, 1857-04-17

d. Al
own destiny for themselves snbio", tAet
the Constitution of the United SSa! S,! 70
The whole Territorial question bs;DS SaIe
settled upon the principle of popuIs. .aO'
ereigniy--a principle as ancient a' % so''
Government itself-everything of - ne.
cal nature has been decided, and NJ p.ast S
question remains for adjustment ~ S.Oef V'aef
all agree that under the Constitn,i"sSs issaC@
very in the States is beyond the ro.., "a.
any human power, except that os u ~. u
spectivc States themselves wherein !, e
lists. May We not then hope that fl. q
agitation on this subject is upproacbi,u0 .0ag
end, and that the geographical p,r,is. m
which il has given birth, so much d,".,@
by the Father of his Country will sue saSN
become extinct? Most happy will ilGII,O y
for the country when the public mind .h.S
be diverted from this question to otbs,. y
more pressing and practical imnort.s.~'
Throughout the whole progress Of NM. y.
tation, which has scarcely known any 4
termssion for more than twenty W
while it has been productive of no po,i,;"1
good to any human being, it has been ~.
prolific source Of great evils TO the m.,,."
TO the slave aud to the whole counlrv. !,
has alienated and estranged the peo5l, =
the sister States from each other. ana IL.
even seriously endangered the verv s,4
encc Of the Union. Nor has The dr..
yet entirely ceased. Under our Evris~
there is a remedy for all mere noids.I
evils in the sound sense and sober iOS.
ment OF the people. Time is great -;
rective. The political subjects which br
a few years ago exaSperated the p8LGr
mind have passed away and are now nesrI,
forgotten but this question Of doue,ti.
slavery is OF far greater Importance th,'
any mere political question, because, shouI
the agitation continue, it may eveDtus5y
endanger the personal safety Of a larr,
portion Of our countrymen where tie hsi
tuition exists. In that event, no form a
Government, however productive Of matt.
rial benefits, can compensate for the lOv
of peace and domestic security around Ii.
family altar. Let every Union.lovine man
therefore, exert his best influence 10 sun
press this agitation, which, since the recent
legislation Of Congress, is without any
legitimate object. 1t is an evil Of he
times that men have undertaken to calu.
late the mere material value of the Union
Reasoned estimates have been presented
of the pecunary profits aud local adVanta
geS which would result to different States
and sections from its dissolution, and Of he
comparative injuries which such an event
would innict on other States and sections
Even descending to this low and marrow
view of the mighty question, all such al
culations are at fault. The bare reference
to single consideration will be conclusive
on this point.
We at present enjoy free trade through
out our extensive and expansive eounry,
such as the world never witnessed. 4ihl
trade is conducted on railroads and tanaA,
on noble rivers and arms of the sea, which
bind together the North and the soulA,
the East and the West of our coufedeFsty.
Annihilatc this trade, arrest its free prog.
rcss by the geographical lines Of jealous
and hostile States, and you destroy hs
prosperity aud onward march Of the whole
aud every part, and involve all in Que con-
mon ruin.
But such considerations, important Is
they are in themselves, sink into insgpt
cance when we reflect on the terrific sFls
which would result from disunion to every
portion of tho Coniederacy-to the Aortb
not more than to the South, to The Eud
not moro than to the West. These | shall
not attempt to portray, becausel feel a
humble confidence that the kind Prov
dence which inspired our fathers with Wis
dom to frame the most perfect form igor
ernment and union ever devised BY raa,
will not suffer il to perish until 4 iAaA
have been peacefully instrumental, " 10
example, in the extension Of civil and relle'
ious liberty throughout the world. -
Next in Importance 10 the nialntenanH
of the Constitution and the UniOn'H tn
duty of preserving the Goyernmsni ."
from the faint oOeven the suspicion o. cor
ruption. Public virtue is the vital ~"
Of Republics, and history proves that e9en
this has decayed and the love Of mcney q;
usurped its place, although the ioTln u
free government may remain for . ssas0l,
the substance has departed foreVsr. vI
present financial condition is without
parallel in history. No nation hss e'a
before been embarrassed from too laFge
surplus in its Treasury. This almost ~
eSSarily gives birth to eXtraVaganI legsI
tion. 1t produces wild schemes ot eApsI
ditures and bcgc,s race Of speculate.
and jobbers whose ingenuity is exerIea
contriving and promoting expedlesnu y. y
obtain the public money. Inc psss
through its Official agents, whether ,g
fully or wrongfully, is suspected, aee ~
character Of the government saners " M Y,
estimation of the people. This IS ~ a''J
a very great evil. The natural lnous
relief from this embarrassment IS 70 ~,
pirate the surplus in the treasury 70 ss
national objects for which clear vaII.
can be found in the constitution AplO,
these, l might mention the extInsulslI"'ooi
Of the public debt, a reasonable lncIeaSs
the Navy, which is at present lnaussit ss.,t
to the protection of our vast tunnage .aS, !,