Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-10

~ now and forever. Like another of the
great relations Of private life, it was mar
riTre that no human authority can dissolve
or divorce the parties from; and, il | may
be allowed to refer to this same example in
private life, let US say what man and wife
saw to each other: 1--WE have mutual faults;
nothing in the form of human beings can
be perfect; let lis then be kind to each other,
forbearing, conceding; let US live IN happl-
ness and peace"
Mr.. President, have said what s0lemnly
belieye-that the dissolution OF the Union
and war are Identical and inseparab!e; that
they are convertible terms.
Such Il war too us that would be following
the dissolution of the Union. Sir, we may
search the pages Of history and none so url-
Qua, so bloody, so impiacable, so cStermlna-
ting. from the wars oil Greece down. includ-
ing those OF the Commonwealth OF Eng land
and the revolution of France, none, none Of
them ragged with such violence, or was ever
conducted with such bloodshed and enOrml-
ties as will that war which shall follow that
disastrous event--if that event ever happens
of dissolution.
And what would be its ternlnation?-
Standing armies and nayies to an extent
draining the revenues of each portion Of the
discovered empire, would be created; eXter-
minatny wars would loliow--nnt war Of
two or three years, but Of lnterminable duru-
tiou-;n discriminating war would follow.
until some Philip or Alexander, some Caesar
| or NAPOLEON, would rise to cut the GOrdlun
knot, and solve the problem Of the capacity
of man for sclfgOvcrnmcnt and crush the
liberties of both the discovered sections D!
this Union Can you doubt it? Laok at
history-cousut the pages OF all history, an
cient or modern; lool; ut human nature
look ut the character OF the contest in which
you would be engaged in the superstition OF
"a war following the dissolution Of the Union,
such as have suggested and | ask you II
ii is possible for you to doubt that the final
| but perhaps distant termination Of the whole
will be some deSpot trcading down the llber-
ties of the people?-that the final result will
be the extinction of this last and glorious
light which is leading ali mankind, who are
gazing upon it, to cherish hope and anxious
expectation that the liberty which prevails
| here will sooner or later be advanced through
out the civilized world.
Can you, Mr.. President, lightly contenl-
plate the consequences? Can you yield your
self to q torrent Of passion, amidst dangers
which have depicted in colors far short OF
what would be the reality, ifthe event should
ever happen? | conjurc gentlemen-wheth,
or from the South or the North, by all they
hold dear in this worldly all their love OF
liberty-hy all their generation for their an
cestors--by all their regard for postcrity by
all their gratitude to Him who has bestowed
upon them SUCH unnumbercd blessings by
all the duties which they owe to mankind,
and all the duties they owe TO themselves
by all these considerations I'M ore thcrl tc
pause solemnly to pausc-at the edge OF
the precipice, before the fearful and dIsas
trous leap is taken in the yawning abyss be
low, which will inevitably lead 10 certain
and rretricvable destruction.
And, finally, Mr.. President, | implore, as
the best blessing which heaven can bcstow
upon me upon earth, that if the dlreIul and
sad event Of the dissolution OF the Cni0n shall
happen, may not survive to behold the sad
and heart-rerding spectacle"