The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1862-09-06
WORDS OF WISDOM.

1t is we'll for us occasionally to consult
the writings and warnings of the patriot
statesmen of other days. Since the time
of General WASHINGTON, perhaps no man
has occupied so large space in the public
eye as General ANDREW JACKSON. The
Farewell Address Of the Old Hero of the
Hermitage, upon retiring from the Presi-
dency in 1887, is fraugLt with wisdom and
prophetic warning Look at the follow
ing extract:
"But amid this general prosperity and
splendid success, the dangers of which he
WAsHINGToN warned us are becoming
every day more evident, and the signs Of
evil are sufficiently apparent to awaken
the deepest anxiety in the bosom of the
patriot. We behold systematic efforts
publicly made, to SOW the seeds of dis
cord between different parts of the U. S.,
place party divisions directly upon geo.
graphical distinctions; to excite the South
against the North, and the North against
the South, and force into the contro-
versy the most delicate and exciting
topcs-topics upon which it is impos-
sible that large portion Of the Union
can ever speak without strong emo
ton. Appeals, too, are constantly made
to sectional interests, in order to influence
the election of the Chief Magistrate, as if
it were desired that he should favor par
ticul lar quarter of the country, instead of
fulfilling the duties of his station with i'm
partial justice to all, and the possible dis
solution Of the Uuion has at length be-
come an ordinary and familiar subject of
discussion Has the warming voice of
Washington been forgotten !? or have des-
igns already been formed to sever the
Union? Let it not be supposed that I
impute to all of those who have taken an
active part in these unwise and unprofta-
BILE discussions, want of patriotism or of
public virture. The honorable feeling of
State pride, and local attachments, and q
place in the bosoms of the most enlighten-
ed and pure. But while such men are con-
scious of their own integrity and honesty
ofpurpose, they ought never to forget that
the citizens of others States are their
political brethren and that, however,
mistaken they may be in their views, the
great body Of them are equally honest and
upright with themselves. Mutual suspi-
cions and reproaches may in time create
mutual hostility, and artful and design
ing men will always be found, who are
ready to foment these fatal divisions and to
infame the natural jealousies of different
sections of the country. The history
of the world is full of such examples, and
especially the history Of republics.
"What have you to gain by division and
dissension F? Delude not yourselves with
the belief that breach once made may
be afterwards repaired If the Union is
once severed, the. line Of separation will
grow wider and wider, and the controver.
sizes which'are now debated and settled in
the halls of legislation, will then be tried,
in fields of battle, and determined by the
sword. Neither should you deceive your
selves with the hope, that the first line of
separation would be permanent one, and
that nothing but harmony and concord
would be found in the new associations
formed upon the dissolution of this Union.
Local interest would still be found there,
and unchastened ambition. And if the
recollection Of common dangers, 10 which.
the people Of these United States stood