Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-11-29
NUMBER 4


7 AZ the constitutional views al Mr. Wsts
ster cannot fail TO Command the attention
Of his country men. 90 long as We have q
/ Constitution 10 defend and Union 10 prs.
serve, we cite from his celebrated speech
delivered 10 the Senate ofthe United States
On the 7ih Of March, 1858, the subjoinsd
weighty reflections and patriotic sdnoni.
tons: rr-. f.t .r-.Ib usH
Mr. President: I should much prefer ID
have heard, from o,sry member on this hoor.
declarations Of opinion that the Uaion could
never be dissolved, than the declaration Of
opinion by anybody, that. in any case, under
the pressure Of any circumstsne es. such Q
dissolution was possible. hear with distress
and anguish the word secessioh,' especially
when i: falls from the lips Of those who are
patriotic, and known TO the country and
knowD oil over the " orld for their political
services. Secession! Psaeesbie secession!
Sir, jur eyes and mine are neser destined
t. see that, miracle. The dismenbermsnt
Of this vast country without conyuisIon!=
The breaking up of the fountains Of the
great deep without rufing the surfsesl---
Who is 50 zoo ish--I beg everybody's par
don-ss TO expect to see any such thingi--
Sir, he who sees these States. now fssol-
wing in harmony round common center;
and Expects to see them quit their placed
and fJ of without CONFUSION, msy look the
next hour to see the heavenly bodies rush
from their spheres and jostls against each
| other in the realms Of space, without causing
the wreck of the universe. There can Be
no such thing a. a peacesble secession
Peaceabe secession is an utter impossible.
ity. l. the great Constitution under which
We lve--coverIng this whole couu,ry--is TO
be rhawed and melted away BY secession,
as the snows on the mountain melt under
the influence OF a verhal sun, disappear
almost unobsersed, and run off! No, siri-
No, sir. will not state what might pre-.
duce the disruption of the Union: but, sir,I
see as as plainly as see the sun in hssvsa
what that disruption itself must produce;
see that it nut produce war, and sueL .
war as will not describe, in its twofold
character. ..t... -.f
Pesceable secession! Peacesbls sscSsI
sion! Ths concurrent agreement Of oil ths
members Of this great republic TO separated
~ 'oiuhtaIl srPafalions WIN dtmouy VI tns
one side and on the other! Why, what would
be the result! Where is the line 70 b.
drawn! What States are TO secedel What
is to remain in Americal What am 10 bel
An American no longer! Am to become q
sectional man. local man, a sepsratist.
with TO coantry in common with the ge ntls-
man rho sir around me here, or who g. the
other House Of Con!ressl Heaven forbid!
Where is the flag of tie republic TO rsmsins
Where is the esgls still to towsri Or is
he to cover and shrink and fall 10 the
ground! Why, sir, our ancestors, our fathers,
and our gIandfathers, those of them that are
yet living amongst US with prolonged lives.
would rsbuke and reproach Us; sad
our children and our grand children
would cry out shame upun US, if we OF this
generation should dishonor these easigns Of
the power Of the Government and the hsr.
mony of that Union which 10 every day felt
among US with SO much joy and gratitude.