Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-12

v,
every month, and, perhaps, every week, all
women and children and exciting the alarm of
the people at Harpcr's Ferry and vicinity, the
peaceful valleys and blooming hills Of $50
miles, close upon hostile border in the section
Of the State where live, will be subjected to
is such hostility in the North as gentlemen as.
Sert there is. believe there is not only
mean to answer their argument
But the argument that struck nv mind with
the greatest force was, that there is in point of
fact, an irrepre>Sib!e conflict between the
North and the South; that the social system
the system Of civilization, Of education and the
interests Of the people Of the two sections are
SO diverse, that II will be impossible to con-
Struct government that will harmonizc them
and enable them to live together in peace.
But, sir is this argument sound? think
1t will not bear the test Of close examination.
Against this mere speculative opinion, oppose
stubborn facts Against this mere prediction.
| present actual history. appeal to the re.
cord Of the past operation and effect Of the Fed.
eral Union. Ii is no longer problem to be
solved.
And just here. allow Inc to advert to the argu.
ment Of the gentleman whom saw in his seat 2
while since. but who. believe, has now left tho
hall-lhe distinguished gentleman from the
county Of Middlcsex, Mr.. MoNrAGuE) lie refer
red to q portion Of the farewell address Of the
father of his country the other day. \ most
remarkable document to refer to for authority
for secession. He referred to that portion Of
it, in which the father of his country, in the
morning Of our government, besought his coun
trymen to give it fair trial, to make the eX-
pertinent fully, and not abandon it until it hus
had fair trial. 1t mas had fair trial; it has
been in existence seventy.ive years. Look at
the result Of the experiment. shall not attewpt
10 describe it. Some traveller records that, in the
gre temple Of ST. Paul$ there is tablet upon
which the name of Sir Christopher Wren, the
great architect is engraved beneath it is this
Inscription DO you seek his monument
circumspice-look around!' In reference u
the great experiment of the Union. to which
tue gentleman from Alilile<scx, OR. Mon
rAerE,) appealed, | can only say, with revc.
renee, ave, and patriotic emotion: Look
around :.
Whose heart does no. throb, as an American
citizen, III view of this experiment: Look
around you. from the Pacific to the Atlantic,
from the Gulf To the Lakes, iroul Texas to
Maine. Thrce-quarters Of century ago We
we're only four or five millions Of people in
number, and but few scattered and inpover.
ished States Now we are thirty-fuur States
for will not admit that our sisters are final.
~ gone-with cities rivaling in wealth, popula.
ton, power and magnitude the oldest cities Of
the oldest Empire Of the world with 4 people
unsurpassed for intelligence, for all the appli.
ances and meaus Of sell subsistence for happi.
ness and prosperity. and the Ike of whom the
sun Of God has never before shons nl'nn. II
is such an experiment rs this 10 which the
gentleman from Middlsscx refers; and we are
vet only upon the threshold Of our glorious
destiny, ii we will b. but faithful to our duties
rs true American citizens. What 4 scene opens
before the inas natlon Of the true American
patriot, as his eye gazcS down the vista OF lu-
turi;S: | ike u look upon the flag Of my
country: like to contemplate its starry folds,
and when think that originally there were
but thirteen stars upon II, and that now there
are thirty -four, | AIN reminded ui IN incident
in the history OF one Of the infdes Of France:
Walking oil; one bright, unclouded night, ne
met with one OF the Christian philosophers Of
that empire, who was on his way to his OBJ
servatorv, and engaging him in conversation,
he propounied this question to him: ''W here
is your Cod The Christian philosopher
pointed him 10 the Sta,S, sparkling ali over the
Heavens blue arch; but still this exhibition
affected him not lie then introduced him
into his chamber, and turning his telescope
heavcnward, and bidding him look, as field
after held Of glorious starry worlds passed be-
fore his vision, the intidel. awed and overcome
by the Sublime sight, could not but bow IN
meek reverence before the majesty OF Cod anu
his works. and exclaim There is God.'
Allow me 10 say, Mr.. President, that the
starry field upon our countryS flag Shall still
increase, uuti! the telescope Of the future Shall
reveal Il galaxy Of stars, representing States
only bounded by the oceans which surround
this hemisphere, am! centuries hence tie bold
est political intidel, bowling before the majesty
of the Union. shall acknowledge its power.
Let us look, Mr.. President, at the evils that
must result from secession.
The first, in my opinion. would be that our
country would not only be divided into North
ern Confederacy ard into Southern Contentra,
cy, but, soon or later It would De uiViosu
into sundry petty Confederacies We wouio
have Central Confederacv, Conledera
cv OF the States Of the Mississippi Val
lev. Pacific Coniederacy, Western Con-
iederacy, an Eastern CpnicdeTacy, Northern
and Southern Con!edcracy. And what the
result Of all this would be, leave to the dc.
cision of history, recorded on many tnournini
pa-a Of human story. Ii may be read IN the de-
ISOLATION OF Greece. It is clronicled IN the dlS'
inteera ion and downfall of the Rouan Eur
pire. 1t is written in characters OF blood,
hardly vet dry. drawn from the veins OF the
co,Dpatriots of Garibaldi, struggling to regain
the blessings and power Of the ancient i'ahan
unity.
We would have between these several Con
fcde7acies perpetual warfare, crinihat'o,'s a''u
r.critnnations inroads, strife and diScord, Gnll!
the energies and the wealth OF this great pcope
would be utterly destroyed aud exhausted. We
have now in the Central American states anu
the Mexican States, g tit representation OF what
yc would become under the condition. Oh thiliSs
which have depicted! And what Is tile con,
di,ion Of these States? They are suo'dlF!ueG
into so many Republics Is that | venture /"
saw there is not Il member oil the h"or OF ms
Convention who can tell their names. ooch
would be the ultimate result OF the secession
policy, which We are now called upon 70 ADOPT
and the evil that would result IRON tuls us
union And beg the attention OF my i'iehu;
Mr.. MOTION (the reporter presauieS) h1pc
NAV be permitted 10 cal! him 500 %hat ''''
going to say upon another subject say, Sly
that dissolution Of the Union will be the COM
mencement Of the abolition Of slavery, hrst IN
Virginia then in the barber States, and ultimate
" throughout the Union. VIII it not s'r, MAKE d
hostile border Tor Virginia, and enable slaves 10
escape more rapidly because mors secure!
win it not, virtually, bring Canada 10 ''1i
,1oc-sy The slave will soon be apr''zeo %
this. His motive to escape VII! be increased
He will know that when he reaches tine i'"e Nc
will, be safe; and escape he will. The owners
Of slaves, aware Of this fact, will either inen mem,
selves remove farther South, or they VIII EEL
their slaves to be sent farther SCUM. nus
the area of soil Invested Of slave labor aio''E
the border, would be constantly widening anu
rsrdly widening. until ere long it would neg.,