The national Republican., 1860-11-28
cult round our plobe. to find Government that

cult round our globe, to find Q Government that
better protects the liberties Of its people, and
secures to them the blessings'we enjoyY Ap.
plause. think that one of the evils that beset
us is surfeit Of liberty an exuberance of the
priceless blessings for which we are ungrate-
full" y
"Let us pause here moment. In 1850
there was great crisis, but not so fearful as
this-for Of all have ever passed through, this
Is the most perilous, and requires TO be met
with the greatest calmness and deliberation.
There were many amongst us in 1850 jealous
to go at once out Of the Union, to disrupt every
tie that binds us together. Now, do you believe,
if that policy had been carried out at that time,
we would have been the same great people that
we are today2 1t may be that VIC would, but
have you any assurance of that factY Would
we have made the same advancement, improve
ment, and progress, in all that constitutes ma,
terial wealth and prosperity notice in the
Comptroller Generals report that the taxable
property of Georgia is $670,000,O00 and up
wards, an amount not far from double what il
was in 1850. l think may venture to say that
for the last ten years the material wealth Of the
people of Georgia has been nearly, if not quite,
doubled. The same may be said Of our ad.
vance in education and everything that marks
our civilization. Have we any assurance, that
had we regarded the earnest but misguided
patriotic advice, as think, of some Of that day,
and disrupted the ties which bind us to the
Uoion, we would have advanced as we have ?
think not. Well, then, let US be careful now
before we attempt any rash experiment Of this
sort. l know that there are friends, whose
patriotism / do not intend to question, who
think this Union curse, and that we would be
better off without it. / do not so think; If we
can bring about correction of those evils
which threaten us-and am not without hope
that this may yet be done-this appeal to 60
out, with all the provisions for good that accom-.
pany it, look upon as a great, and, fear, q
fatal temptation.
"When look around and see our prosperity
in neutrality-suspicious. commerce, art,
science, and every department Of education,
physical and mental, as well as in moral ad.
vancement, and our coeges-I think, in the
face of such an exhibition, if we can, without
the loss of power, or any essential right or in.
terest, remain in the Union, it is our duty to
ourselves and to posterity to do so. Let us not
too readily yield to this temptation. Our first
parents, the great progenitors of the human
race, were not without a like temptation when
in the garden of Eden. They were led to be-
lieve that their condition would be bettered {;
that their eyes would be opened and that they
would become as gods. They, in an evil hour,
yielded; instead Of becoming gods, they only
saw their own nakedness
al look upon this country, with our institu.
tions as the Eden of the world, the paradise Of
the universe. 1t may be, that out Of it we may
become greater and more prosperous; but am
candid and sincere in telling you that fear, if
we rashly evince passion, and, without sufficient
cause, shall take that step, that instead of be.
coming greater or more peaceful, prosperous,
and happy, instead of becoming gods, we will
become demons, and at no distant day commence
cutting one another's throats. This is my ap-
prehension. Let US, therefore, whatever we do,
meet these difficulties, great as they are, like
wise and sensible men, and consider them in
the light Of all the consequences which may at
tend our action. Let us see first, clearly, where
the path of duty leads, and then we may not
fear to tread therein"