, 1862-11-15
Late Justice Story on Disunion.

Late Justice Story on Disunion-
We find in the columns of New England CO.
} temporary the subjoined passage from the writ
ings of Justice Story:
When we reflect on what has been, and what
is, how is it possible not to feel profound sense
of the responsibilities of this republic to all future
ages ?
What vast motives press upon us for lofty en-
thusiasm. What solemn warnings at once de-
mand our vigilance and moderate our conf
dence.
The old world has already revealed to us in its
unsealed books the beg innngand end of all its
marvellous struggles in the cause of liberty.
Greece lovely Greece the land of scholars and
the nurse of arts where sister republics in fair pro-
fusion chanted the praise of liberty and the gods,
where is sheP For two thousand years the op-
pressors have bound her to the earth. Her arts
are no more. The last sad relics of her temples
are but the barracks af ruthless sodiery. The
fragments of her columns and fabrics are in the
dust, yet beautiful in ruins. She fell not when
the mighty were upon her. Her sons were united
at Thermopyle and Marthon, and the tide of her
triumph rolled back upon the Helespont.
She fell by the hands of her own people. The
man of Macedonia did not do the work of des
truction. 1t was already done by ner own cor
ruptions, banishments and dissensions.
Rome republican Rome whose eagle glanced
in the rising sun, where and what is she?
The eternal city remains proud even in her
! daseolotoD Dohla in dacline xanarohla in tba
majesty of religion, and calm as in the composure
of Death
The malaria has but travelled in the paths won
by the destroyer. More than eight centuries
have mourned over the loss of the empire. A
mortal disease was upon her before Caesar had
crossed the Rubicon, and Brutus did not restore
her health by the deep probing of the Senate
chamber
The Goths and Vandals and Huns, the swarms
of the North, completed only what was begun at
home. Romans betrayed Rome. The legons
were bought and sold but the people paid the
tribute money. And where are the republics Of
modern times which clustered around immortal
Italy? Venice and Genoa exist but in name
The Al ps indeed look upon the brave and peace
full Swiss in their native fatness but the guaran-
tee of their freedom is their weakness, not their
strength. The mountains are not easily re-
tanned. When the invader comes, he moves like
an avalanche, carrying destruction in his path
The peasantry sink before him. The country, too,
is too poor for plunder and too rough for valu-
able conquest. Nature presents her eternal bar
rier on every side, to check the wantonness Of
ambition. And Switzerland remains with her in
stitutions, a military road to Chimtes, scarcely
worth permanent possession, and protected by
the jealousy of her neighbors. We stand the
latest, and if fall, probably the last, exa nple
of selfgovernment by the people. We have be-
gun it under circumstances of the most auspicious
nature. We are in the vigor of youth. Our con-
stitutions never have been enfeebled by the vices
or uxuries of the world. Such as we are, we
have been from the beginning, simple, hardy, in
teligent, accustomed to sef-government and self
respect The Atlantic rolls between us and a
formidable foe.
With our territory, stretching through many de-
SIccS VI ldlltuuC, VIC nave bHt ChOlCS vi many
products and many means of independence.
The Government is mild The press is free.
Religion is free. knowledge reaches, or may
reach, every home.
What fairer prospect of success could be pre-
sented ? What more is necessary than for the
people to preserve what they themselves have
created Already has the age caught the spirit
of our institutions. 1t has assembled the Andes
and snuffed the breezes of both oceans 1t has
infused itself into the life-blood of Europe and
warmed the sunny plains of France and the low
lands of Holland. 1t has touched the philosophy
of Germany and the North, and, moving toward
the South, has opened to Greece the lessons of
her better days. Can it be that America under
such circumstances can betray hersef?-that she
is to be added to the catalogue of republics, the
inscription upon whose ruin is-they were, they
are notp Forbid it, Heaven l call upon you,
fathers, by the shades of your ancestors, by the
dear ashes which repose in this precious soil, by
all you hope to be, resist every project of dsun-
ion resist every attempt to fetter your conscience
or smother your public schools, or extnguish our
system of public instruction call upon you,
mothers, by that which never fails in woman-the
love of your ofspring-to teach them as they
climb your knees to lean on your bosoms, the
blessings of liberty. Swear them at the altar,
as with their baptismal VOWS, to be true to their
country and never forsake her. l call on you,
young men, to remember whose sons you are
whose blood runs in your veins
Life can never be too short which brings moth
ing but disgrace and oppression Death can
never come too soon, if necessary in defense of
the liberties of our country
"Pray, Madam, what makes you so sedate p'-
"Oh l have taken a sedative."
WHAT piece of carpentry becomes gem as
soon as finished Agate.
WHY is rheumatism like gluttonp Because
it attacks the joints.
WHY was Bonaparte like his hOrsep Be
cause he had martial Neigh.
WHY do women like stays? Because they
feel so-laced with them,