Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-01-03
Daniel Webster on Secession.

AS The constitutional views OF MIR. Web
ster cannot fail 10 command the attention
of his couutrymen, SO long as we have a
Constitution to defend and a Union to pre-
serve. We cite from his celebrated speech
delivered 10 the Senate of TIE United States
on the 7th Of March. 1850, the suhlolued
weighty reflections and patriotic admoni-
tions:.
Mr.. President: l should much prefer to
have heard, from every member on this
floor, declarations of opinion that this
Union could never be dissolved, than the
than tie declaration Of opinion by any
body, that, in any case, under the press
ure of any circumstances, such a dlssolu-
tion was possible. l hear with distress
and anguish the word '-secession," especial
ly when it falls from the lips of those who
are patriotic, and known to the country and
known all over the world for their political
services. Secession! Peaceable secession! !
Sir, your eyes and mine are nexer destined
to see that miracle. The ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of this vast country without CONFUSION
The breaking up of the fountains of the
great deep without ruf1iug the surface
Who is so foolish-I beg everybodies par
don-as to expect TO see any such thing ?
Sir, he who sees these States, now revolve
ing in harmony round a common center,
and expects to see them quit their places
and fly off without CONFUSION, may look
the next hour 10 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
eau be no such thing as peaceable seces-
s%ionion. Peaceable secession is an utter
impossibility. Is the great Constitution
under which we live-covering this whole
country-is it to be thawed and melted away
by secession, as the SHOWS of the mountain
melt under the influence Of a vernal sun,
disappear almost unobserved, and run off?
No, sir! | will mol state what might pro-
duce the disruption of the Union; but, sir,
l see as plainly as | see the sun in the heav-
en- what disruption itself might produce;
l see that it must produce war, and such q
war as | will not describe, in lis twofold
character.
Peacesble secession! -Peaceable seces-
sion! The concurrent agreement of all
the members Of this great republic to sep
arate! A voluntary separation. with ali
mony on the one side and on the other /!
Why, what would be the RESULT Where
is the line to be drawn2 What States are
to secedea What is TO remain American ?
What am ], to be? An American no lon
ger? Am / to become a sectional man, a
local man, a separatist, with no country in
common withthe gentlemen who sit around
me here, or who fill the other House of
Congress-? Heaven forbid! Where is the
flag of the republic to remain? Where is
tine eagle still to tower? Or is he to, COW
er and shrink and fall to the ground? Why,
sir, our ancestors, our fathers, and our
grandfathers, those of them that are yet
amongst us with prolonged lives, would re-
Duke Us and our children and chill
dren would cry out shame upon us, if We
of this generation would dishonor these
ensigns Of the power of the Government
ard the harmony of that Union which is
every day felt among US with SO much joy
and gratitude.