Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-11-01
Late Justice Story on Disunion.

Late JuStlce story on UlSunlon.
We find in the columns of New England
contemporary the subjoined passage from the
writings of Justice Story:
Whpm we reflect on what has been, and
what is, how is it possible not to feel a pro.
found sense Of the responsibilities Of this Re-
public to all future ages!
| What vast motives press upon us for lofty
enthusiasm. What solemn warnings ut once
demand our vigilance and moderate our conii-
dence.
The old world has already revealed to us
in its unseaed books the beginning and end
Of all its marvellous struggles in the cause Of
liberty.
Greece! lovely Greece! the land of schol-
ars and the nurse of arts, where sister repub-
lies in fair proiusion clanted the praise of
liberty aud the gods, where is she )! For
two thousand years the Oppressors have
bound her to the earth. Her arts are
no more. The last sad relics of her temples
are but the barracks of ruthless soldiery.
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 Thcrmopyl@ and Mara
thon, and the tide of her triumph rolled back
upon the Htllespont.
She fell by the hands of her own people.
The man of Macedonia did not the work of des-
truction. 1t was already done by her own
c0rrnptions, banishmrnts and dissrnsions.
Rome! republican Rome whose eagle
glanced in the rising sun, where and what is
she?
The eternal city remains proud even in her
desolation. noble in decline, venerable in the
majesty of religion, and calm as in the COM
posure of Death.
The malaria has but travelled in the paths
won by the destroyer. More than eighteen
centuries have mourned over the loss of the
empire. A mortal dseas" was upon her be-
fore Caesar had crossed the Rubicon, and
Brutus did not restore her health by the deep
probings 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 legions were bought and sold, but the
people paid the tribute money. And where
are the republics of modern times which clus-
tered around immortal ltalyi Venice and
Genoa exist but in name. The Alps indeed
look upon the brave and peaceful Swiss in
their native Businesses; but the guarantee of
their freedom ia their weakness, not their
strength. The mountains are not easily re-
taiued. 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 valuable conquest. Nature pre-
spnts her eternal bnrrieron every side, to check
the wantonness of ambition. And Switzer-
land remains with her institutions, military
road to .Chmtes, scarcely worth n permanent
possession, and protected by the jealousy Of
her neighors. We stand the latest, and ii We
fall, probably the las, example Of s-lf-govern-
ment by the people. We have begun it un-
der circumstances Of the most auspicious ma
ture. We are in the vigor Of youth. Our
constitutions never have been enftebled by
the vices or luxuries If the world. Such as
We are, ws have been from the beginning,
simple. hardy, intelligent, accustomed to self
government and self-respect. The Atlantic
rolls between us and formidable foe.
With our territory stretching through many
degrees OF latitude, we have the choice of
many products and many means Of iudewnd.
ence.' ...,----..'.t. .t..-...e
What fairer prospect of success could bs
presented2 What more is necessary than for
the people to preserve what they themselves
have created Already has thS aagD caught
the spirit of our institutions. 1t has ascend
I'd tho Andes and snuffed the breesss of both
oceans. 1t has infused itself into the life
blood Of Europe. and warmed the sunny
plains Of France and the lowlands Of Hol-
land. 1t has touched the philosophy of Ger
many and ths North, and, moving toward the
South, has opened to Gr.ecs the lessons of
her better days. Can it bs that America un-
der such circumstances can bstray herself -
that shs il to bs added to the catalogue Of re-
publics, the inscription upon whose ruin is--
they wers they are not Forbid It, Hsaven!
l call upon you. fathers. BY the shades Of your
ancestors, BY the dear ashss which rsposs in
this precious soil, by all you hope to b. re-
sist every project Of disunion; resist every
attempt to fsttsr your conscisnce or smother