Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-23
ssPeaceabIe Secesston.,,

w th many the idea seems to prevail, that q
State may pe0cea6ly 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, 1885,
Hear him:
''MR. PREsIDENT-I should much prefer to
have heard, from every member, on this floor,
declarations of opinion that this Union never
could be dissolved, than the declaration of
opinion by anybody, thar, in any case, under
the pressure of any circumstances, such disso-
luton was possible. hear with distress and
anguish the word Secession" especially when
1t falls from the lips OF those who patriotic,
and known to the country, and known all over
the world, for their political services. Secession!
Peaceable Secession! Sir, your eyes and NINE
| are never destined to see that miracle. The
| ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of this vast country without
cOnvusion The breaking up of the fountains
of the Great Deep without ruff1ing the surface !!
Who is SO foolish, 1 beg everybody's pardon, as
| to expect to see any such thing? Sir, he who
sees these States, now revolving in harmony
around common centre, and expects to see
vulsion, may look the next hour to see the
heavenly bodies rush from their spheres and
jOste against each other in the realms of space,
without causing the wreck of the Universe !
| There can be no such thing as Peaceable Seces-
sion. Peaceable secession is an utter impos-
sibiiity. Is the great Constitution under which
we live, covering this whole country, is it to be
thawed and melted away by secession, as the
SHOWS ON the mountain melt under the influence
of a vernal sun, disappear almost unobserved,
and run OFF, No, sir! No, sir!! will not
state what might produce the disruption of the
Union; but, sir, see as plainly as | see the sun
in heaven what that disruption itself must
produce; l see that it must produce war, and
such war as | will not describe IN its too fold
character.
"Peaceable Secession! Peaceable Secession !!
The concurrent agreement OF all the members of
this great Republic to separate A voluntary
separ ration, with alimOny on the one side and on
the other! Why, what would be the result p
Where is the line to be drawn2 What States
are to secede2 What is to remain American?
What am to be2 An American no longer?-
Am to become sectional man, local man,
separatist, with no country in common with
the gentlemen who sit around me here, or who
fill the other House of Congress- Heaven
forbid Where is the flag of the Republic to
renan2 Where is the eagle still to tower9 or
is he to cover, and shrink, and fall to the
ground? 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 us; and our children
and our grandchildren would cry out shame
upon U.S. if we, ofthis generation, should dshonor
these ensigns of the power of the government
and the harmony of that Uuion which is every
day felt among US with SO much joy and graft
tude"
Fixed and eternal fact it is, that mems eyes
are 'never destined to see the miracle of
peace06le secession.