New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-05-24

At the Mass Meeting in Ncw-York City, on
Saturday, April 20, 1861.
Mr.. Dickinson said;-I am invited
Mr.. President, and my fellow citizens,
to attend and address this meeting in
the language of its call, without re
gard to previous political opinions OF
associations, to meet to express their
sentiments in the present crisis in our
national affairs. and their determination
t. uphold the Government of their coun.
try, and maintain the authority of the
Constitution and it's laws I embrace
the opportunity with alacrity, and have
travelled 200 miles and upward this
morning that I might do so; for I look
with extreme apprehension and alarm
upon the danger which threatens us as
whole, recently united, people. l
would know no sections in this great
material heritage of freedom, which
stretches from ocean to ocean, from the
frozen north to where it is famed by
the gentle breezes of the tropics; no
division or strife ameng or between
children of common father and broth
ers of the same household; put the de-
mon Of discord has inaugurated his
fearful court in our midst, and the crisis
is to be met like even other vicissitudes.
A somewhat extended service in the na-
tional councils, at a period of unusal
interest, gave me an opportunity for
much and mature reflection, upon the
relations between the North and South;
upon the duties each section owed to
itself and the other, and to the cause
of free Government, under hallowed
compact-under the constitutional guar
antics secured, and under that fraternal
regard which, by every consideration
that could influence civilized and chris.
tian men, each section and its people
should at all times cultivate toward the
other. I have looked upon all as Of the
same Catholic faith; and though scat
tered over an area so vast, divided in
to sections, snbdivided into numerous
States. and the two sections committed
to different systems of industry, as uni
ted in one great interest, as essential
to each other to promote the common
enjoyment, and as bound together to
the same immortal destiny. None of
these views of what should, aud ought
to. and might have been, have been
changed, but recent unfortunate events
have served to confirm them beyond
the shadow of doubt, and to increase
regrets that efforts costing 80 little,
and of such incalculable value, could
not have been put forth before it was
too late! But now, in common with
every lover of his country ! am called
to lament that we should be aroused
from these dreams Of a peoples securi-
ty, happiness, and glory, by a conflict
Of blood. Until recently, I had hoped
that time, and returning sense of pa
triotism, recurrence to the scenes and
trials of the Revolution, a thought Of
the great names, and greater memories
of those who wrought out the liberties
we should enjoy, and above all, sense
Of duty we owe to ourselves, to each
other. to our country and its Constitu-
ton, to our descendants, to the cause
of liberty throughout the earth, would
bear this great question far above and
beyond the field of vitiated and demor-
allied politics, and save the Union, not
in mereform, but the Union Of our faith
ers, in the spirit of the Constitution, the
Union purchased by the blood poured
out at Lexington, AMI Bunker Hill, and
Saratoga, and Yorktown; the Union of
the great spirit of'76, the Union Of the
Stars and Stripes, which, though torn
and dis6gured, is dearer than ever; the
Union over which every patriot in eve
ry section can exclaim, in the language
of the British poet, "With all thy faults
love thee still!" the Union which can
never be destroyed in the affections Of
the American people. Yes,
You may break, you may shatter the vast