The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-29
206

is no part of the country that needs the stabilii
ty of the Union in an equal degree with the
South. They destroy the Unionl 1t can only
be in the hope that, ike the Philistines who
were crushed with Samson when he removed
TIE foundations Of the temple OF Dagon, the
= North must be involved in the general rain
which the dissolution of the Union must pro
duce: for they know full well that such an
event must bring swift destruction upon the
/" Institution" and that without remedy.
On the dissolution of the Union-could it be
efected-what would become of the fugitive
slave law and those " compromises of the Con
stitution" which they claim as guarantees Of
the existence and perpetuity of Slavery? What
would be the condition of Slavery in those
States along the dividing line-Delaware, Mary
land, Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri? How
long. think you, would they continue slave
States? Is there anywhere statesman with
mental vision so clouded that he cannot
see that seifinterest, on the slightest prospect
of probable dissolution, would force the slave
holders in those States TO hurry off to the States
south of them every slave they possessed :?
Then, free laborers must supply the places OF
the slaves and in a single generation all sym
patty among them for Slavery would be oblit-
Grated.
Rejecting dissolutionists, however, are not
little puzzled to devise the ways and means of
effacting their object. a little reflection pre-
sents insuperable difficulties. Some have sug
gested the retiring of the Southern members of
Congress in a body but this is given up, as a
majority would remain, and the wheels OF the
great machine would still move on as well with
out the absent members as with them, and
perhaps a little better. Others advise procla-
nations and declarations OF independence by
I l. Pit how
know very well, or ought TO know, that no
State declarations or proclsmations can stop
the operations of the General Government.
The Union of these States is not to be dis
solved by acords. 1t can only be done by
successful armed resistance of the execution Of
tie laws Of the United States.
If tie execution of the laws Of the United
States shall ever be resisted by an armed force,
then viii soon succeed the collision which will
settle the difficulty forever. The last vain hope
II the dissolutionists is, that the people of the
North and West cannot be induced to march
IN hostile array against their brethren in a state
Of rebellion. The whiskyboys" of Peunsyl-
vania thought so. too, when they arrayed them
selves against the execution of the laws of the
United States. They treated the Presidents
proclamaiiOns with disdaiu, and defied the
power Of the Federal Government. But scarce
" had the call for volunteers gone forth, when
fifty thousand resolute men responded, in tones
that reached beyond the mountains, and
brought the arms Of the rebels ~ the ground
without a blow. And, in these our DAYS, let
but proclamation go forth from the Presi-
dents mansion that the Union is in danger
aud calling for It's friends 10 rise in its defence
and. like Minerva from the brain Of Jupiter, q
million Of hearts OF steel will stand before him
IN arms, and will preserve its integrity, or per
ish Ia the effort. All that is requisite for the
maintenance OF the integrity of the Union is a
President Of nerve sufficient to do his duty. Let
The people, next year, look to that.
MARYLAND.