Year: 1861

Sir, as leave that branch of it, indeed as
leave the subject altogether, will simply
say that hope it will never come. What
ever moderation that great healer, time,
whatever the mediation Of those allied to
these people in blood, in sympathy, in inter-
est, may effect, let be done but at last let
the laws be maintained and the Union pre-
served. At whatever cost, by whatever con-
stitutional process, through whatever of
darkness or danger there may be, let us pro-
ceed in the broad luminous path of duty till
dangers troubled night be passed and the
star of peace returns. ...


As take my leave ofa subject upon which
have detained you too long, think in my
own mind whether shall add anything in
my feeble way to the hopes, the prayers, the
aspirations that are going forth daily for the
perpetuity of the Union of these States.
ask myself shall add anything to the vol
ume of invocation which is everywhere rising
up to high Heaven, "spare us from the mad
ness of disunion and civil war II Sir, stand
ing in this Chamber and speaking upon this
subject, cannot forget that l am standing
in place once occupied by one far far
mightier than l, the latch of whose shoes |
am not worthy to unloose. 1t was upon this
subject Of secession. of disunion, of di. cord,
of civil war, that Webster uttered these i'm
mortal sentiments clothed in immortal words,
married to the nOblest expressions that ever
fell from human lips, which alone would
have made him memorable and remembered
forever. Sir. l.cannot improve upon those
| expressions. They were uttered nearly
thirty years ago, in the face of wha1 was i'm
agired to be a great danger, then haI PLY
dissipated. They were uttered in the full
ness Of his genius, from the fullness of his
heart. They have found echo since then in
millions of homes and in foreign lands. They
have been textbook in schools They have
been an inspiration to public hope and tc
public liberty. AS | close, repeat them;
adopt them. II in their presence were tc
attempt to give utterance to any words o
my own, should 1eel that ought to say,
| Sand shall the type so long divine,


Degenerate into hands like mine ~


Sir, adopt the closing passages Of thai
immortal speech ; they are my sentiments


they are the sentiments of every man upon
this floor would fain believe that they arc
an inspiration, and will become power
throughout the length and breadth of this
broad Confederacy ; that again the aSpera
tions and hopes and prayers for the Unior
may rise like perpetual hymn of hope anG
praise. But, sir, however this may be, these
thoughts are mine these prayers are mine
and as, reverently and friendly, utter them
leave the discussion:


"When my eyes shall be turned to behold
for the last time the sun in heaven, may
not see him shining on the broken and dis
honored fragments ofa once glorious Union
! on States discovered, discordant, belliserant


on land rent with civil feuds, or drenched
i may be, in fraternal blood Let their las,
feeble and lin gering glance rather behold the
gorgeous ensign Of the Republic, now known
and honored throughout the earth. still full
high advanced, its arms and trophies stream
ing in their original lustcr, not stripe eraced
or polluted, nor single star obscured, bear
ing for its motto no such miserable interroga
tory as, what is all this worth y nor thos,
other words of dclusion and folly, 'Libert,
j first, and Union afterwards; but everywhere
spread all over in characters of living light
blazing on all its ample folds, as they hea
over in characters Of living light. blazing OF
all its ample folds, on the sea and over tn
land, and in every wind under the Who'll,
Heavens, that other sentiment, dear to ever,
true American heart, Liberty and Union
now and forever, one and ,scparable ~