Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-04
FIon he saaonn IaislIigsnesr

Letter from the President.
In reply to an invitation 10 attend the recent Cen
tennary Celebration at Pittsburg the President ad-
dressed to the managers the annexed letter, which,
both for sound and patriotic sentiments which it In
culcatHs wen for its clear and transformations
style, does credit to the Chief Magistrate.
WAsHIvGToE, Nov. %, 1853
GENTLEMEN 81 have had the honor to receive
your invitation to be present on the 25th instant
the centennial anniversary Of the capture of Fort
Duquesne and regret that the pressure of public
affairs, at period near the meeting Of Congress,
renders it impossible that should enjoy this priv
ilege.
Every patriot must rejoice whilst rejecting upon
the unparalleled progress Of our country within the
last century. What was, at its commencement, an
obscure fort far beyond the Western frontier Of civ
ilizaton, has now become the centre of a populoas,
commercial and manufacturing city, sending its pro-
auctions TO large and prosperous sovereign States
still farther West whose territories we're thena vast,
unexplOred and silent wilderness.
From the stand point at which we have arrived the
anxious patriot cannot fail Whlerevie wing the past
TO cast glance into the future, and to speculate
upon shat may be the condition of our beloved
country when our poserity shall assemble to oele-
brate the second centennial anniversary of the cap
ture Of Fort Duquesne. Shall our agh0le country
then compose one united nation, more populous,
powerful and free than any other which has ever
existed Or will the Confederacy have been rent
dSHHutF auu utFueu INTO groups OF hostile and leal
GUS States Or may it not be possible that ere the
next celebration all the fragments exhausted by III
ternediate conflicts with each other, may have
finally reunited and sought refuge under the shelter
Of one great and overshadowing Despolism?
These questions will, | firmly believe, under the
Providence Of God be virtually decided by the pres
ent generation We have reached crisis when
upon their action depends the preservation Of The
Union according to the letter AID spirit Of the Con-
sttutioB and this glne all is lost. Iregret to
say that the present Omsns far from propitious
In the last age Of the Republic it was considered
almost reasonable to pronounce the word DisuRiOn.
Times have since sadly changed, and now 6isunion
is freely prescribed rs the remedy for evanescent
evils real imaginary, which if left to themselves
would speedily vanish away in the progress OF
events.
Our Revolutionary fathers have passed away, aud
the generation next after them, who were inspired
by their personal counsel and example, have nearly
all disappeared. The present generation, deprived
of these lghts, must, whether they will or not de-
eide the fse OF t5eir posterify. Let them cherish
the Union II their heart Of hearts; let them resist
every measure which may tend to relax or dissolve
its bonds; let the citizens Of different States cultivate
feelings Of kiDuuess and forbesrsnee towards each
Others and let ell resolve to transmit it to their de-
scendants IN the form and spirit they have inherited
1t from their foTefsthers, and all will then be well
for cur country in future times
shall assume the privilege Of advancing years in
referring te another growing and dangerous evil In
the last age, although our fathers, like ourselve,
divided into political parties, which often had
severe conflicts with each other, yet never heard
until within recent period. of the employment Of
money TO carry elections. Should this practice in
crease until the voters and their representatives in
the State and National Legislatures shall become in
feeed, the fountain Of free government will then be
poisoned at its source, and we must end as history
proves in a military despotism. A democratic re-
public, all agree canuOtlong survive unless sustained
by public virtue. When this is corrupted and the
people become vena there is a canker at the root Of
the Tree Of Liberty, which must cause it to Wither
and die.
Praying Almighty God that your remote posterity
may continue, century after century for ages yeto
come, to celebrate the anniversary Of the capture Of
Fort Duquesne in peace and prosperity, under the
protecting banner of the Constitution and the Union
remain very respectfully your friend,
JAMES BUCHANAN