction Of the worlds last hope
To this end, in my view, is the inevitable
tendency Of the republican movement. If
its leaders be honest in their professions,
such must be the result, for the practical
application of their principles would destroy
the equality Of the states, a condition which
is indispensable to the existence of the I'm
ion. If they be dishonest, and their real
object be only the attainment of political
power for corrupt and selfish purposes, the
same result may nevertheless obtain, for
they may find themselves without the abili
ty TO control the storm raised by their ia
natical appeals