The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-28
"unlon savers"


This is the term that the AbolitiUnists de
risively apply to Democrats, and others, who
spprehensive Of the worst consequences
from the fierce sectional feeling which has
recently found bloody and reasonable ex,
preston in the Harper's Ferry insurrection
are using their best and most patriotic en-
deavors towsrd conciliating the embittered
and alarmed feelings of our Southern breth.
rem, and restoring peacs and harmony be-
tween the several States, upon the broad ba-
sis Of the Constitution. The very fact that
men can bring themselves to use such
term, in taunting and sneering spirit, proves
how lightly they have come 10 regard the
bond OF Union which makes and keeps us
one nation. AS II any degree of solicitude
for the safety OF the Union, and anxiety to
crush even the appearance Of danger that
threatens 1t, could be made the subject oi
| ridicule and jeers But these sneering
scoffers were we'll answered, three years
ago, BY Rufus Choate, in his great speech nt
| Lowell. His words were never more in
season than now. "THEV TAUEr you WITH
| BEING UNION SAVERS" said he and then
he spoke these words of eloquent and with
ering rebuhe
81 never thought that n sarcasm OF the
! first magnitude, but as men bot do their best,
! let it go Tor whist they thirk it worth.
| take Tor granted, felow-citlzsus, that you,
that all oil us, despise cant aud hypocrisy in
all things the ieignng fear not felt, the
! cry of peril not believed to exist, all mean.
ness end all wickedness of fa.sehood in our
dealings with the mind Of the people. But
take it for granted too, TINT we Gre above
the cowardce and immortality of suppressing
our sense of danger, threatening precious in
tcrests and possible to be arrested, from the
dread Of j3kers or of jokes and that we are
above the Jolly of yielding that vast advan
tage which deep convictions give to earnest
men in the discussions of tho republic
Think arhGt a thing ii acre to 'oin the prouC
and sounding name in reality, ,ohich they be
sto'c IN deriSioa! Suppose, only suppose il
so Tor the 0tgumPnt, that there l. dnnger-
oPer-eslimated, perhaps, by the solicitude o.
EIial Iovc,-but real or prob Bile and less OF
more remote suppose, merely for the sup
position, that Washington had reason tt
leave that warning against this kind OF geo
graphical combinations, under all pretertS
and that this one comes within the spiri, anC
the terms Of the warning,-suppose It to be
SO, that we are right, that vehement passions
eager philanthropy, moral emotions not pa
tient nor comprehensive Of the il dispensabIt
limitations OF poIi'lcal duty, thnt anger, pride
! ambition, the lust of sectional power, th'
, jealousy of sectional aggression, the puFsui
even OF ends Just and desirable by means dis
proportioned and needless and tXo .peratln!
the ercsSS and outbreak Of rirt2es By which
, more surely than by Vicss, country may T.
, und0ne that these, Gll working in an unus
, ual CoDjuncture OF affairs and state Of public
trmper-have exposed and are exposing this
Union to danger less or more remote-ant
then suppose that By some word seasonublJ
uttered, some vote openly ond courageousIl
. given, some sincere conviction plainly ex
pressed, VIC could do something to earn tn
reality Of the prase which they give US il
jest something fer the peace, of this holj
, and beautiful house of uu- ahers, something
. were it ever go litt!e-woud not this b.
, compensation for the laughter Of fools aye
, for uIienated friendships, averted oces, ant
u the Scs pent-tooth of slsHder-a thing worti
living tor, and even worth dying Tor !'