Year: 1861

view, out of the relation of African slaves
to the domestic population of the country.
Freedom is to them as to all mankind the
chief subject of desire. Hitherto, under the
operation of the Union, they have practical
ly remained ignorant of the controversy,
especially of its bearing on themselves. Can
we hope that fragrant civil war shall rage
among ourselves in their very presence, and
yet that they will remain stupid and idle
spectators? Does history furnish us any
satisfactory instruction upon the horrors of
civil war among a people so brave, so skill
ed in arms, so earnest in conviction, and so
intent in purpose, as we are? Is it mere
chimera which suggests an aggrayation oi
those horrors beyond endurance when, on
! either side, there shall occur the interven-
ton of an uprising African slaye..population
of four, or six, perhaps twenty millions?
The opinions of mankind change, and
with them the policies of nations. One hun
dred years ago all the commercial European
States were engaged in transferring negro
slaves from Africa to this hemisphere. To-


day all those States are firmly set in hostili-
ty to the extension and even TO the practice
of slavery. Opposition to it takes two forms,
one European, which is simple, direct abo-
lition, effected, if need be, by compulsion


the other American, which seeks to arrest
the African slave trade, and resist the en-
| trance on domestic slavery into Territories
where it is yet unknown, while it leaves
the disposition of existing slavery TO the
| considerate action of the States by which it
is retained. 1t is the Union that restricts
| the opposition to slavery in this country
within these limits. If dissolution prevail
what guarantee shall there be against the
! development here of the fearful and uncom-
! promising hostility to slavery which else
where pervades the world and of which the
recent invasion of Va. was an illustration
Mr.. President, l have designedly dwelt
so long on the probable effects of disunion
upon the safety of the American people as
to leave me little time to consider the other
evils which must follow in its train. But
practically, the loss of safety involves every
other form of public calamity. When
once the guardian angel has taken flight,
everything is lost.


Dissolution would not only arrest, but
extinguish, the greatness of our country.
| Even if separate confederacIes could exist
and endure, they could severaly preserve
no share of the common prestige OF the
| U Union. If the constellation is to be broken
up, the stars whether scattered widely apart
or grouped in smaller clusters, will thence
forth shed forth feeble, glimmering, and
lurid lights. Nor will great achievements
|
| solution would signaize its triumphs by
acts of wantonness which would shock
and astound the world. 1t would provin-
cialize Mount Vernon and give this Capitol
over to desoation at the very moment
when the dome is rising over our heads
| that was to be crowned with the statue of
Liberty. After this there would remain
for disunion no act of stupendous infamy to
be committed. No petty confederacy that
shall follow the United States can prolong,
or even renew, the majestic drama of ma
tional progress. Perhaps it is to be ar
rested because its sublimity is incapable of
continuance. Let it be SO, if we have in
deed become degenerate. After Washing


ton and the infexible Adams, Henry and
the peerless Hamilton, Jefferson and the
majestic Clay, Webster and the acute CAL


houn, jackson, the modest Taylor, and
Scott, who rises in greatness under the bur


den of years, and Franklin, and Fulton and


Whitney, and Morse, have all performed


their parts, let the curtain fall !


While listening to these Debates have


some times forgotten myself in marking


their contrasted effects upon the page who


customarily stands upon the dais before me,


and the venerable Secretary who sits behind


HIM. The youth exhibits intense but pleased


emotion in the excitement, while at every


irreverent word that is uttered against the


Union the eyes of the aged man are sufused


with tears. Let him weep no more. Rather


rejoice, for yours has been lot of rare fell


city. You have seen and been part of al


the greatness of your country, the towering


national greatness of all the world. Weep


only you, and weep with all the bitterness of


anguish, who are just stepping on the thresh-


old of life; for that not greatness perishes
prematurely and exists for you, not for me,
nor for any that shall come after us.


The public prosperity how could it sur
vive the storm? Its elements are industry


in the culture of every fruit, mining of all
the metals; commerce at home and on every


sea; material improvement that knows no


obstacle and has no end invention that


ranges throughout the domain of nature


increase of knowledge as broad Us the hs-


man mind can explore; perfection o. art as
! human genius can reach and social refine
ment working for the renovation of the


world. What guarantees will capital in
vested for such purposes have, that will
outweigh the premium offered by political
and military ambition? What leisure win
the citizen find for study, or invention, or
art, under the reign of conscription nay,
what interest in them will society feel when
fear and hate shall have taken possession of
the national mind


Let the miner in California take heed, for


its golden wealth will become the prize of
l the nation that can command the most iron.
} Let the borderer take'care, for tbeIndianwill
again lurk around his dwelling. Let the
pioneer come back into our denser settle
ments; for the railroad, the post road, and


the telegraph, advance not one furlong fur
ther into the wilderness. With standing


armies consuming the substance of our peo-
ivolo fha nd l
steamers Withdrawn from the ocean, who
will protect or respect, or who will even
know by name our petty confederacies
The American man-of-war is a noble spec
tacle. have seen it enter an ancient port
in the Mediterranean. All the world won
dered at it and talked of it. Salvos of ar
tillery from forts and shipping in the har-
Dor, saluted its flag. Princes and princesses
and merchants paid it homage, and all the
people blessed it as a harbinger of hope for
their own ultimate freedom. l imagine