The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-23

battle! how many OF our cOuntrymen, as
they have seen it floating from the mast
head in foreign port, or giving its ample
sweep to the breeze over a consular office,
have proudly and exultingly claimed 81
am an American citizen. and there is the
ensign which commands for me respect and
security, wherever throughout the wide
world l may roam, or wherever | may
choose temporarily to dwell" How one
would shut his eyes, and cover his face in
shame and sorrow, if he believed he were
destined to see the day when that flag will
float no more. And yet, if agitators and
conspirators can have their way, it must 90
down in darkness and blood. In Republic
like ours, law alone upholds it, and when
that loses its power, all human power to save
is lost. If such overwhelming disaster to
humanity is to overtake US, l, for one, will
not try to peer through the darkness and
blackness, OR to foreknow the end.
Let US act calmly and deliberately, with
out passion and without acrimony Let US
| take no hasty or narrow view of the causes
which have produced the dangers we would
meet, and if possible avert 1t is not the
recent invasion OF Virginia which should
awake our strongest apprehension, but the
teachings, still vehementy persisted in, from
which it sprung, with the inevitable neces-
ity which evolves the effect from the cause
So, again, it is to be remembered that
those who boldly approve and applaud the
acts of treason and murder perpetrated
within the limits of Virginia, are not the
most dangerous enemies of the Constitution
and the Union. Subtle, crafty men, who,
passing by duties and obligations, habitually
appeal to sectional prejudices and passions,
by denouncing the institutions and people of
the South, and thus inhame the Northern
mind to pitch of resistance to the clear
provisions of the fundamental law,-who,
under the plausible pretexts, addressed to
those prejudlces and passions, 'pass local laws
designed to evade Constitutional obligations,
are really and truly whether they believe it
or not, the men who are hurrying US upon
swift destruction.
Your reprobation of the ethical and
political teachings which inspire this line of
conduct, will, l am sure, be pronounced in
tones so earnest that no man can mistake
their import. You will show, on their part,
readiness to give to fellow citizens of other
States such just legislation by Congress, as
will provide for the punishment, not only of
|
of armed expeditions, and thus do what you
may effectually to secure, by constitutional
enactments, each State against violence
from any other.
| shall hope that your meeting will awaken
a spirit, which will lead Massachusetts, and
Virginia to grasp again reciprocally the
hand of affection, sympathy and support
of love and honor-as they did in l776,
when, as the elder and more powerful of the
colonies, they made up the issue of blood
against the power of an unjust Parliament.
Why should it not be so? Is there any
cause of alienation, on our part, which did
not exist at the formation of the Govern.
ment? When have the people of the South
invaded our territory, slain our people, or
conveyed away our property Why should
not the authority of New Hampshire honor
and cherish the authority of Mississippi?
Are they not each sovereign, but yet are
they bound up together in the endearing
bond of common country? To establish
upon a firm footing these relations between
all the States what is required but cordial,
loyal, manly recognition and enforcement
10 spirit and in act, of all the requirements
OF the compact entered into by the fathers
who have passed to their reward Can it
be that there is among any large portion of
our people, North or South, settled purpose
to accept the benefits, but deny the burthens
OF the Constitution Have all sentiments
of patriotism and honor persisted together ?
If that time has come, or you discern its
approach, then, indeed, should you, who
desire to live under this Constitution, ex-
pounded by the august tribunal into whose
no fat itc
the voice of warning, and save, if it is
possible, the voice of woe. But it has not
come, a.d it is still in your power to say it
shall not. There is no inevitable rresisti-
bic impulse hurrying it forward.
l deny in the name of all that is most
sacred and precious in our inheritance, that
there is an element of " irrepressible con-
fict" between the Southern and Northern
members of this confederation. The doc
trine is as unsound and untrue as it is
fearful. 1t is contradicted by the unbroken
experience of the first fifty years of our
history. 1t would have been the price Of
the loss of reputation for life, to have ut
tered it while the men who fought
the battles of the revolution and framed
the constitution were still alive. No!
1t has not come, and with the blessing of
God upon the exertions of good and
patriotic men, it will never be nearer.
l have faith in the power of your efforts,
my fellow ctizeng-faith that your example
in this relation will be followed, and your
action initiated, not only in other parts
of Massachusetts,, but by citizens of other
States, who appreciate the blessings which
the constitution has conferred upon them,
and who, come what may, intend on their
native soil, and with their children around
them, to claim its protection and uphold its
authority. have faith, above all, that the
continued favor of the God of our fathers,
who watched over our feeble political be-
ginnings, who preserved us through the in
Vulnerable perils of the struggle for nation
ality, will yet make the wrath of man
subservient to the peace and durability of
this Union.
With thanks for your remembrance of
me on this occasion, and regrets that it is
impossible for me to meet you in Faneuil
Hall, am, gentlemen. very truly. your
friend, FRANK LIN PIERCE.