The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-14


The Hon. Jefferson Davis having been serenaded
by the citizens of Portland. Me-, last Tuesday even
ing, acknowledged the compliment in the following
terms
FELLOW CoUNTRYMKN-Accept my sincere
thanks for this manifestation OF your kindness.
Vanity does not lead me 80 far to msc0nceive your
purpose as to appropriate the demonstration to my
self but it is not less gratifying to me to be made
the medium through which Maine tenders an ex-
preston of regard to her sister, Mississippi II is,
moreover with feelings OF profound qualification that
witness this indication vi that national sentiment
and fraternity which made us, and which alone can
keep us one people, At period but as yesterday
when compared with the life of nations, these States
were separate, and in some respects opposing colo
MES: their only relation to each other was that Of
common allegiance to the government OF Great Br-
tain So separate indeed almost hostile, was their
attitude that when General Stark, OF Bennington me-
mory was captured by savages ON the head waters
of the KenDebec, he was subsequently taken by
them to Albany, where they went to sell furs, and
again led away captive, without interference
on the part of the inhabitants of that neighboring
colony to demand or obtain his release. United as
we now are, were citizen of the United States as
an act Of hostility to our country, imprisoned or
slain in any quarter of the world, whether on land
or sea, the people of each and every State of the
Union, with heart and with one voice, would de-
maDd redress; and wO be to him against whom q
brothers. blood cried to us from the ground. Such
il the fruit of the wisdom and the justice with
which our fathers bound contending colonies into
confederation and blended different habits and rival
interests into harmonious whole 80 that shoulder
to shoulder, they entered on the trial OF the Revo1
ton and step with step trod its thorny paths until
they reached the height of national independence
and founded the constitutional representative liberty
which is our birthrght When the mother country
entered upon her career of oppression, in disregard
of chartered and constitutional rights, our fore
fathers did not stop to the exact weight of
the burden, or to ask whether the pressure bore
most upon this colony or upon that, but saw in it
the infraction of q great principle-the denial OF
common right, in defence of which they made COM
mon Massachusetts,, Virginia and South Caro-
lima vieng with each other as to VINO should be fore
most in the struggle, where the penalty OF failure
would be dishonorable grave. Tempered by the
trials and sacrifices of the Revolution, dignfed by
its noble purposes elevated by its brilliant rumphs,
endeared to each other by its glorious memories,
they abandoned the confederacy, not to fly apart
when the outward pressure OF hostile meets ana
armies were removed, but to draw closer their en-
brace in the formation OF more perfect union. ny
such men, thus trained and ennobled, our constitu-
ton was formed 1t stands monument OF principle,
of forecast, and above ALL OF that liberaiity winch
made each willing to sacrifice local interest," indivi
dual prejudice or temporary good to the general
welfare and the perpetuty of the republican insti
tutons which they had passed through fire and blood
to secure The grants were as broad as were neces-
sary for the functions of the general agent and the
mutual concessions were twice blessed-bessing both
him who gave and him who received. Whatever
was necessary for domestic government, requi-
site in the social organization OF each commu-
nity, was retained by the States and the people
thereof and these ii was made the duty of all to
defend and maintain. Such. in very general terms,
is the rich political legacy our fathers bequeathed to
us. Shall preserve and transmit 1t to postcrity!
Yes, yes the heart responds; and the judgment an-
swers the task is easily performed. 1t but requires
that each should attend to that which most con Germs
him, and on which alone he has rightful power to
decide and TO act; that each should adhere to the
<Jxat all che
operate for that which interest, duty and honor de-
mand. For the general affairs OF our country, both
foreign and domestic, We have a national executive
and national legislature. Representatives and Sc
majors are chosen by districts and by States, but
their acts affect the whole country, and their obliga
tons are TO the whole people. He who holding
either seat, would confne his investigations to the
mere interests of his immediate constituents would
legislate in hostility to any section would be
morally unfit for the station, and surely an
unsafe depository, if not treacherous guardian,
of the inheritance with which We are blessed.
binding force of the allegiance which the citizen
owes to the State Of his citizenship but that State
being party to our compact, member OF our
Uuon featy to the federal constitution Is not In OPP
position to- but flows from the allegiance due to one
of the United States. Washington. was not less q
Virginian when be commanded ut Boston; nor did
Gates or Greene weaken the bonds which bound
them to their several States by their campaigns In
~
State win he strive to honor by preserving her name
and ser farm free from the tarnsh OF having failed
to observe her obligations and to fulfil her duties TO
her sister States. Each page OF our history Is
illustrated by she names and the deeds OF those
who have well understood and discharged the
obi cation. Have we so degenerated that we can
TO longer emulate their virtues! Have the purposes
for which our Union was formed lost their value!
Has patriotism ceased to be virtue, and Is narrow
sectionalism no longer to be counted crime!
Shall the North not rejeice that the pro-
gress OF agriculture in the South has given to her
great staple the controlling influence OF the COM
merce Of the world, and put manufacturing nations
under bond TO keep the peace with the
United States? Shall the South not exlt IN the fact
that the industry and persevering intelligence OF
the North has placed her mechanical skill In the
front rank of the civilized world-that our mother
country. whose naughty Minister some eighty odd
years ago declared that not hob'nai shonld be
made M the colonies, which are now the United
States. was brought some four years ago TO recog-
nize our preeminence by sending a commission 10
examine our workshops and our machinery, 10 per
feet their own manufacture oil the arms requisite
for their defencel Do not our whole people, int
Nor and scaboard, North. South, East aud West,
alike feel proud Of the hardihood, the enterprise,
the SKILL and the courage Of the Yankee sailor who
has borne our flag far the ocean bears it, foam,
and caused the name and the character OF the Uni
ted States 10 be known and respected wherever
there is wealth enough to commerce, aud intel
lireuce enou xh to honor merritt So long ~ we pre-
serve and appreciate the achievements of Jefferson
and Adams, of Franklin and Madison. of Hamilton,
of Hancock and OF Rutedge, men who labored for
the whole country. and lived for mankind, we can
not sink TO the petty strife which would sap the
foundations and destroy the political fabric our IA
Tiers erected and bequeathed as an inheritance to our
postsrity forever Since the formation OIL tne constr
tu,on vast extension of territory, and the varied
relations arising therefrom have presented problems
which could not have been foresecn. IL h just cause
for admiration even wonder, that the provisions OF
the fundamental law should have been found 20 fully
sdequate 20 all the wants of government new In its
organization, and new in many OF the principles on
which Il was founded. Whatever fears may have
existed TO the consequence OF territorial ex
mansion must give way before the evidence which
ihe past affords. The general government, strictly
confined TO its delegated functions and the States
lett in the undisturbed exercise of all else, we have
a theory and practice which fits our government for
hnmeasIrable domain, and might, under a rnillen-
nium of nations, embrace mankind. From the slope
Of the Atlantic our population VITA ceaseless tide,
has poured into the wide and fersle valley OF the
IL odd xUhi has In ha