The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-07-20
Speech of Mr.. Dickinson.

! TALL, made patriotic speech at Amherst College
on the 10Th inst, which we regret we have
not space TO publish entire. Below are some
extracts which we commend to the attentive
perusal Of every honest breckenridge man.
SECESSION AND rlsUNIoN.
This effort to divide the Union aud subvert
the Government, whatever may be the pre-.
tense Is. III fact, daring and dangerous cru.
SADIE against free Institutions. 1t should be
opposed by the whole power ola patriotic
people, and crushed beyond the prospect Of a
resurrection and to attain that end the Gov
eminent should be sustained in every Just and
reasonable effort to maintain the authority and
integrity Of the nation: to uphuld and viEdicate
the supremacy of the Constitution and the
majesty of the laws, bv all lawful means.
not grudgingly sustained. w,hon hesitating,
shuff1ing,. unwilling step forward to save
appearances, and two stealhv ones backward
to secure a scasorable retreat; nor with the
shallow craft Of mcrcenarv politician, cal.
culating chances and balancing between cx.
pedlents, out with the generous alacritv and
energy which have a meaning and prove a
loyal and patriotic and willing heart 1t is
not a question Of Administration, but of a
Government not of politics, but of patriot
Ism-not of policy. but of principles which
uphold us ALA question: too great for party
between the Constitution and the laws on
one hand and mSrulc and anarchy on the
other between existence and destruction.
The Union was formed under the Constitu.
ton by an ASSOCIATION Of equals: like the
temple or Diana, every pillar which upholds
It's arches. was the gift Of a sovereign; not a
sovereign created by mans usurpation and
serving upon ga'a days o exhibit to plundercd
subjects the diadems AND diamonds, and gor.
eeouS trapping Of royalty, but Of sovereign
people, created in the image of their Maker.
and bearing in their boSoms the crown Jewels
of immortality. In the administration Of its
government, and in the relations of It's mem.
beers with each other, each and every one is
entitled to complete eauality to enjoy I'M
:noloSied all the privileges Of the compact. in
their full length and breadth, in letter and in
spirit.
Whenever and wherever there has been
departure from this plain and Just stipulation,
IN theory or in practice, in either section or
where either has employs! means OF agencies
Ca lcn|attd to disturb or initiate, or annoy the
other; there has been error and Cause of
grievance which demanded redress and rest
tuition and when re bell ion has sheathed it's
sword, and lowered its front, and the obliga.
tons oil the Constitution are again recognized
by all who owe il ob-dlcncc, NAV every true
friend OF the Constitution and Union unite in
common purpose and an earnest effort in
seeing mat there remains no just cause Of
complaint unredreSSed. in any portion Of the
coniederacy Bat there has been no grievance
alleged, which if true, could Justify armed
rebellion and disunion. The Constitution
with defects and imperfrctlons from which
h1man creations are lnSeparable. bears upon
ITS bosom remedies for every abuse which is
prac'lced III It's name, and power to punish
every violation of its salutary provisions. ard
those who are unable to " bear the ills they
have, should invoke its spirit, rather than
lily to Others which they know not Of. -
And the Government. though it has bv no
means been exempt from ma administration
throughout its evenlful history, has been less
arralsncd for injustice than any Government
on earth. And time and patience and a
sense of popular justice. the Gibbs and flows
and currents of opinion wonld have proved q
corrective of all serious causes of disturbance
But efforts to divide the Union and destroy
the Government, beside being intrinSically
atroclous. instead of correcting the alleged
grievances, are calculated to aegravate them
more than hundred fold, and. if successful,
to ci"Sea day oGhumanties, hope and promise,
IN this refuge Of liberty, in blood and dark
ness. No one denies to an oppressed people
tbs right OF revelation as the last dreadful
resort Of man seeking emancipation, when
all other efforts have proved unavaiing never
to be entered upon except as a terrible nrceS-
Sity. Blu, Secession is bold and bald and
wicked mposturc, with its authors, chime
ra, an Illusion and cheat with those who are
betrayed INTO It's support, and it exhibits the
worst feature OF the baseSt deSpotistn in enfur-
eng obedience to its reign of terror 1t is
but synonym for Dlsuninn by violence,
under the prctcnsc ofright, rescl we'd to States,
| and must have Srang, hike the voluptuous
goddess, from foth, 50 little of night, or rea :
son, or justice, or remedy, good sense, is there
in it, or around it, or about it: though like
the contents of her mystic girdlc, it promised
to its votaries surfeit of hidden pleasures. -
The attempt to liken this wicke ed and corrupt
rebellion to the American Revolution, requires
an assurance of brass sufficient to reconstruct
the Coosscs Of Rhodes. While the Colonies
were petitonng for IA redress of grievances.
war WAS precipltated upon them BY the British
Crown, TO compel their submission md 81,
lcnce. While Congress was canvasSing the
! alitScu grievances VI poT'lbn Oh Tue SlatcS OIL
the Confrdcracy, and while its legislation
upon, the subject of the Territories was pro-
ceedlng in harmony with their profts>ed
wishes. members representing such aggr ievcd
States withdrew and prcclpi1ated Disunon in
hot haste, before the result of proposed con-
ciatory efforts could be as,ertained as though,
they feared if they awaited the development
of events in progress. they might be more
seriously aggrevcd by redress of grievances
The Colonies had neither support nor sympa-
thy, nor representation in any department oil
the British Government, but they pcrsevcred
in their efforts to obtain justice and recogni
ton so long as single ray Of hope gave
promise, and until they were senced by the
presence of British troops, and were compel
led to submit to slavery and degradation, OF
appeal to the last refuge of an oppressed
people-thc arbtranIent Of the battle field -
They clai ned no false or fabricated reading
of the British Constitution, which enablct
them to sever their connection with the
crown and avoid the responsibility Of rcvolu.
ton, but they manfully took their stand upor
the ultima rata of nations. They received
worlds sympathy, because their revolt was
an imperons necessity, and Heaven smiled
Upon their Efforts for delivcrance and indie
pendence. But if they had connivcd at the
accession Of the selfish, perverSe and bigotcG
George to the Crown, that they might b,
able TO complain of the reignng monarch, ant
above all, If they had controlled The Ministry
and held q majority in Parliament, and hat
then vacated their seates and yielded up thu
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