The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-02-08

tho Aztccs.
Secondly, The disunion movemen.
arises partly out Of a dispute over the
common domain of the United States.-
Hitherto the Union has confined this con
troversy within the bounds Of a political
debate, by referring it, with all other
national ones. to the arbitrament Of the
ballot box. Docs any one suppose that
dsunion would transfer the whole domain
TO either party. or that any other umpire
than war would after dissolution, be in.
voked?
Thirdly, This movement arises, in
another view, out Of the relation Of
the African slaves to the domes.
tic population Of the country. Free.
dom is 70 them. as 10 all mankind, the
chief object of desire. Hitherto, under
the operation Of the Union, they have
practically remained ignorant Of the con.
troversy, especially ofits bearing on them
selves. Can we hope that hagrant civil
war shall rage among ourselves in their
very presence, and yet that they shall re-
main stupid and idle spectators Does
history furnish us any satisfactory in
structions upon the horrors OF civil war
among people so brave, so skillful in
arms, so earnest in conviction, and so in.
tent in purpose, as we are Is i mere
chimera which suggests an aggravation of
those horrors beyond endurance, when,
on either side, there shall occur the inter-
vention Of an uprising, ferocious, A frican
slave population Of four, or sixteen, per.
haps twenty millions?
The opinions Of mankind change, and
with them the politics of nations. One
hundred years ago all the commercial
European States were engaged in trans.
ferring negro slaves from Africa to this
hemisphere. To-day all those States are
firml SET in hostility TO the extension, and
even 10 the practice of slavery. Oppo.
sition 10 it takes two forms: one, Euro.
pean, which is simple, direct abolition,
effected, if need be, by compulsion the
other American, which seeks to arrest the
African slave trade, and resist the en-
trance Of domestic slavery into territories
where il is yet unknown, while it leaves
the disposition Of existing slavery to the
considerate action OF the States by which
it is retained. 1t is the Union that re-
stricts the opposition to slavery in this
country within those limits. If dissolu.
ton prevails, what guarantee shall there
be against the full development here OF
the fearful and uncom mpromising hostility
to slavery which elsewhere pervades the
world, and Of which the recent invasion Of
Virginia is an illustration g?
~ IS=ts PrGsident, i have desis :, sdly iwclt
so long on the probable effect of disunion
upon the safety Of the American people,
as 10 leave me little time to consider the
other evils which must follow in its train.
But, particularly, the loss Of safety involves
every other form of public calamity
When once the guardian angel has taken
flight, everything is lost.
Dissolution would not only arrest but
extinguish the greatness Of our country.
Even if separate conGederacies could exist
and endure, they could severally preserve
no share Of the common prestige of the
Union. If the constellation is to be broken
up, the stars, whether scattered widely
apart or grouped in smaller clusters, will
lhenceforth shed feeble. glimmering and
lurid lights. Nor will great achievements
be possible for the new confederacies. -
Dissolution would signalize its trumphs
by acts Of wantonness which would shock
and astonish the world. 1t would pro,
vinciaizc Mount Vernon, and give this
Capitol over to desolation at the very mo-
ment when the dome was rising over our
heads that was 10 be crowned with the
statue Of Liberty. Alter this there would
remain for Gisunion no act Of siupendous
infamy 10 be committed. No petty con-
federation shat shall follow the United
States can prolong, or even renew, the
majestic drama of national progress
Perhaps il is to be arrested because It's
subIimity is incapable Of continuance.
Let il be so, If we have, indeed, become
degenerate. After Washington, and ihe
infexible Adams, Henry, and the peerless
Hamilton, Jefferson, and the majestic
Clay, Webster, and the acute Calhoun,
Jackson, and the modest Taylor, and
Scott, who rises in greatness under the
burden OF years, and franklin. Fulton,
Whitney and Morse, have all performed
their part, let the curtain fall
While listening to these debates have
sometimes forgotten myself in marking
their contrasting effects upon the page
who customarily stands on the dais before
me, and the venerable Secretary who sits
behind him. The youth exhibits intense
but pleased emotion in the excitement,
while at every irreverent word that is ut
tered against the Union the eyes OF the
aged man are suffused with tears. Let
him weep 60 more. Rather rejoice, for
yours has been a lot OF rare felicity. You
have seen and been part of all the great
ness OF the world. Weep only you, and
weep with all the bitterness OF anguish,
who are just stepping upon the threshold
OF life {; Tor that greatness perishes pre-
maturely and exists not for you, not for
me, nor any that shall come after u'.
The public prosperity how could it
survive the storm? Its elements are in
Gustry in the culture Of every fruit !;
mining Of all the metals i; commerce at
home and on every sea; material i'm
provement that knows no obstacle and
has no end i; invention that ranges
throughout the domain OF nature; increase
Of knowledge as broad as the human mind
can explore /; perfection OF art as high as
Il n