The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-03-07

that spirit, Mr.. Speaker, that I voted
on Monday last for the resolutions of.
fered by the gentleman from New York
[Mr. Palmer.
But, as the moments are passing
away, allow me to say to my coustitu.
ents and associates what Twill not do.
No vote of mine shall give any addi-
tional guarantees to slavery. If guar
antees are to be given. / claim them
for freedom. The institution Of slave
~ has had control of this Government
for score of years. 1t has made eve-
ry departments FIRST sectional, then
treasonsblc< has debauched and de-
motalized political parties, and COM
PEELED even northern men to abiure and
deny the faith of their fathers. It de-
MES to-day, to northern men, the pro-
lection of; law. 1t makes comprom-
Use in its favsrs only the occasion for re-
newed aggression and additional de-
mands. 1t uses its power, to ruin a
Government when it can no longer rule
il. To that slave power,I yield no adj
ditional guarantees. would disturb
none that it now has under the sane
tion of the Constitution but add not
TO the number. For the Union of these
States / would yield much and suffer
much. Baptised as it was by the best
blood of q better day, sancti6ed by
past memories, hallowed by past asso-
Citations, and priced for past blessings,
1t has with me priceless value. glory
IN It as Union formed ''to establish
Justice" and ''secure the blessings of
liberty" When is ceases to be an In
strument to accomplish those ends, then
1T has lost with me its virtue and its
charms it is no longer the Union of
my fathers. If its existence depends
upon supporting, extending and perpet-
hating slavery, then yield nothing to
prolong its existence. Freedom can
survive the dissolution of this Union !;
but the Union cannot survive the prin-
oiples Of freedom. Whatever the fu-
nwe may have in store for us, s'the
Government of the United States" will
still exist. If, in the madness of the
hour, stars shoot wildly from the polit-
zeal ornament, then, In the language of
the poet, 81
r..-rt.. 81 1--WE will press
The golden cluster of our brave old flag
In closer union and, If numbering less
Brighter shall shine the stars which still remain.
The power ola nation depends not
in the extent of its possessions. Breadth
of territory may be, and often is, only
an element Of weakness. Irealize that,
even after the secession of cotton
States, there remains a territory
Astounding in every element of strength,
and people homogeneous in char ac-
ter and feeling. With that people the
lot of my constituents is cast. To that
Government, founded on law, liberty,
and right, the citizens of Michigan cling
with answering loyalty; to'its author
ity they always have been faithful; and
they bring to that Government, in the
failure, as they have I'M the past, not a
conditional fealty, contingent on con-
cessions and compromises not con-
ditional loyalty, dependent on consti-
tutioual changes; but they tender it
the support of hearts fervid with disin-
terested patriotism and of hands hard
eBed by honorable toll. They cling to
the altar of a common Union with pat
riotic devotion and answering faith.
The temple Of the Constitution, built
by master workmen, is their glorious
inheritance; and they count that man
an enemy who, from within or without
attempts to weaken its foundations or
disturb its pillars. -