Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-11-16
FRTD1Y moRNINe.INoY. 1o, Iss0.
PeaeeahIe seceasIon.

The Southern madcapsst still harp on "peace-
able secession and with others the idea
seems to prevail that a State may poaceably
secede from the Union may withdraw from
it without causing violence or disturbance to
the nation. On this point Daniel Webster
spoke in his last great speech in the Senate,
on the 7th Of March, 1850. Hear him:
UMr. PRESIDENT should much prefer 70
have heard, from every member on this door,
declarations Of opinion that this Union could
never be dissolved, than the declaration Of
opinion by anybody that in any case, under
the pressure OF any circumstance, such a dis
solution was possible. l hear with distress
and anguish the word Secession especially
when il falls from the lips Of those who are
patriotic, and known to the country, and
known all over the world, for their political
services. Secessionl Peaceable secession
Sir. your eyes and mine are never destined
20 see that miracle. The ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
this vast country without CONFUSION The
breaking up Of the fountains Of the Great
Deep without rufhing the surfaced Who is
so foolish, / beg e~verybOdy's pardon, as to
expect 70 see any such thing2 Sir, he who
sees these States now revolving in harmony
around q common centre, and expects to see
them quit their places and fly of, without
convulsions may look the next hour to see
the heavenly bodies rush from their spheres
andiostle against each other in the realms Of
space, without causing the wreck Of the
Universe. There can be no such thing as
peaceable secession. Peaceable secession is
an utter impOssibility. Is the great Oonsttu-
ton under which we live-cOyering this
whole country-is ito be thawed and melted
away by secession, as the snow on the noun
tain melts under the influence of a vernal sun,
disappear almost unobserved, and run Off
No, sirl No, sirl l will not state what
might produce the disruption of the Union
but, sir, l see as plainly as l see the sun in
heaven what that disruption itself must pro-
duee; | see that it must produce war, and
such a war as will not describe, in its two
fold character.
Peaceable secessionI Peaceable secession !
The concurrent agreement OF allthe members
Of this great Republic to separated A vol
untary separation, with alimony on the one
side and on ths Otherl Why, what would be
the result Where is the line to be drawn ?
What States arc to secede2 What is to
remain Americana What am l to be? An
American no lOnger2 And to become a
sectional man, a local man, a separatist with
no country in common with the gentlemen
who sit around me here, or who fill the other
House of Congress2 Heaven Forbid Where
is the flag offbe Republsct to remain2 Where
is the eagle still to tower2 Orish he to cover,
and shrink, and fall to the grounds Why,
sir, our ancestors, our fathers and our grand
fathers, those of them that are yet living
amongst US with prolonged lives would
rebuke and reproach u.s. and our children
and our grandchildren would cry out shame
upon us if we Of this generation should dis
honor these ensigRs Of the power OF the Gov
eminent and the harmony o. that Union which
isevsry day felt among US with so much joy
and gratitude.