The Placer herald., 1860-02-04
ELOQUENT Rebuke to Disunion.

In tie course of an address on American
patriotism, delivered by Rev. DR.. Hawks,
Rector of Calvary, in New York, on Thanks
giving Day, he used this language:
Are there none who openly condemn the
Constitution of their country-none who,
by the exercise of corruption that scarcely
has shame enough to keep itself out of 81 ght,
prevent it from its plain declarations
and legitimate interpretations? Are there
none who have been willing and ready to
convert executive powers into judicial, and
legislative into executive? And how speak
some men now of that Union of which our
fathers Caught by revolutionary experience)
thought so much? They had purchased it
for their children with their blood; and that
blood had flown from northern and southern
hearts alike; it made one common pool upon
the battle field; they knew that upon union
alone depended strong, proud, national
existence. Do all their sons adhere to this
opinion of their fathers? or do they trampe
on their memories and despse their wisdom?
Let facts answer What means the angry
and insulting language of portions of the
press both north and south toward each 9th
er? Why do tlippant sneers and taunting
insinuaions, and insidious affectatons of
candor, and false assertions, and vulgar vitu
peration form so much of the editorial staple
of certain prints? Is it thought to show
skill of fence in intellectual giadiatorship?
Whether it be quite as clever writing as its
authors suppose, may perhaps admit of
doubt; but grant that it is, the sober Ameri-
can. who has no personal vanity of author
ship involved, may well ask whether it is
either patriotic or wise thus to furnish fuel
to the flame Of mutua! evaporation already
burning, alas. too brightly; or to sacrifice
the interests and happiness Of our country
to the qualification of some authors wish
to attain celebrity as the writer of insulting
sneers and trenchant irony.
Our country is surely worth more to us
than the qualification of the personal vanity
of anv man, and while it is cheertully con-
ceded that the press should be free, and may
often furnish information and instruction TO
the public mind, yet it would be hard to
show any lawful power it possesses to as
sumo over it dictation or control. The
mode Of saying may be often more offensive
than that which is said; and there Is mode
which does not cODUuCc " utlCHs tCCouSC
its tendency is to destroy fraternal feeling.
If anv American citizen wishes to be with
out a country that can demand the respect
Of the civilized world, let him contrb butte
his aid to dissolve the union of the United
States. In the fulfilment of his unpatrotic
purpose he will find bis punishment, for ne
will have ruined himself, He will be crush
ed and bruised under the edfce he has as
sisted to undermine. Our country is ex-
empted (at least for the presenO from IN
testine convusions-ho long it may be be-
fore opposing hosts may be marshaled on
the field of carnage, depends under God, on
the calmness, the courage, the prudence and
the patriotism of the wise, the thoughtful
and the good men of all parts of the Union
who love their country better than they DO
any party, and who have the sense to apPre-
eiate its value to the world and to themselves