The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-07-11
And so I give you all. the Ship OF State!
Freedoms last venture is her pr1ccicS
Freight!

Freight!
God speed her, keep her. bless her, while she
steers
Amid the breakers Of %unsoundcd years!
Lead her through dangers path with even
And guide the honest hand that holds her
wheel!
BLAINE NOW ACTS HIS PART in THE PLAY.
Mr.. Blaine, after a full statement Of the re-
latiOns between the United states and Mexico,
spoke to the younger generation, "whu con
stilutc the larger part or my. hearers: Inc
war with Mexico is merely q dim tradition or
an historical fact, but elderly ana middle
aged people will readily remember that the
final act which prc:ipitateu actual CONFLICT
between the two countries In the spring OF
1916, was not so lalpabIe nor so menacing as
that which is now being foreshadowcd OIL the
part of our nations future from the same dis,
turbcd quarter In the political heavens, and
guided, or even largely influenced by the
men and the interests that stand behind this
movement, some Of them mnsked and some
Of them in sight, we may fnu ourselves rush
ed into n war requiring Indeed but n petty
faction Of our military strength, yet lnVol-
wing Il serious drain upon our treasury, to be
reimbursed In the end by a cesslon of terri
tory required at the wrong time, located in
the wrong place, Inhabited by an undcscriba-
bio population, adding weakness where we
want strength, dlScOrd where we need peace.
q luck Oh phUTlOIlC dSllllLlol "llClCs HlOSU Vi
ali, we require the devoted spirit Of a true
American nationality. We are passing
through nh era Of test and trial for the Rcpub-
lie. The war Of the rebellion is long since
over, but political questions resulting there
from, the new adjustments rendered ncccssa-
~ by the issue of the conflict, the permanent
status of q race brought it into new relations,
have not yet been settled upon q busis that
gives adequate guaranty for peace, harmony
and security in the future. I do not wisl, To
exagserate these sources Of disquietude, nor
do / wish to undcrratc them. They present
the grave problems OF craftsmanship for the
present generation, and it remains to be seen
whether cur wisdom in peace is equaf to our
proves in war. Nor would 1t be just to ig-
more or belittle the grave difficulties which
the states lately in rebellion have upon their
own hands and within their own borders
questions which they alone can adjust, but
which are assurodly rendered more difficult
to them by their jealousy and distrust of the
National Government, and In certain aspects
these questions are being continually compli-
Gated and rendered more embarrassing by
the action OF these States themselves. When,
after the close of the rebellion, the States en-
gagged in it were readniitted to n participation
In the government of the Union, they all
came in with constitutions distinctly rccog-
nizinc and affirming the paramount author
ity of the National Government, and the
permanent allegiance due to 1t from every
citizen of the United States. Several Of the
States thus reconstructed have since changed
their constitutions, and In every instance
save one, they lave struck out tho
authority OF the Union and the paramount
allegiance of citizens to the National Gov
eminent. The latest example Is that ofGcor-
gia, that has Just voted for u convention to
revise her constitution on which she was re-
admitted to representation In Congress, and
her distinguished senator, Mr.. Hill, is ored-
tied by the public press with declaring that
among prime motives for changing the con-
s~titutlon of Georgia Is to strike from its pages
the assertion that the late war was rebellion,
and further, to erase and annul that majestic
utterance contained in the Sd section of the
declaration OF fundamental principles which
expresses more true patriotism than was ever
before proclaimed on the soil Of Georgia. 1t
Is in these memorable words: THE state OF
American Union. The people thereof nrc Il
part of the American nation, Every citizen
owes paramount allegiance to the Constitu-
tlon and Government of The United States,
and no law or ordinance Of this State In con-
troyersion or subversion thereof shall ever
nave any binding force" Mr.. Hill is report
ed as saying that this patriotic provision
should be struck from the organic law of
surfing his hearers that the full power oi the
South is just dawning, and that the day is not
far distant when it Will control the govern
rn ant tc o. dine Es' OF the s s,GT Ti 'I nart st " !, nnr
country, | ask men OF oil parties here assem-
Died on the soil OF Connecticut, IL they think
It wise to provide now by the acquisition Of
Mexican territory for the creation of addi-
tional States holding these views of the MI
tlonal Government, as inevitably they would
hold them by reason of proximity OF location
by the chaIactCrand creed Of men, who would
naturally inhabit and control them. In
States north OF certain lines Il countless ma
jority Of the people OF all parties believe their
paramount allegiance to be due to the Gov
crnmcnt of the United States, so that n con-
fiict Il NorthCrnS state and the United
States is practically impossible. In a major
ity of the States south OF the same line, a
great mass of those who term themselves the
governing class believe in ali allegiance to
their respective local governments superior to
the Union. 1t Is the same heresy thai hurried
tens Of thousands of brave and honorable
men Into u conflict with the government in
1851, and now sixteen years having elapsed,
with their trightful record of war and blood.
of cruelty. of carnage, the tragedy ends in
one important aspect just where 1t began,
with the men who prccipitated the conflict in
solid power from Maryland TO Mexico, resO-
lutte in purpose, and holding with tcnacity
the creed that underlay the rebellion, q creed
that Is utterly irreconcilable with the least
devotion to the Union of States. l do not
have the slightest doubt that their views are
honestly held by those who avOw them.
Mr.. Blaine then went on to review the poll
ing territory, and cluimed that all annexa-
the government had been in the Interest of
the South. He next advocated the annex
alton OF Canada, and concluded by saying the
government ought to be controlled BY the
North, and that every possible danger OF Its
falling into the hands OF the South should be
avoided.