Washington sentinel., 1856-05-15

ary worthless, whose names have illustrated the
history of Maryland.
Our revolutionary fathers--the men of re-
nown OF the past generation--have founded a
system Of government for us without an equal
in the history of former ages. Fully to realize
and appreciate its advantages over oil other
governments, man must actually witness the
condition of the laboring Glasses in other coun
tries.
| Ours is the only country on earth where
| freeman feels proudly conscious that he is
equal to his fellow-man, and where the avenues
TO wealth, distinction and political power are
equally open to all. 1t is the only country
where honest labor is respected as it deserves,
and receives an adequate reward. 1t is to the
Constitution and the Union that we are in
debted for all the blessings and benefits we
enjoy over every people beneath the sun. How
base, then, would be the present generation
how unworthy Of their noble sires, should they
fail to TRANSMIT this precious legacy to their
Posterityl Were this possible, which do not
in the least apprehend, they would blast the
hopes OF those noble spirits in every land who
ardently expect their own political regenera-
ton from the effect OF our example, and con-
sign the human race to centuries Of despotism
and misrule. We should never betray this
sacred trust committed to us not only for our
own benefit, but that of all mankind
Although this is my abiding faith, nothing
abroad mortified me so much as the repeated
and confident predictions of foreign journals
that our Union was on the point Of dissolution.
Day after day and week after week was OBJ
| liged to read these sinister predictions. They
we're extensively believed in consequence Of
the wild and exaggerated statements contained
in some Of our own journals. When the news
reached Europe that after protracted and
desperate struggle "a Black Republican" had
been elected "Speaker Of the House Of Rep
resentatves," many taking the word literally,
believed that this election would prove to be
the knell of our Union.
1t ought to be known to the American peo
pie that these continual threats Of disunion
have impaired our national character through
out the world Everybody abroad as we'll as
at home, knows that our strength consists in
union, and that if divided each fragment would
become powerless.
Power is always respected among nations
The belief in the European world that our
Union is not stable-that it is exposed any
moment TO dissoluton-has in some degree de-
prived US of that glorious character, the
greatest freest, most happy and prosperous
people that ever existed are entitled to enjoy
Among the despotic governments Of Europe
the wish may be father to the thought, because
our existence is constant reproach TO them,
and our example inspires them with terror.
There are, however, many, very many, wise
and good men in every foreign land who view
our Union as the lone star of hope in a be-
nighted world, and would regard its dissolution
as a fatal catastrophe to human liberty.
! Disunion is word which ought not to be
| breathed amongst us even in whisper. The
| word ought to be considered one of direful
omen, and our children should be taught that
it is sacrilege to pronounce it. Let the time
| ever arrive when faction or fanaticism shall
drive the people of any State to the brink Of
the precipice-let them have full view of the
| yawning gulf beneath, and they will recoil
with instructive horror from the abyss.
In regard to the future destiny Of my coun-
| try, ! confess | am an optimist; and / have an
| abiding faith that majority of the States and
OF the people will always eventually redress
| every wrong which may be committed against
any portion of the country Strange as it may
seem, my faith was never stronger in its belief
| than at the present moment. We have already
| reached and almost passed the dangerous crisis
on the subject of domestic slavery. The vol
| cano is nearly exhausted. The material for
continued agitation no longer exists. And
| why? Because hold it to be quite impossible
that any considerable portion of our people can
long continue to contest the elementary repub.
| lican principles recognized in the territorial
legislation of Congress.
This is nothing more than the power possess.
ed BY the people of every free State since the
world began. 1t is the foundation-the ee-
mentary principle Of a Democratic Republic.
Without cheerful submission to the will of the
majority, no Democratic Government can exist.
We have thus reached the end, or to use an ex.
pressive Americanism, the fnality Of our legis-
lation on this subject.
What man in the United States who values
| his character will rise among his felow-citizens
and seriously urge the repeal Of law declar-
ing that the majority shall govern? None
not one. l repeat, we have reached the fnali-
ty OF the question. We have arrived at the
elementary principle of freedom, that the ma.
jority shall govern-a principle essential to
liberty, and as Interchangeable as liberty ITSELF
After the tempest has passed away it requires
some days for the waves of the ocean to sub.
side; so after the agitation in the public mind
for many years on the slavery question, it will
require some time before this shall cease That
1t will do SO, except among those fanatics who
are governed by higher law than the Consti-
tution, feel an abiding confidence.
And is it not high time that the agitation on
this question should subside and the intellect
and energy Of the American people be directed
to other objects2 Our foreign relations demand
their serious attention. Our mercantile marine
is now the largest in the world, and our mer-
chant vessels cover every sea- but where is the
navy to protect them.
To be sure what we have is composed of the
best and bravest materials; but we have too
little of it, although we do not require anything
like so large navy as that Of Great Britain or
France The FIRST commercial people in tho
world, we are but third or fourth rate naval
power. Never have been so convinced as du-
ring my residence abroad of the wisdom of the
maxim Of the Father Of his Country that the
best mode OF preserving peace is to be prepared
for war.
beg to return to the gentleman who ad-
dressed me on the part of the councils, and to
yourself, Judge Giles, my sincere thanks for
the manner in which you have respectively per-
formed the duties entrusted to you; and need