Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-07
Interesting Extract.

Interesting Extract.
We make the following extract from the speech of
the Hon. William Biger, of Pennsylvania, delivered
in the Senate of the United States Jan. 81, 1861
In my opinion, secession is the worst possible
remedy for the evils complained of by the Southern
States, and coercion the maddest of all the remedies
suggested for secession. The States ought to live
in lraternal bonds; but if they will not shall one
half put the other to the sword? Such war would
be one of determination. Neither side could ever
conquer; and if the Northern States could conquer,
what would they do with the Southern States as
provinces? The Senator from Virginia met that
point the other day so completely that | need not
discuss it. But God forbid that war should ever
begin! | am against it. l am for peace; and am
ready to grant anything in reason to reconcile the
discontinued States and the offended people. | am
ready to impore them to remain in the Union;
ready to fight for their constitutional rights to
the last hour but to shed a brothers blood in
fratrcloal war, shall be ready-never! never!
But still | have an abiding faith that the nation
can be saved not by mere hosaHnas to the Union
though like them exceedingly. 1t will require
works as well faith. When Rome in the
full tide of her decline, it the boast of the
Romans that while the Coliseum stands Rome will
stand. The boast vain; for Z" times efEacing
finger" ever points to the faiacy of the expecta-
ton The humbled pride and departed grandeur of
the once mistress of the world are fitting common
tary upon worldly ambition. Still, the American
boast that while the Union stands, America will
stand, is far more wise and rational. But means
must be used. Then, boasts may be INDUCED. The
adoption of the resolutions of the Senator from Ken
lucky by the vote of all parties in Congress- would
at once give assurance of reunion and continued
union, and would be the voice of peace and good
will throughout the land. What blessed message
it would be to 60 trembling the wires from
State to State from city to city, from town to town.
hill to valley, and house to house, throughout this
broad land and how many hearts would impulsively
thank God for his mercies Our Government is
too young to end now Comparatively speaking,
it is in its infancy. 1t has only the years of
very old man; and some there are still alive who
lived before independence. Can it be that its exs-
tence is to be so limited, feeting? Sky-rocket
among the nations, to rise and shine for brief
period, and then sink to rise no more? L do not
believe this. God has more in store for America
than this 1t required the Roman empire about five
hundred years to reach the climax of its greatness
and about equal period to decline and fall
Babylon had existed sixteen centuries when the
mysterious characters the wall gave the affrighted
king notice that the time of its downfall was at
hand The Athenian Government existed more
than twelve times the period which ours has been
in existence. The English Government has seen
six centuries since the days o: Magma Charta
the American Union has not seen one. Could it be
now saved and reconstructed, as far as broken,
might we not hope that its foundations were 20 be
deeper and frmer than ever that the ordeal through
which it is now passing would root its foundations
more effectively and completely in the affections of
the people?
But Senators talk of war; and it disturbS no
mans nerves that widely separated States and COM
munIties should do so. The men of the arctic
regions of the United States away up in Maine and
Vermont and Massachusetts, shake their CORY
locks at those nhabiting neck of land in the tropics
of America, known as Florida, and the FloridIans,
in turn, may manifest belligerent deSi gn. Such
IL IL L.,
with the free and slave States, bordering each
other should that be the line of division. They
will be within striking distance, and to them this
war will be no idle bravado. 1t will be matter Of
life and death Look at the position of our own
glorious old State No broad river, high noun
tain, or deep chasm, or high wall divides her from
the slaEehoding States. From the waters of the
Ohio to those of the Delaware, her broad side lies
nesting close up against the sides of her savehold
ing sisters. First, on the west, comes Virginia
then Maryland and then, full up in her generous
bosom, rests her little sister Delaware, with the
heads Of both reclining on the banks of the river
where, at the same moment the rays of the morn
ing sun may kiss the brow of both For four hun
bred miles, from the Ohio to the Delaware, her
south side recnes against the north side of slave
holding States; mountain to mountain, hill to HILL
valley to valley, farm to farm, ncighbOrhood to
neighborhood, brother to brother, sister 70 sister,
hand to hand and heart to heart. The line mas
been to fraternal citizens either SIDE imaginary
they have passed from the North to the South, and
from the South to the North, without even thought
that it marked the beginning of people strangers
to each other much less aliens and enemies All
along this line there has been marrying and giving
in marriage. The sons of Virginia have married
the daughters of Pennsylvania, and the sons Of
Pennsylvania have married the daughters of Vir-
ginia and so has It been with Maryland and Della
ware. That line is sanctifed by all the ties that
can endear men to each other-politcal and conf
mercial ties; ties of interest and custom; ties of
consangunty and affection.
Great God Are all these to be severed? Is this
line to mark the boundaries of enemies? lmpossi-
BILE! Humanity and justice forbid it. Pennsyva-
MIA will never become the enemy of Virginia. Penn
sylvania will never draw the sword on Virginia. and
she is no less afectonate to her other sisters. In
good faith she has performed her part in peace and
in war; For many long years she has endeavored
to stay the tide of disaffecton and alienation between
the two sections. She has been truly the keystone
of the Federal arch, and the bulwark of the rights
of her sisters Like some mighty peninsula between
two heavng seas, she has resisted and rolled back
the waves of dscord and strife; but alas the waves
have risen higher and higher, and she is quite sub
merged, until her counsels of peace powerleSs.
For myself have but few days longer to serve
here when shall return to share her fate. She is
nv mother and love her with tilia affection She
has made me what little am; and though at times
she has cherished and caressed, and then frowned
| whether smiling or frowing-I love her STILL
Browning though last she has been just and gener-
| GUS; and come what may-peace or war, veal or
| woe-her cause will be my cause. / say to her in
this presence in the touching language of ineable
| love: "Whither thou goest will go; where thou
lodgest will LODGE thy people shall be my people;
and thy God my God"
Secession in Texas