Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-14
what the Union Has Dono for Our
a1--sEga ~ Ffee Country.

is was not until after the adoption OF our
Union Constitution, that the United States were
able TO secure the respect of foreign nations
and enter upon career OF commercial pros
perity, Under the Articles of Confederation,
the General Government was weak and inefi-
cient, as 1t could not act without the consent OF
the States, and. any State or any number Of
States had the admitted right to withdraw their
support from the Government altogether
Hence, the American Confederation was re-
garded abroad with feelings akin to contempt,
and Ito epeedy dissolution was confidently pre-
lcted by European statesmen.
The British Government refused to enter in
20 commercial treaties with the United Slater,
aud when our frs. Minister to the Court Of st,
James, JOHN ADAMS, proposed, In l7S5, to put
navigation and trade between Great Britain and
this country upon liberal and uniform footing
be was told that neither that nor any Other
Proposition of the kind would be entertained.
England would rot even send diplomatic agents
of any kind to reside in the United states.-
Other foreign powers we're more or less iniu
enoed in taeir conduct toward US by the tone
and temper Of Great Britain. e
sgBdt wben by our National Constitution as it
now stands, the people of all the old Confedera'
ted States had ordained and established "a MORE
PERFECT UNION" all this was changed. Great
Bsitain sent her fret Minister Pleripotentiary
to reside in the United States, soon after the
inauguration OF GRoRaE WAsHrSoros as the
first President OF tue Union. Commercial ne
gotiations were Immediately entered upon be-
tween the two governments, upon terms simila
to those that bad been rejected with indigna-
tion and scorn by England only FIVE years
before. Advantageous commercial relations
were also established with other foreign coun-
tries. O.
These amicable commercial relations with
Great Britain and other European powers, to-
ge.her with the navigation laws enacted by
Congress under the Constitution, gave an i'm
mediate and onward impulse to American trade
and industry. For a long period following the
adoption of our Union Constitution, England
and France we're constantly at war. This gav'
n the United States almost the whole carrying
trade Of the world, which laid the foundation o.
our great wealth and unexampled prosperity
This was ell due to the new Union, establish
ing an efficient National Government, while i
secured to the individual States their true SOW
ereignty in all their municipal affairs and To-
cal Institutions and usages. ~.
With the Union and the Constitution unim
paired and unassailed, our country will continue
to grow and prosper with accelerated speed. A
temporary check has been given to her career
but If this were removed, che would soon re
cover from the shock, and move forward as
old. How insane and self destructive, then, J
a rsbellion--an attempt to sever States who's
interests are so linked that a blow at the Unio
is q blow struck at the interests Of every Stat
and Of every individual in il.
What ia now sought7 To break up the Union
and reduce MS as people TO state Of weak
ne,s, insHiciency and degradation worse tha
that we experienced under the old Articles
Confederation. Divide the Union, and We sha
become the despised and rejected of foreign ma
tfons; our commerce will lapguish; our indus
try will be paralyzed, and our beloved countr
WILDE cut up Into petty republics or aristocra
ces, the constant prey Of foreign powers and
each other. Away, then, with the thought Of
possible dissolution of the Union.