The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-01-24

1CDSIcse, iu tEc pfS-tll Casc, Oukut W. ~ ~
impassve. 1t ought, if it can, 10 redress any
real grievances Of the offended States aud then
it ought to supply thr President with all the
means necessary to maintain the Union IN the
fall exhibition and discreet exercise OF its author
/ ity. Beyond this, with the proper activity on
the part Of the Executive, the responsibility OF
saving the Union belor gs to the people, and they
are abundani!y abe 10 di charge II.
1 propose, therefore, with great Difference to
address myself IL the country up the momen-
tous subject, asking q heariny, not less from the
people W thin what called the seeding, than
than from those who reside within the adhering
States
Union is an old fixed, settled habi; of the
American people, resulting from conviciions oil
its essity, and t: erefore not hastily 10 be dis
carjed. The esry STATES While existing as COL
onies were combinel, though impertectiF, thro
common allegiance 10 The British crown
When that allegiance ceased. 10 one was 50 pre-
sumptuous as 10 suppose political existence H.
compatible with dsunion; and, therefore, on the
same day that they declared themselves indepeL-
dent. tney proclaimed themselves also contede-
rated States. Experience Ia warand 10 peace,
from 1876 TO 1856, only convinced them OF the
c.ssity Of converting that loose C nfederacy
into a more perfect and perpetual Union They
acted with GOODNESS very different from
the Incorporate conduct of those who now on
one side threaten, and those who on the other
rashly defy disunon. They considered the con
tiuuancv Of the Union subject comprehend
ing nothing, nothing less than the safety and
welfare Of all the parts of which the country was
composed, aud the fate Of AL empire in many
re spects the most interesting in the world. |
enter upon the subject Of continuing the Union
now. de ply impressed with the generous
and loyal conviction. How could it be other
wise, when, instead Of only thirteen. the country
Is now composed of thrty-three parts; aud the
A,f ,tr fftr
no less than thirty millions OF inhabitants.
The founders Of the Constitution moreover
regarded'the Union no mere nationa! or Amer-
can interest. Ga che contrary they confessed
with a deep sensbiiity that it seemed to them
to have been reserved for the people Of this
country to decide whet her societies Of men are
really capable Of establishing good government
upon reflection and choice, or whether the, are
forever destined TO depend for their political
constitutions on acci dent and force. They feared
therefore, that their failure to continue and per-
feet the Union would be a misfortune to the
nations. How much more, sir, would its over
throw now be calamity to mankind!
Some form Of government is indispensable
here as elsewhere. Whatever form have,
every individual citizen aud every State must
cede to it some natural rights. to invest the gov
with the requisite power The simple
question, therefore, for US now TO decide, while
laying aside all pique, passion and prejudice Is:
whether it conduces more to the interests
Of the people of this country to remain
or the general purposes Of peace and war, COM
nerce inland and foreign, postal communications
II home and abroad. the care and disposition Of
he public domain. colonization. the organization
md admission of new States. and. generally the
Enlargement Of empire. one nation under our
,resen' Constitution, than it would be to divide
themselves into separate Confederacies or
States.
~, co,ntrv romains now as II wan in 1877
composed not of detached and distant terrific
RES but of one whole wc-connected and fertile
region lying within the temperate zone, with
climates or soils hardly more various tnan those
Of France or OF Italy. This slight diversity
auickens and ampliies manufactures and COM
lnerce. Our rivers and valleys, as improved oy
art furnish US a system of highways unequalied
in the world. The different forms of labor. II
slavery were not perverted to purposes of poit-
ical ambition, need not constitute al element of
strife in the Confederacy.
Notwithstanding recent vehement express
ions, and manifestations of intolerance in some
quarters, produced by intense par,izan excite
ment we are. ir fact, homogeneous people,
chiefly of one stock with accessions well assim-
Hated We nave, practically only one language,
one religicn one system of government. and man
ners and customs common to all Why, then,
shall we not remain henceforth as hitherto, one
people?
The first object Of every human societyis safe
tv or security for which. If need be they will,
and they must. sacrifice every other. This Sc
curity is OF two kinds: one. exemption from do
mestic tyranny aud sediton; the other, exemp-
ton from foreign aggression aud influence
Foreign wars come from either violations OF
treaties or do nestle violence. The Union has
thus far, pr wed itself an almost perfect shield
against such wars, The United States, contua-
aliy enlargng the circle of their Diplomatic
Netherlands, Great Britain. Sweden. Prusss!s,
Spsiu Russia Denmark, Mexico. Brazil Austria,
Turkey. Chill, Siam, Muscat Venezuela. Peru,
Greece. Sardinia Ecuador, Hanover, Portugal.
New Grenada. Hesse Cassei. Wurtembnrg Chi
na, Bavaria, Saxony, Nassau, Switzerland,
Schwerin. Guatemala, the Hawai-
an Islands, San Salvador. Costa Rica, Peru. Bre.
men. the Argentine Confe federation, Loo Choo,
Japan. brunswick, Persia, Baden. Belgium and
Paraguay Nevertheless, the United States.
within their entire existence under the Federal
have had fragrant wars with only
Tour States, two of which we're insignificant
States on the coast of Earbary. and have had
direct host,,ities amounting 10 reprisas, against
two or three more and they are now at
peace with the whole world. If the Union
sh ould be divided into only two Confederacies
each of them would need to make as many treat
les "a we have now and, of course, would be
liable to give as many causes OF war as We nov
do. But We know. from the sad experience Of
other nations, that disntegratior, once begun,
inevitably continues until tie greatest empire
crum bles into many parts. Each confederation
that shall ultimately arise out of the ruin of the
Union will have necessity for many treaties
a. we now have, and will incur liabilities Tor
war as often as We nov do, BY breaking them.
Is is the multiplication OF treaties. and the want
of confederation, that makes war the normal con-
dition OF society 10 Western Europe and in Span.
ish America 1t ID Uaion that, notwithstand-
iuy our xorld-wide intercourse, makes peace the
haoi, of the American people.
will not descend so low as to ask whether
new confederacies would be able or willing to
bear the grievous expense Of maintaining the
diplomatic relations which cannot be dispensed
with except BY Withdrawing from foreign COM
merce.
Oar Federal Government is better able to
avoid giving.just causes of war than several con
federacies. bAcause il can conform the action of
oil the States to coupac's- Ii can have ocly
one construction. and only one tribunal TO
pronounce that construction, of every treaty.
Local and temporary interests aud passions. or