Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-09-17
The Union orthe states.

From an address delivered by Daniel Web
ster on the anniversary Of Washington's
birth, we extract the following as appropri
ate to the times:
Washington, therefore, could regard,
and did regard not as of paramount political
interest, but the integrity Of the Union
Itself. With united Government, we'll
administered, be saw we had nothing to
fear and without it nothing to hope. The
sentiment Is just, and its momentuous
truth should soIeunly impress the whole
country.
FIVE might regard our country as per
sonated 1t The spirit of Washington; If we
might consider him as represeting her, in
her asst renown, her present prosperity,
and her future career, and in that character
demanding OF us all, to account for our
conduct, as political mon, or as private citi-
zens, how be should answer him, who has
ventured to talk of disunion and dismem-
bermeutf Or, how should he answer him.
who dwell perpetually on local interests
and fans every kindlng flame of local pre
Judice? How should he answer hun, who
would array State against State. interest
against interest, careless of the continu
ance OF that unity of Government which
constitutes us one people?
Gentleman,the political prosperity which
this country has attained, it has mainly ae-
quired through the instrumentality or the
present Government. While this agent
continues, the capacity of attaining TO
higher degree OF prosperity exists. We
have, while this lasts, political life capa-
BILE OF beneficial exertion, with power to
resist or overcome misfortunes, to sustain
us against the ordinary accidents of human
affairs, and to promote, by active efforts, the
public interest.
But dimemberment strikes at the very
being which preserves these faculties: il
would lay Its rude and ruthless hand on
this great agent itself 1t would sweep away
not only what we possess, but the power Of
regainlng lost, or acquiring new possess
lois 1t would leave the country, not only
hereft of its prosperity and happiness, but
without limbs, or organs, or faculties bv
which to exert itself hereafter. in the nur-
quit Of that prosperity and happiness.
Other nistnrtunes may be borne. or their
effects overcome. Ii disastrous war sweep
our commerce from the ocean, another gem
Grafton may renew it; if it exhaust our
treasury, future industry may relpenish it,;
II Ii desoiate aud lay waste our fields. uu-
der new cultivation, they will grow green
again, and ripen to new harvests. Itwere
but trIlle, even if the walls of wonder
Capitol were to- crumble, if its lofty pillars
should fall and its gorgeous decorations be
covered by dust
These might be rebuilt. But who shall
reconstruct the fabric of demolished Gov
eminent? Who shall rear again the we'll
propnrtioned columns of constitutional lib.
erty? Who shall frame together the ar
chitecture which unites national sovereign
y with State rights, Individual security.
and public prosperity?
No, gentlemen, if these columns fall,
they will not he raised again. Like the
Coliseum. aud the Parthenon, they will be
destined to a mournful, a melancholy i'm.
mortality. Bitterer tears, however. will
flow over them, than were ever shed over
the monuments of Roman or Grecian art ::
for they will be remnants of a m re glorious
edifice than Greece or Rome ever saw-the
edifice of constitutional American liberty.
But, gentlemen, let us hope for better
things Let us trust in that Gracious BEING
who has hitherto held our country as in the
hollow of his hand. Let us trust to the in
teillgence and virtue of the people, and TO
the ethcacy of religious obligation. Let us
trust the Influence of Washiugton's exam-
pie. Let us hone that that fear of Heaven.
which expels all other fear. and that regard
20 duty, which transcends all other regard
may Influence public men and private citi
zens, and lead our country still onward in
her happy career"