The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-03

WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1858.
have had the honor TO receive your invitation to be
present the 18th inst AT the centennial anniversary OF
the capture OF Fort uqucsne and regret that the pres
sure Of public affairs, period the meeting Of
Congress renders il impossible that should enjoy this
Fvery pario, mus, rejoice whilst rejecting upon the un
~. What was It's commencement, obscure fort far
beyond the western frontier OF CIVILIZATION has now be
come the centre OF ropulous commercial aud manuflc
turing city, sending ~ productions to large ana prospe
sovereign states st further west whose errtores
then "A vast, unoxplored and silent wilderness
From the stand point at which we have arrived the
patriot cannot fail, whilst reviewing the past.
cast glance into the future and 10 speculate upon what
may be the condition of our beloved country when your
poseriy shall assemble to celebrate the second centennial
anniversary OF the capture Of Fort Duquesne Shall
whole country then compose the united nation pppu
lous powerful and free than other which has
ted Or Will tie contedcracy have been rent asunder aud
divided into groups OF hostile Jealous sates Or may
be possible that, the next ceschra,on, all the
fragments exhausted by intermediate conflicts with each
other may have finally reunited and sought refuge under
the shelter Of one great ard rshadowng despotsmf
These questions viii. brmy believe under The prOyi
dence Of Cod be vrtuay decided by the present
ton. We have reached a crisis when upon their
depends the Preservation Of the Union according 20 the
letter aud spirit OF the constitution and this once gone All
IS lost
regrct 10 say that the presen, Gar from pro
ptious In the lat age 81 the republic considered
almost trcasonabie 70 pronounce the word dsunIon.
Times have since sadly changed and dis /.
freely prescribed the remedy Tor Cyanesoct evils rca
imaginary. which " left 10 themselves, would speedily
vanish away ~ the progress Of events
generation after them who inspired by their
personal counsel and example have nearly an d1appeV
ed Tho present generation. deprived Of these tghts
ust whether they viii not, decide the iatc OF their
posterty LIT ,h ~ cherish the lnon W their heart o.
hcarslc them resist every measure which may tend 10
relax or dissolve - hOuesCt the citizens ~ different
States cultivate The feelings 81 kindness and ofbelrance
towards each 0iher-and lc all resolve 10 transmit 10
their descendants the form ana spr they have inner
tied from their foreiathers and al will then b. well Tor
our country future times.
shall assume tue privilege a advancing years ia roie
renee 10 another growing and dangerous evil IN the last
are although fathers, Ike ourselves, were divided
INTO pocai parties which often bad severe conflicts fifth
achother yet never heard until within recent pe
rio8 Of the employ OF money % carry elections
should this practice until the voters aud Their
representative the state and national Leg saures shall
become infected, the fountain 81 free government viii
then be poisoned at ts source and must end history
proves. IN military despotsrn.
democratic republic. al agree. cannot long survive
sustained by publc virtue. When this - corrupted
and The Te0pe become vena there cancer AT the root
81 the tree of liberty which VII cause ~ witbcr aad 20
die.
pray Almighty God tha' your remote poscrty may
s,.uuc century after century for ages yet 10
the vcrsaiy ~ tho capture Of Port nuqucsne
M UaSc prosperity under The protecting banner II the
c,seigs~s and The Union. IAMfs 81 CiIANAN.