The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-04-30
Grafton of Hon. Edward Everett. ON the
War, Before the Boston Union Club,
April 9th.

Il
War, Before the Boston Union Club,
April 9th.
Hon. Edward Everett delivered an
Grafton before the Unien Club of Bos-
ton, of which he has been chosen Presi-
dent, at its first meeting on Thursday
last. 1t is one of this distinguished
orators greatest productions its mag
nificent rhetoric. impregnable logic
and lofty patriotism, entitle it to rank
with the masterpieces of the first great
masters of oratorical and patriotic elo-
quence. We have room only for the
closing paragraphs:
"My friends, there is no alternative,
but to acknowledge the independence of
the Confederacy, or to subdue the re-
bellion by the strong arm Of military
power. To suppose that there is hopes
of any other settlement is the grossest
delusion.
"Can you then recognize the indie
pence of the Confederacy? Remember
that it carries with it acknowledged
defeat, in war of aggression, AFRO
gantly provoked, by an enemy notori-
ously inferior in numbers, financial
means and all the resources of war
that peace made on that basis would
be standing invitation, not only to
foreign Powers, in all our disputes, but
to an insolent antagonist, flushed with
triumph, to resort, on every future oc-
casion of controversy between the two
Governments to menace, insult and in
vasion.
"We are expected to give up to
foreign Power, land a bitterly hostile
foreign Power it will be,) and that un-
der the coercion of barbarous war
waged upon wretched metaphysical
bubble, half this fair territory of the
United States seacoast of two thou
sand miles; some of the best harbors
and military stations of the country !;
the fortresses that guard our coastwise
commerce some of the great lines of
communication East and West, North
and South; the control of the naviga-
ton of the Gulf of Mexico, and of the
outlet of the great system of internal
waters which gives its character to the
central basin ofthe Continent to give
it up too on a principle, in virtue of
which each and every one of the sece
ding States may fall into the arms of
any European Power that chooses to
persuade or coerce the surrender. To
suppose such a thing possible on the
part of the United States, except at the
last spasm of national strength, the last
sigh of national honor, the last strug
gle of agony, would be to apply to the
whole country Judge Pettigru's concep-
ton of the State of South Carolina.
"Can any man look at map of the
Union and then seriously entertain the
opinion that the United States, brought
to the very verge of war with Great
Britain, after diplomatic struggle of
sixty years for the possession of a few
acres of unsettled land on the banks of
the Aroostook, are going to permit a
foreign power to intrench itself at the
entrance of Chesapeak Bay. and thence
to stretch its boundary westwardly,
wherever it chooses to draw the lines
lover the hills, through the central
plains, across the Rocky Mountains to
the setting sun?
"But it is time to draw this discussion
to close. War is Justly regarded as
one of the greatest evils that can befall
nation, though it is not the greatest,
and of this great evil, civil war is the
most deplorable form. Thus far it is
true, we have the satisfaction Of reflec-
ting, Notwithstanding the barbarities
inflicted upon Union men in the sece-
ding States, that the contest has been
carried on without the atrocities which
have ben too apt, in all ages and coun-
tries, to mark the progress Of civil war.
Still it is dire calamity. want words
to express the sorrow with which from
the first have contemplated, and IN
oeasingly contemplate, the necessity
laid upon us to wage this war for the
integrity ofthe Nation. Few persons,
| think, have entertained visions more
glowing of the amount of blessings
stored up for the latest posterity, in the
perpetual Union of the States. / had
seen them already expanded from six
teen States and 100000 inhabitants,
which were the numbers at that time OF
my birth, to family of thirty-four.
States and population augmented
eight fold and reason and imagination
were alike tasked to find limit to the
natural growth of the country. But
numbers and space are but the relation
of material things. / saw exemplified
in this Western world-long hidden
and late reyealed-the idea of form
of government as nearly perfect as our
frail nature admits prodigal of bles
sings to the millions now on the stage
and promising a share in the same rich
inheritance to the millions on millions
that should follow us.
81 grew up beneath the shadow Of
our beautiful flag, and often when ]
have seen it floating on distant seas
my heart has melted at the thought OF
the beloved and happy land, whose
union was emblazoned on its streaming
folds. On hundred festive aud pat
riotio occasions, my voice has dwelt-
would it had been more worthily-or