Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-02
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 2. 1859.

Kl,oLurloNIsrS AND TRAIroK> REBr kED.
The Rev. DR. Hawks, oi Cavalry Church,
n. Y. preached on Thanksgiving morning an
excellent and eloquent address on American
Patriotism. We commend the following rx-
tract Ia the Abolition writers:
Are there none who openly condemn the
Constitution of their country -none who. ny
I'll. exercise of corruption that scarcely
has shame enough 10 keep itself oui Of SIGHT,
peryerl It from its piain Declarations anu
legitimate interpretations? Are there none
who have been willing and ready to convert
executive powers into Judicial, and legislative
into executive? And how speak some men
now Of that Union, of which "ur fathers
taught by revolutionary experienced Thought
- much. They had purchased II Tor their
children with their blood; and that blood
had flowed from Northern aud Southern
hearts alike it made one common pool upon
the battlefield; they knew that upon union
alone depended u strong, proud. national ex'
istence. DO all their SONS adhere TO thus
opinion Of their fathers; or do they trample on
their memories. and despise their wisdom!-
Let facts answer What means the angry
and insulting language Of portions OF the
press both North and Sauth toward each
other! Why do tippaut sneers. and taunt-
ing insnuations, and inSidious atfectatluns
Of candor, and false assertions. and vulgar
yituperation, form 50 much OF the editorial
staple Of certain prints! Is it thought To
show skill Of fence in intellectual gladiator
ship Whether it be quite rs clever writ
ing as its authors suppose may perhaps admit
Of doubt; but grant that II ~. the sober
American who has no personal vanity OF
authorship involved, may well ask whether
il is either patriotic or WISE thus to furnish
fuel 10 the flame Of mutual evaporation al
ready burning, alas. too brightly; or to sa-
critce the interests and happiness OF our
country 10 the qualification Of some author )
wish to attain celebrity rs the writer OF IN
sultiny sneers and trenchant irony. Our
country is surely worth more to rs than the
qualification Of the personal vanity OF any
man, and while IT is cheeriully conceded
that the press should be free, and may often
furnish information and instruction to the
public mind, vet it would be hard to show
any lawful power it possesses 10 assume over
it dctation or control. The mode OF saying
may be often more offensive than that which
is said: and there is mode which does not
conduce to Union, because its tendency is t.
DESTROY fraternal feeling. If any American
citizen wishes to be without country that
can command the respect Of the civilized
world, let him contribute his aid to dissolve the
Union Of these United States. In the fulfill.
ment Of the unpatriotic purpose he will find
his punishment, for he will have ruined hmm
self He will be crushed and bruised under
the edifice he has assisted to undermine.
Our country is exempted lat least for the
present. from the intestine commissions OF
revolution,-how long it may be before op
posing hosts may be marshaled on the field
Of carnage, depends, under God, on the calm
ness, the courage, the prudence ana Tue
patriotism Of the wise, the thoughtful and the
good men OF all parties of the Union who
love their country better than they do any
party. and who have the sense to appreciate
its value 70 the world and TO themselves"