Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-01-09
DANIEL WEBSTER ON SECESSION

As the constitutiOn-.ii views of Mr.. Web
ster cann9t fail 70 command the attention
of his couptryman so long as we have a
Constltr,lun to defend, and a Union to
preserve. we cite from his celebrated
speech, delivered in the Senate of the Uni
ted States on the 9TH of March. 1850. the
subjoined wsighty reflections and patriotic
admonitions:-
Mr.. President: l should much prefer
to have heard. from every member on this
floor. declarations of opinion that this Un-
ion could never be dissolved. than the dec
laration of opinion. by anybody. that in
any case, under the pressure of any cir
cumstanees. such dissolution was posi-
bl,. | hear with distress and anguish the
word secession" especially when it falls
from the lips of those who are patriotic
and known to the country. AMI known all
over the world. for their political services.
Secession Peaceable secession Sir. your
eyes and mine arc never deG'ined to see
that miracle. The dismemb, I'm mt Of this
vast country without CONFUSION! The
breaking up Of the fountains of the great
deep without rufflins the surface! Who is
so foolish beg everybody's pardon-as
to expect to see any such thing? Sir. he
who sees those States now revolving in
harmony around common centre, and ex-
poets to see them quit their places, and fly
off without CONFUSION, may look the next
hour to see the heavenly bodies rush from
their spheres. and jostle against each other
in the realms of space. without causing
the wreck of the universe. There can be
no such thing AS peaceable secession
Peaceable secession Is an utter impossible
ity. Is the great Constitution under which
we live-covering the whole cOuntry-is 1t
to be tbawed and melted away by secession,
as the SHOWS on the mountain melt under
the influence of vernal sun, disappear al
most unobserved. and run off? No, sir.
No. sir! | will not state what might pro-
duce the disruption of the Union, but. sir,
| see, as plainly as see the sun in heaven.
what the disruption itself must produce
| see that it must produce war. and such
a war as | i'll not describe in its two-fold
character.
Peaceable secession. Peaceable seces-
sion! The concurrent agreement ofall the
members of Il this great reputlIc to separ-
atel A voluntary separation, with ali-i
mony on the cDe side and on the other!-
Why. what would be the result? Where
il the line to be drawn? What States are
to secede?- What is to remain America?
n hat am l to be? An American no Ion
ger? Am to become sectional man, a
local man, a seperatist, with no country in
common with the gentleman who sit around
me here. or who fl the her House Of
Congress? Heaven forbid! Where is tie |
flag of the republic to renal? Where is !!
the eagle still to tower? Or is he to cover |
and shrink and fall to the ground? Why, |
sir, our ancestors, our fathers, and our
grandfathers, thoso of them that are yet
living amongst US with prolonged lives. |
would rebuke and reproach us; and our
children and our grandchi dren would cry
out shame up-n us. if we of this lenreation
should dishOnor these ensigns of the power
of the Government and the harmony of that /
Union which is every day felt among US
with go much joy and gratitude |