Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-15


subject asking hearing, not less
from the people within what are called the
seeding, than from those who reside within
the adhering States.
Union is an old, fixed, settled habit ofthe
American people, resulting from convictions
of its necessity, and therefore not likely to
be hastily discarded. The early States, while
existing as colonies, were combined, though
impertectly, through common allegiance TO |
the British Crown. When that allegiance
ceased, no one was so prgsumptuous as TO /
suppose political existence compatible with
disunion; and, therefore, on the same day |
that they declared themselves Independent, |
they proclaimed themselves also coniedera- |
ted States. Experience in war and in peace, |
from l775 until 1884, only convinced them |
of the necessity OF converting that loose Con-
federacy into more perfect and perpetual
Union They acted with GOODNESS very diff
ferent from the intemperatS conduct OF those
who now on one side threaten, and those
who on the other rashly defy disunion.
They considered the continuance of the
Union as a subject comprehending nothing
less than the safety and welfare Of all the
parts Of which the country was composed,
and the fate of an empire in many respects
the most interesting in the world. | enter
upon the subject of continuing the Union
now, deeply impressed with the same gen.
erous and loyal conviction. How could it
be otherwise, when, instead of only thirteen,
the country is now composed Of thirty-three
parts, and the empire embraces Instead OF
only four millions, no less than thirty mil
lions of inhabitants.
The founders of the Constitution moreover
regarded the Union as no mere national or
American interest On the contrary they
confessed with deep sensibility that it seemed
to them 10 have been reserved for the people
of this country to decide whether societies OF
men are really capable of establishing good
government upon reflection and choice, or
whether they are forever destined to depend
for their political constitutions on accident
and force They feared, therefore, that their
failure to continue and perfect the Union
would be a misfortune to the nations. How
much more, sir, would its overthrow now be
a calamity to mankind
Some form of government is indispensable
here as elsewhere. Whatever form we have,
every individual citizen and every State must
cede to it some natural rights, to invest the
Government with the requisite power. The
simple question therefore, for us now to de-
eide, while laying aside all pique, passion and
| prejudice is: whether it conduces more to the
interests of the people OF this country to re-
main for the general purposes of peace and
| war, commerce inland and foreign postal
communications at home and abroad, the
care and disposition Of the public domain,
colonization, the organization and admission
Of new States, and, generally, the enlarge
ment of empire one nation under our pres
ent Constitution, than it would be to di-
vide themselves into separate Contederacies
| or States.
Our country remains now as it was IN
l787-eompOsed not of detached and dis
tant territories, but of one whole well-con-
nected region lying within the temperate
zone, with climates and soil hardly more va
rious than those of France or Of Italy. This
slight diversity quickens and ampli6es manu-
flctures and commerce. Our rivers and val
leys, as improved by art, furnish US system
of highways unequaled in the world. The
different forms of labor, if slavery were not
perverted to purposes of political ambition,
need not constitute an element OF strife IN
the Confederacy.
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ANSOA4h 'SA-SAA@~--N
sions and manifestations Of intolerance in
some quarters, produced by intense partisan
excitement, we are, in fact, homogeneous
people, chiefly of one stock, with accessions
well assimilated. We have, practically, only
one Language, one religion, one system OF
| Government and manners and customs com
mon to all. Why, then shall wenot remain
henceforth as hitherto, one peoples
The first object of avery human society. is
safety or security, for which, II neeu De- Sney ~
viii and must sacrifice every other. MS
- :, e - l-iHds: one, exemption
from foreign aggression and Influence the
other, exelnp ptivn from domestic tyranny and
sedition.
FOREIGN wars come from either violation Of
treaties or domestic violence. The Union
has, thus far, proved itself an almost perfect
shield against such wars The United States
continually charging their diplomatic ac,
ouaintance, have now treaties with France
the Netherlands, Great Britain, Sweden, Prus'
sia Spain, Russia, Denmark, Mexico, Brazil
Austria, Turkey, Chill, Siam, Muscat, Vene
zuela, Peru, Greece, Sardinia, Ecuador, Han
over. Portugal, New Granada, Hesse Cassel
Wurtemburg, China, Bavaria, Saxony, Mas
sau. Switzerland, Mecklenburg, Schwerin
Guatemala, the Hawaiian Islands, san Sal
vador, Borneo, Costa Rica, Peru, Bremen, lh'
Argentine Confederation, Loo ChOo, Japan
f Brunswick, Persia, Baden, Belgium and Ps
ragday. Nevertheless, the United States
within their entire existence under the Fede
raj Constitution, have had fragrant wars witt
only four States, two of which were insig
) ni6cant Powers, on the coast of Barbary
! L i Iog4flftia5 ay,punfIuO Il
S reprisals, against only two or three more
4 and are now at peace with the whole Wprlo
= If the Union should be divided into only tw
= Confederacies, each of them would need t
= make as many treaties as we now havei and
: of course, would be liable to give as man
. causes of war as we do now. But we know
e from the sad experience of other nations
that disintegratiou once begun, inevitabl
. continues until even the greatest emplr
crumbles into many parts. Each Contedt
= ration that shall ultimately rise out OF tn
Union. will have necessity for as many tref
ties as we now have and will incur liabil
bilities for war as often as we do now b
. breaking them. 1t IS the multiplication (
! treaties. and the want of Confederation, tbs
: -makes war the moi NAL condition of societ
s in Western Europe and Spanish America
4 1t is union thai, notwithstanding our worl(
' wide intercourse, makes peace the habit
! the American people.
3 Twill not descend SO low as to ask wheth'
. new Confederacies would be able or willin
! to bear the grievous expense of maintalng tt
, diplomatic relations which cannot be d'sPense
with except by Withdrawing from forelg
a commerce.
: Our Federal Government is better able
q avoid giving just causes Of war than sever
r Confederacies, because it can conform the a
n ton of all the States to complcts. It CO
J have only one construction, and only OF
= tribunal to pronounce that construction,
Y every treaty. Local and temporary interes
n n and passions, or personal cupidity and an
! bition can drive small Oonfederacies or Stat
a more easily than a great Republic, into i
Z discreet violations oftreaties.
n The United States being great al
- cs-:l,1,Io pcv,-er can a1Ways secure taVO