The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-12-31
KILN PIERcE.-We invite

" J. ma ShIIa j ih.ttNFs.- VIC ttiNttt ~
to the letter Of : x.Piesident Fierce b.f
expressing sound and conservative vtss ~
the present important political crisis in 'onr
history
coyeonp, N. H., Dec. 10
Gentlemen am hQnored by the -
ton of your letter Of thGtlird instant, inform
ing me that sit is proposed that citizens Of
Massachusetts. who honor aud cherish Tie
E5Union. who mean 10 maintain the Constitution
Of the United States, aud faithfully to carry
ont all lis requirements aud obligations, as
Esemble id Fasleuil Hall, on Thursday, the
eighth day Of December instant = and inviting
me to be present GU TINT occasion.
twenty-five years ago, Que would have
asked involuntarily, upon reading a letter like
that before. ME, what are the dangers which
threaten tie Union where are the men who
do not honor and cherish that Union, who do
not "niean to maintain the Constitution Of
the United States, and faithfully to carry ont
all its requirements aud obligations r. Conld
we not then, each for'himself, have promptly
apswered.-the dangers, if they exist, are too
remote, aud the men too inconsiderable in
numbers, and toe wild and extravagant III ilR
principles md. purposes which they asow, To
make the cause of even serious consideration
much less Of apprehension and disaaietude.
How Isl it to-day? How is it to be to-fapr-
row, wtea patriotic hearts will beat in naisafi
in the old Cradle Of Liberty. and patriotic
lips will repeat The sentiments and doctrines
which were eDullciated there more than eighty
years ago, while the men Of Virginia were
preparing their crtIde but trasty Weapons. not
especially To protect their own borders, which
have now been rHtlllessly invaded ii violation
of all law, human and divine, but to come to
Massachusetts and mingle their blood with
that Of oar fathers in defence Of the common
cause. &
Uudispnted requirements Of The Celstitn-
ton, affecting tile rights. the security of life
and property Of the SONS Of Virginia 5 revolu-
tiorarV mel, are set at notght. Lessons in
cufcatiog disobedience to such requirements
have been scattered broadcast i'll our coIn1au-
nifty, and have borne their fruits, not merely
III The exhibition OF an iislrreetNsary spirit
but IN an actual invasion Of d sister State by
an armed organization, the objects Of which
are not disguised. This is not all, The in
Yasian. and the overt acts If treason and rlar-
der, are openly justified aud aptia,tded ~at5large
meetings of BleB and some IN your midst.
This is.a sad truth, bat not disheartening.
1t may be we'll TINT circumstances have oc-
Cured to arouse us from oar letiargy, and to
compel us to open onr eyes, as ii from the de
lnsion Of u dream. to the nearfless and inagni-
tade OF impending c~alamities. fits c~tgIlsafa
lively safe TO look dangers III the face, and
meet them on the advance, but fatal to be
appalled, BY them.
] repeat that the aspect Of affairs, dark as it
confessedly is, still is not dishearteu;ng, be-
cause / believe there are in New England. and
throughout the Middle aud Northwestern
States, mnltitudes Of conscientious and pa-
triotic citizens, moved, IT may be at this mo-
5tlent, Tx sentiments differing widely from
those WHICH will animate you to morrow, but
who, nevertheless, wonld not wiIlfully and de
liberately shake q single column which sus-
talns the fabric Of our existing Institutions
who have been rnisled upon the
question OF dnty and personal obligations, and
who now, When they have practical ~iIlrstra-
tion, drawn IN blood, Of the teachings 10 which
they have listened, and to which they may
have given their assent. will pause, long
enough %atleast, to take counsel Of intelligent
reasnll.
You. upon the soil Of Massachusetts, where
the first blood Of The revolution was shed, aud
where Washington took command Of the army
i'm one Of the darkest periods in our country
history, eau not gaze l~istlessly upon the gather
me clouds, and will not bow tanlely before the
coming storm. We may all have regarded
stals5tse much indifference the swelling tide ct
reckless fataticisnl, but NE are not 100 late To
breast il new. Ii honest men. who really
think The Union worth preserving, will stand
forth 70 the majesty and strength Of patriotism
and law, and with united purpose and becom-l
ing energy, t~ley#caH and will roll that tide
back, 10 the dismay and discontinue of all
conspiraters against the#public peace, and the
integrity 81 The sacred bond which holds lis d
united people.
II am glad to perceive that your meeting is
20 be composed of citizens. Of various PARTIES.
The high resolve and The solemn duty to which
I have inst adveried rise above tue range Of
thoughts and motives which ordinarily connect
themselves with political organization and
party success. II we are true to ourselves !; If
VIC revere The memory, or appreciate The SER
vices q cur Fathers, We shall forget, III the
eAigel,c1y Of this crisis, that there Ii, or ever
has been, such thing as party III the Ordinary
aeceItatitn Of tle Term AT all events, No
viii forget i, until, through our steady, united
elfirts, Nc sec the authority Of The Constitu.
tiesa viialcatca, aud the Uni ii reposiirg again
securely upon its old foundations,
fou are right IN assuming that this issno
time fisr liesitancy no time for doubling halt
ing, halfway professions, or, indeed, for mere
professions Of any kind. IT ii a time for resos
lutte purpose. to be followed By decisive, con-
sistent action.
Shall the fundamental Law Of the land be
not with eyasive reluctance, but inI
good fidelity? Have We the power 10 enforce
obedience to It, and will we exercise that
powerY II 50, then may We continue to eDioy
the multiplied and multiplying blessings Of tbe
peerless inheritance which has been transmitted
TO US, II otherwise, falsaticism has NOT mis-
taken the significance IF its emblem,-fAe
NATIONAL flag m,ts tie Uatoa dou41.'s That
bag has waved through three foreign wars,
With TIE Ua'oa up; cheering the hearts Of
brave men, on sea and laBi, wherever its folds
have unrosied in The smoke of battle! How
many OF our countrymetl, as they have seen il
from The masthead in a foreign port.
q giving rs nfnple sweap to the breeze over a
consular Office, have proudly and exnltingly
eSc9aitlled : am an American citizen, and
tSsafe Is The ensign which commands FOR me-
respect aud security, wherever throughout tho
wide world | may roam, or wherever / NAV
cheese Temporarily to dweilin How ore won,d
shut his eyes, and cover his face il, shane. and
Borrow, if he believed be were destined a. zee
Tie day when that flag viii float 10 more. Md