The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-01-25

safety or security, for which, if need be. the
will, and they must, sacrifice every other
This security is of two kinds one. exemp
ton from foreign aggression and influence
the other, exemption from domestic tvrann,
and sedition. Foreign wars come from ei
ther violations of treaties or domestic VIC
lence. The Union has, thus far, proved it
self an almost perfect shield against sucl
wars. The United States, continually en!ar
ging their diplomatic acquaintance, have now
treaties with France, the Netherlands, Grea
Britain, Prussia, Spain, Russia, Denmark
Mexico, Brazil, Austria, Turkey, Chill. Siam
Muscat, Venezuela, Peru, Greece, Sardinia
Ecuador, Hanover, Portugal, New Granada
IIesse Cassel, Wurtemberg, China, Bavaria
Saxony, Nassau, Switzerland, Meclenburg
Schwe.in, Guatemala, the Hawaiian Islands
San Salvador, Borneo, Costa Rica, Bre-
men, the Argentine Confederation, Loo Choo
japan, Brunswick, Persia, Baden, Belgium,
and Paraguay. Nevertheless, the United
States, within their entire existence under
the federal con .;itution, have had fragrant
wars with only four states, two Of which
were insignificant powers on the coast of
Barbary, and have had direct hostlities, "a
mounting to reprisals, against only two Or
three more and they are now at peace with
the whole world. If the Union should be d.
vided into oni iy two contederacles, each Of
them would need to make as many treaties
as We have now /; and OF course, would be IL
able to give as many causes of var as We
now do. But We know, from the sad expert
ence of other nations, that disintegration,
once begun, inevitably continues until even
the greatest empire crumbles into many parts.
Each confederation that shall ultimately arise
out OF the ruin of the Union vii! have ne
cesslty for as many treaties as We now have,
and will incur liabilities for war is often as
we now do, by breaking them. 1t is the null
tlpilcaton of treaties, and the want Of cor
federation, tha, makes war the normal condi-
ton cf society III Western Europe and in
Spanish America. 1t is union that, notwi,h-
standing our worldwide intercourse, makes
peace the habit of the American people.
will not descend so low as to ask wheth-
er new confederacies would be able or will
ling to bear the Srievous expenses of main
tanning the diplomatic relations which cannot
be dispensed with except by withdrawing =
from foreign commerce. Our fedora. gov
ernment is better able to avoid giving Just
causes OF war than several conttder!c.rS, be-
cause It can conform the action o. all the
states to compacts. 1t can have only one
construction. and ONLY one tribunal u pro-
Hounce that construction. Of every treaty
Local aud temporary interests and PASSIONS.
OF personal cupidi,y and amtitirn. can drive
small contederdcics or states more easily III II,
a great republic into indiscrect Violations Of
treaties. Tn. United States beng a great
and Formidable power, can aIways s,c,.rc IT.
vorab!c and satisfactory treaties. lrdcrd,ey
cry treaty We have was voluntarily made
Small coniederaclcS or states must take such
treaties as they can get and give whatever
treaties are eXactcG. \ humi.irliu5. or e:ta
an unsatisfactory treaty, is chronic cause of
foreign war. The chapte: o: wars resulting
from unjus,itiable causes would, in cast. o. d.
vision, amplity itself in proportion to the
lumber Of new contedcraci,>. and lhrir irr.-
tlbility. Our disputes with Grca; B..ta;u a.
bout Oregon, the boundary o: Maine, thl ,,,.-
trot insurrection in Canada, and the islam.
of San Juan the border stritcs between
Texas and Mexico, the Incursi0ns Of tie .at,
William Walker Into Mexico and Central
America all these were cases il which war
was prevented OIL by the mpertu:abity OF
the federal government.
This government not only gives fewer eau
>CS CT war. whether just or unjust. than
smaller conttderacies would but it always
bn Il .,h,Ify in Int. ti.,, ny
the exercise OF more coolncsS and courage.
the use OF more various ard more liberal
mtans, and the display, if it need b>, of
greater force. Every one knows how p.ac,.-
bic We ourselves are in controversies with
Great Britain. France and Spain and Yet
how eXactlng Weh.ve been III our intercourse
with New Granada. Paraguay, and San Juan
de Nicaragua. Mr. President, 40 one will
dispute our forefathers' maxim. that the com
mo-. safety of all is the safety of each OF the
states. While they remain united. the icJr-
raj government combines ali the materials
and all the forces of the several states {; or
sanlZes their Getenccs on one general princi-
pie !; harmonlzeS and assini.ateS them with
one system watches for them with d sing ie
eye, which It turns III all directions. and
moves al! agents under The control ofone ex-
ecutive head. \ nation so constituted is
safe against assault or even insult. War
produces always speedy exhaustion Of mon
ey and severe strain upon credit. The
treasures and credits Of small conttdevaces
would often prove inadequate. Those Of the
Caion are always ample.
l have thus far kept out of view the rela-
tlons which must arise between the contee!e-
racies themselves They would be small and
mconslderabe nations bordering On each 9TH
er, and therefore, according to all political
philosophy, natural enemies. In addition to
the many treaties which each must make with
foreign powers, and the causes of war which
they would give by violating, them, each of
the contederacies must also mantaln treaties
with all the others, and so be liable to give
them frequent offence. They would necessa-
rily have different interests resulting from
their establishment of different policies of
revenue, of mining, manufactures, and navi-
CATION, ofimmigration, Of and perhaps the slave
trade. Each would stipulate with foreign ma
tions for advantages peculiar to itself and in
furious to its rivals. If, indeed, /, were nee
essarv that the Union should be broken up
it would be in the last degree important that
tie new con!ederacles to be formed should
be as nearly as possible equal in strength
and power, that mutual fear and mutual re-
spect might inspire them with caution a.
gainst mutual offence. But such equality
could not long be maintained one couede-
racy would rise in the scale Of political i'm.
portance, ,and the Others would yiew it thence
forward with envy and apprehension. Jeal
ousies would bring on frequent and retala
tory wars. and all these wars, from the pecul
lar circumstances of the confederaccs. woul1
have the nature and character of civil war
Dissolution, therefore, is, for the people of