The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-01-12
WHAT VANCE SAID.
RESPONSE TO THE TOAST OF
'sTHE UNION FOREVER

'sTHE UNION FOREVER"
At the Banquet of the Democratic Climb
OF Harlem, N. Y. He Tells Our Yam
kee Friends Exactly What the south
Thinks of the War.
"The Union toreverp In selecting
me to respond to this sentiment, Mr..
President, l hope the committee on
speaking was not influenced by the
supposition that [ might be peculiarly
qualified to speak thereon because of
having tried both sides of that ques
tion. And yet | must confess it looks
most susplciously that way. But how
ever that may be, l take pleasure in
assuring those gentlemen that, if such
was their intention, they have found
in me, in the language of an old con-
stituent, a man who shrinks from no
responsibility and shirks no refresh
ments. | am quite willing to re-
spond, and with all my heart, to the
sentiment ofeverlasting union between
these American States. Such is the
unanimous sentiment not only of the
people of my State, but of all those
who SO lately were in arms against it.
OF the Union itself we never complain
ed. The Union never did us any
harm. From: it, as properly under
stood, we never received anything but
blessings. Administered according to
its terms, compromises and limitations
as contained in the scripture of its
founders, there was to US nothing in
the handiwork of our fathers more
revered and loved than the American
union. It was the fitting climax of
their patriotic labor whereby the in
dividual weakness Of infant States,
separate and discordant, was trans
formed into that gigantic strength of
the whole, which makes us the wonder
of the world, and which, best of all,
comes to protect, against all corners,
each separate State in the guardian
ship Of the inestimable treasures of
liberty granted and guaranteed to
their citizens. These things we all
recognize as the proper purposes and
results of the Federal Union and for
these things we loved it and love it
still. 1t was only when majority
in the name of the whole Union, un-
dertook, as we thought, to injure and
oppress the minority, that we resisted
Even then we did not hate the Union
as it was and as it should be, but only
the unjust and unfraternal and unlaw.
full uses which were being made of its
forms by its irresponsible majority
Now that the causes which induced
and alienated us have passed away
no matter how or by what means we
have recognized the inevitable and re
sumed that ancient love of union and
fraternity which the slaughter of oul
sons and the desolation of our homes
had only served to suspend just enough
to not destroy, so far as | am author
lied to speak for them, | beg you to
believe, Mr.. President and my fellow
Democrats, that there are in this
broad land no men more devoted tC
the union of these States for all the
beneficent purposes of its formation a:
set out in the Constitution, than are
the people from whom | come They
believe, as | believe, in 'an indissoluble
union of States They believe, as I be
lieve, that the surest way to make that
Union perpetual is to make the OBJ
servance of its terms and condition:
perpetual. They believe, as [ believe
that he is not the best friend of the
Union, who is loudest in its praise anc
is forever rolling it under his tongue
but he most sacredly regards the term;
compromising concessions and frater
nal feeling by which it was formed
and out of which it grew. To doubt
this is to doubt that truth and Justice
are essential to the honorable charac
ter of individuals or of nations.
AS all the roads lead to Rome, and
as all streams flow toward the sea, sc
all that is good and salutary and ben
efcent in the principles of human lib
erty tends towards Democracy. The
Democratic party, therefore, which
believes in strict construction Of the
instrument which defines and limit.
the rights Of the States and people and
the powers of the common government
is the best and surest friend of the
Unior, and as such we commend it to
the favor of the American peoplel
A union of the American States
based upon perfect equality OF its
members, defined and recognized
rights, justice, mutual regard and 6
traternal concern OF each for the com
mon welfare of all, should and viii
last SO long as these virtues guide ant
control American citizens
Pardon me for the single suggestion
as close that we have not yet attain
ed to that desirable and perfect union
Whose fault it may be | will not herr
say, but the fact remains that one por
ton of these States continues to CLAIM
the right to interfere in the domesti,
affairs of another in ways most illega
and offensive. So long as this contin
ues real union cannot come and can
not be looked for. It has been so ia
the steady adherence to principle b.
the democracy of the North, AM
| their readiness to extend the benefit
of the Union to their Southern breth
rem that has brought the Union senti
ment thus near to supremacy. Be
your glorious mission to complete thi
noblest work ofpatriotism.