The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-27

have still left a the essentials of free gov
ernment, eontaied and embodied in the old
/ Constitution, utouched and unimpaired as
thev came frol the hands Of our fathers
With these, eva if we hsd TO begin entire
| " anew, the pospect before US would be
/ much more enouraging than the prospect
( was before then when they fled from the
/ oppressions of The old world, and sought
/ shelter and hoes in this then wilderness
! land. The libaies we begin with, they had
I to achieve. Wh the same energies and
/ virtues they dplayed, we have much more
/ 10 cheer US tbs they had. With q climate
unrivalled in alubrity; with soil unsur-
J passed ia fertity; and with products un-
equailed in Yme in the markets Of tho
world, to say othing Of our mineral re-
sources, we shl have much still to wed Us
to the good ol land. With good govern
ment, the matx from which alone spring
all great Euma achievements, we shall
lack nothing bu our own proper exsrtions,
not only to recfer our former prosperity,
but to attain nch higher degree Of devel-
opment in eygthing that characterizes q
great, free, sndlGppy people. At least !
know Of no Otht land that the sun shines
upon, that offerbetter prospects under the
contingencies sted.
The old Unil wss bssed upon the as
sumption that twas for the best interest Of
the people of q the States to be united as
they were, eaci5tate faithfully performing
to the people othe other States, all their
obligations und the common compact l
always thoughthis assumption was found
ed upon broad, orrect, and statesman-like
principles. | INK so yet. 1t was only
when it seemeds be impossible further to
maintain it, wiatut hazarding greater evils
than would, petsps, attend a separation,
that yielded nyassent in obedience to the
voice of GeOrGe to try the experiment
which has Just reulted so disastrously tous.
Indeed, during theyhole lamentable conflict
it was my opinion tat, however the pend
ing strife might termlate, so far as the ap-
peal to the sword was concerned, yet after
awhile, when the passics and excitements
of the day sho1ld pass a ay, an adjustment
or arrangement would be1ade upon CONT
mental principles, upon th0eneral basis Of
"reciprocal advantage anGmutual conve-
nience," on which the Unn was first es-
tablished. My earnest dere, however,
throughout, vas whatever m,ht be done,
might be peacefully done; migt be the re
suit Of calm, 1ispassiOnate, ana frightened
reason looking to the permanef interests
and welfare of all. And now, ter the
| severe chastsement of war, if the snera!
sense Of the whole country shall comeack
to the acknowledgment of the origal
assumption, that it is for the best interes
of the States TO be so united, as ! trust i
will the States still being "seParate as tn,
billows but one as the sea ;" | can percely'
no reason why, under such restoration, vi
as a whole with "peace, commerce, anC
honest friendship with all nations and en-
tangling alliances with none" may not en-
ter upon a new career, exciting increased
wonder in the oid world, by grande
! achievements hereafter TO be made, thai
any heretofore attained, by the peace al anC
harmonious workings Of our American in
stitutions Of self government. All this !
| possible if the hearts of the people be right
| 1t is my earnest wish to see il. FOndl.
/ would ! indulge my fancy in gazing on sucl
I a picture Of the future. With what raptur
/ may we not suppose the spirits Of our father
/ would hail its opening scenes from thel
/ mansions above. Such ere my hopes, rest
/ ing on such contingencies. But if, instea
/ of all this, the passions of the day shal
/ continue to bear away; if prejudice shal
/ rule the hour; if conflict OF races shal
/ arise if ambition shall turn the scale;
/ the sword shall be thrown in the balanc
/ against patriotism if the embers of the lat
war shall be kept glowing until with ne'
/ fuel they shall flame mp again, then ou
| present gloom is but the shadow, the PeHUH
/ bra Of that deeper and darker eclipse, whic
{ is TO totally obscure this hemisphere an
blight forever the anxious anticipations an
/ expectations Of mankind Then hereattC
by some bard it may be sung,
/ 'FIhe star Of Hope shone brightest in the West,
/ The hope Of Liberty, the last, the best:
/ TAst, too, has set, upon her darkened shore,
/ And Hope and Freedom light up earth no more.
May we not all on this occasion, on thI
/ anniversary of the birthday OF Washing
ton, ioin in fervent prayer to Heaven tina
the Great Ruler of events may avert fron
this land such fa'l, such fate, and suci
: a reUuiprn