The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-25
this election would prove to be the knell

THIS election WOulu profS W NC Tue knelI
I of our Union.
1t ought to be known 80 the Ameri-
can people that these continual threats
of disunion have impaired our national
character throughout the world. Eve
erybody abroad as we'll as at home,
knows that our strength consists IN IN
ion, and that if divided each fragment
would become powerless-
Power is always respected among ma
tions. The belief in the European world
that our Union is not stable-that is
exposed to- dissolution-has in some de-
gree deprived us of that glorious char
acter, the greatest, freest, most happy
ond prosperous people that ever existed,
are entitled to enjoy. Among the des-
potic governments of Europe the wish
may be father to the thought, because
our existence is a 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 q benighted world,
aud would regard its dissolution as a
fatal catastrophe to human liberty.
Disunion is a word that ought not to
be breathed amongst US even in a whis-
per The word ought to be considered
one of direful omen, and our children
should be fought that it is sacrilcge 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 a full view
of the yawning gulf beneath, and they
I'LL ,ooo,l ,-,fh 1,enafIua horrnr frOm
the abyss.
In regard to the future destiny of my
country, / confess l am an optimist and
1 have an abiding faith that a majority
of the States and of the people will al
ways 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 this belief than at the present. We
have already reached and almost passed
the dangerous crisis on the subject of
domestic slavery. The volcanoe is near
y exhausted. The material for %contin-
ued agitation no longer exists. And
why ? Because 1 hold it to be impos-
sible that any considerable portion of
our people can long continue to contest
the elementary republican principles
recognized in the territorial legislation
of Congress.
This is nothing more than the power
State since the world began. It is the
foundation, the elementary principle, of
a democratic republic. Without a cheer
full submission to the will of the major
ity, no democratic government can ex
list. We have thus reached TIE end, or,
to use an expressive Amcricanism, the
fnalitv of our Legislation on this sub
ject.
What man in the United States who
values his character Will rise among his
fellow citizens and seriously urge the re-
peal of i law declaring that the MAORI
ty sha | govern? None, not o ie. l re-
peat, we have reached the iuality of the
question. We have arrived at the Gle
elementary principle of freedom, that
the majority shall govern-a principle
essential to liberty, and as VI o1angeable
as liberty itself.
After the tempest has passed away it
requires some days fer the wave of the
ocean to subside; so after the agitation
in the public mind for many years or
the slavery question, it will require some
time before this shall cease. That il
will do So, except among those fanatics
who are governed by a higher law thar
the cons,ltut on, l feel IN abiding conf
dcnca.
Aud is ii not high time that the agi
tation on this question should subsid,
and the intellect and energy Of TIKI
American people be directed to other SD
: jects? Our foreign relations demand
| their serious attention. Our mercau
tile marine is now the largest in til,
, world, and our merchant vessels cove
r every sea but where is The navy to pro
beet them?
To be sure what we have is composer
! of the best and bravest materials; bu
we have to- little of it, although we d
not require anything like so large a ia
Wy as that of Great Britain or France
5 The first commercial people in the world
f we are but a third or fourth-rate nava
c power. Never have I been 50 convince
a as during my residence abroad of tn
C maxim of the Father of his Country
that tie best mode of reserving peac
is to be prepared for war.
i beg to return to the gentleman VIII
addressed meson the councils, AID t
yourself, Judge Giles, my sincere thank
n for the manner in which you have RI
spectiyely performed the duties intrusI
ed to you; and [ need not say how gra
flied 1 ara at the reception which has bee
extended to me by the people of all pal
ties in this beautiful city-a city which
in addition to the recollections l hay
n already alluded to, is endeGred to me /
the fact that the first political speech
y ever made in my life was made in a
pealing to my fellow citizens at home
an raise volunteers to defend it againat t!
re foreign invader, which l followed by e.
is rolling my name in the list of those WI
r. offered to march to its defence, and Wi
them l came here to offer my humb
services.
SIS Now as to Maryland and Pennsylv
in mia. They are both rapidly blottil
out Mason and Dixon's line. The e
tn terprise of your sons has penetrated o
US State in every direction, and you a
I'd reaping the rich fruits of that enterpri
&C. from the valleys and the mountains
en- the Keystone State. We rejoice
re your prosperity. The day has pass
es when any j~ealousies should exist betwe
is us-a jealousy always injurious to be
at parties,
ID 1 one more return to you and to t
20 citizens of Baltimore my sincere thar
en-, for your generous welcome. Whatel
ow may happen to me in the future, I sh
I'D always esteem this one of the proud
ga days of my life.
r .ozA1o (-o-a H. q,