■^V-t^*- ^ v^ H'; "^0^ *.' ^ -^ ^^^' ^^ •^. ^^ A- C-- civ ^ v^ V » » / ' s • • r ■^:i '^ (^ V^ - ^ <- « ■'' '^^'.'.^^ ^ ^^ .0^ "^^ s.^' 1» . .. .-.^"\, .^, x^^ '^t.. ^^°'^- x\^^ "^^^ *' '«*• '/•, .V .r. -•_A«' . %, ' .^ % . r\^ -^A 0> .0 o'^-' * -V 'c v-*^ ^\^' ^ V ^ V' ' . - ' /. V o 0^ .^^ '"'t^ /;.- ., , *>. * ^, ^ ^>^ %'''• ' % <,^ ' ■:>%■ , * " A <. .■** ' "^A >»^ vO o. \' \ H T-^, "^, V-*' oo •S , V I 8 i -^^ ..-{s'= C. ^^.^^^^^^^ "^y- C^ o-^ -r ,0- .x^- . o -i.' cP\. 0^ i^-' ^'^* '^-t A^-^' \ i -\y / THE UNION OF THE STATES, AND THE UNION 0! THE FAMILIES OF THE III am 11 ■! inii HOW THEY MAY BE r> R E S E K VE D BY MRS. J. P; T,>^ PORTLAND; PEINTED FOR THE PUBLISHER. 1861. of Ooogi'®*® lOBter BytraPBferfrom Btato gS6V ^ ^** HOW TO PRESERVE THE UNION. 4 » «» > My only apology for offering this little work, is my desire to serve God and humanity, and my own beloved native coun- try, and of my parents and grand-parents. Since it has pleased God in his providence to " remove lover and friend far from me, and my acquaintance into darkness," and I am no longer needed, to be " eyes to the blind, or feet to the lame, or mother to the motherless," I turn to the cause of suffering, whieh I know not; and search out an antidote for its woes, and invite the co-operation of all my readers. If any good results flow through such feeble instrumentality, to the King Eternal, immortal and invisible, the only wise God our Saviour, shall our praises be given forever and ever. In a work like the present, one of the first questions is in relation to the authorities cited. In this case we have prin- cipally used those of true patriots. Brutus' speech in vindi- cation of Caesar's murder, and the Inaugural address of General Jackson, and from the inspired Word of Jehovah- We are also indebted to the modern history of Europe for a few things, and to the oration of Pericles, which was spoken by him, at the public funeral of those Athenians who had been first killed in the Pelepennessiar War; and some things have been gathered from other sources. Our apology ht offering it to you at this time, Legislators ^ Countrymen and Philanthropists, is, our own patriotism which has been installed in us from our infancy, from our sainted sire, whose deep devotion to, and love for his native country, and the native country of his Father and Mother, her ances- tors being among those who came over in the May Flower.* The former of whom aided in the service of this country, in the war of 1812-14 ; the latter, of whom paid the services of a person in his own stead during the whole war of the Revolu- tion, to obtain our Independence from Great Britain, and who had his property on I and F streets destroyed in the general confligration of this city, immediately after he had removed his family and goods a few miles out, to Stroud water, f And often as we have listened to the story, as related by our sainted sire, of the first thing he ever recollected of his childhood, was his standing on a high rock where- he overlooked the burning of the town, and of many oilier thrilling scenes which we have no space here to relate ; our heart has burned within us to aid you in saving the Ship of State from going to distruction, as wo last year aided in saving the good Ship on her boisterous passage from Europe, when the good Captain was parelized, viz: by our fervant prayers to the Almighty, and by every effort in our power. By the reverence we cher- ish to the memory of an aged, sainted sire, whose love and pati'iotism of his country exceeded any other love ; ■ and, by the memory of the exalted virtues of a sainted brother, who * Two of her ancestors were among the number that landed on Plymouth Rock, from the May Flower. t The anniversary of the burning, or firing the Town by the British, whereby the building on the present site was destroyed, occurred the day preceding the ar- rival of the Prince of Wales for embarkation, and the first obeisance, on entering this City he made, was at that spot, in recognition to the waving of the handker- chief of the great grand-daughter of the then proprietor, who has long since passed away, although the house yet stands and is an heir-loom in the family of his de- scendants. laid his life upon the 'altar of his countiy, and went forth to battle in her strifes with the Mexicans, and with much credit to himself and honor to his country served them throughout the war ; and also went fortli to battle with the subtle savages among the wild swamps of the Withlicoochie. It was while surrounded by hardships and discouragements, which had the hardiest overworn, and there he won his commission of Captaincy, — being at the time the youngest Captain in the army — some of our readers will no doubt remember the ac- counts given in the newspapers at the time of that most trying and perilous march, from Fort Snelling through the wilder- ness with his command in the depth of winter, to obey orders to join the army of invasion on the breaking out of the war in Mexico, which, but for this foresight and prudence must have resulted in the destruction of his whole company. "We say for the reverence and memory of their patriotism and exalted virtues, we beseech you to hear us. And also by the memory we cherisli of a brother-in-law, and of the sufferings as narrated by him who is now deceased, in the war of 1812, as prisoner at Dartmoor when he was taken as a privateer, and subsequently his active service as a subordinate officer in the Mexican war. And by the deep affection we cherish for the memory of a sainted husband, who for more than thirty successive years (having the charge of a vessel at the early age of 19 years) traversed the ocean to foreign countries to bring to your doors the rich luxuries you now enjoy — regard- less of storm and tempest, and of sickly climates, and often exposed to imminent peril from the seas. Who can estimate the amount of good that flowed through his exertions, to my readers ! from his long, enterprising, energetic services, on going down to the sea, and doing business on the great waters ! in scattering of tracts and bibles, in the different islands of the seas ! and as Chaplain among his crew of so many differ- 6 cut natians ! in the knowledge which has been imparted to other minds, of navigation and of the science of the sea ! Friends — Countrymen, and Legisiators ! We beseech you to hear us — by the love we cherish for all their many virtues — and for the love we bear for each of their children who are scattered over the four quarters of this country — we beseech you to hear us. Stop and think before you fartlier go. AYill you SPORT UPON the brink of everlasting woe ? Who of my readers will say, that splendid China vase on their table can be broken into a dozen pieces, and can be mended to be as strong, and to look as beautiful, as before. Listen to the story. of the dying father, who called his sons around his bed-side and placing in the hands of the eldest son , a bundle of sticks carefully tied together, bade him break them. But the son, finding his efforts unsuccessful, he bade him pass it to his brother. And after a fair trial of the strength of each of the brothers, with equal failure, the father bade them cut the cord which united or bound the sticks to- gether, and with the greatest ease they were able to break up the parcel of sticks that they had found so difficult to break while bound together by the cord. The dying father entreated his children, never to let the tie of affection, which united them, to be cut. And thus do loe entreat legislators, country- men and friends, and all w^ho have the slightest interest in this blessed Union of the States, to exercise all their influence (be- fore it is too late) to keep the cord of affection tied closely till the latest generation. Woe ! be to the man that would cut the cord and admit the enemy into our midst to destroy us. What father would approve the course of a beautiful, ac- complished and highly educated son on leaving his paternal home to engage in business in a foreign country, who should unite himself for life to a sla^'C that had already had five hus- bands, and should toil late and early to maintain her and her children, and to pay up his notes given to purchase her free- dom. Regardless of his affiance with one his %qiial in his own country ? Who shall say, it is a pleasant picture, though it is a truth stranger than fiction ! Who can say that it was not a sentiment he had imhibed in his Northern home, in early life ? Who knoweth the trial the master of the South has with his slaves ? " Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ." But, brethren of the North, go not too far off to labor. See ye that little intelligent girl in your own neighborhood, each morning, in this cold, northern climate, as she goes forth with her basket in hand to gather the fragments of some kind friend that has proffered them to her ? But hark ! what meaneth that cry of anguish and of lamentation ? Rachel, weeping for her children, and will not be comforted because they are not comforted. While at this season of the year the husband and fatlier can find but little employment, the wife and mother finds herself more successful in finding employment among her more wealthy neighbors, and goes forth early in the morning on her mission of labor. Scarcely does she enter thereon, before the physician pronounces the disease an infectious one, and the family with this mother, who had engaged her services for oyie day only., are borne off to the hospital where she is kept for a week from her famishing children. But God raises up a friend and sends to their relief. She is again restored to her family, and while on her way to labor for a neighbor, in ascending the stairs, she falls, and she is again borne homeward — shortly to be borne to her narrow home appointed for all that are now living. The story of her sufferings goes forth, and sympathizing neighbors send to lier necessities. But soon she passes away from earth, and leaves her little group of four motherless children. Now comes work, in our own northern city, for active benevolent hearts. 8 See that poor neighbor with three infant children of her own, take into her own family the four little motherless ones ; al- though there is no tie of kindred, or of nature, existing be- tween them, and but a short acquaintance, as neighbors. She finds her own means so limited, that she timidly goes forth to those who have sent to supply the necessities of the dying wo- man for assistance. Mark her results. That benevolent hearted lady to whom the case is made known, searches up a place for the nursling of two summers, with her own sister who has no children. See that strong affection that has sprung up in the hearts of her and her foster child. " The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." See, he opens the heart of that professional gentleman of eminence and wealth, from another state, to adopt and take home with him that eldest, intelligent little girl of the basket notoriety of eight summers ; and who can say that she may not, in God's providence hereafter, ascend to an eminence with the children of that pious lady who, when requested to give from the broken fragments of her boun- tifully supplied table to feed those famishing children, coldly replied, That there was only a sufficient left for her dogs ; and the suppliant turns away to her poorer neighbors who have heretofore supplied their necessities, and finds her basket again replenished. Oh ye of little faith, let me beseech you to increase that little, before your Master calls you to an account for your stewardship. Judge • not the Lord by feeble sense ; think not that by becoming life-members of benevolent societies, it will be as in life-assurance, a saving- to insure at once for all the years of your life, instead of each successive year. Because the Lord loveth a cheerful giver, and reward- eth him, also. Let me entreat you, benevolent reader, to confine jour la- bors here at the North, until we can set our own house in order, and drive out the oppressor from our own midst. Let 9 ns take the advice of that sainted Sire who, some twenty years since, when the petition to Congress for an act to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, by a lady abolitionist was presented to his daughter for her signature, replied, that he was willing to be taxed with the Northern citizens to purchase their freedom ; but he should object to his daughter's petition- ing from the fact that we were meddling with an institution that was engrafted in our constitution, and consequently it would be meddling with the rights of the Southern portion of the Confederacy. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. " Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love ; in honor, preferring one another." Hark ! from whence cometh that cry to the Almighty for deliverence from the Oppressor. Listen as you hear the sup- plication of that stricken widow, as she bows with her little ones in prayer, for blessing on her pursecutors, that the Lord will turn their hearts and open to her the door of deliverence — and will not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he deal long with them ; I tell you he will avenge them speedily — nevertheless when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth. See, the door is already opening. She rises from her attitude of prayer, and opens and reads to her astonishment and comfort, the promises of her heavenly Father, from 2d Cron. 20, 11 to 17 verses. The promises enter her soul, and behold tlie troubled waters of her soul become calm. The Lord enlightens her under- standing, and shows her the open door of deliverence. Bless the Lord Oh my soul and forget not all his benefits. Hear his injunction : this is the way, walk ye in it. Show the path of deliverence to the nation, viz : Let them as a nation, one and all, " perform unto the Lord their vows," and the Union of the States is saved. That the Personal Liberty Law conflicts with their Oath^ 10 and therefore it should be taken from the Statute Books, and not a trace of it left to disgrace their faith in God, who has said that " He swear by Himself because He could swear by no greater." The personal liberty laws are void, inasmuch as they conflict with the Constitution, which was founded on the oaths and compromises of our Fathers, and thus became the Law of our fair heritage. It is a maxim, or truth, in law, that all contracts for the performance of unlawful acts are void, and that when one party refuses to fulfil an executory contract, the other is enti- tled to an equivalent in damages for the direct gains which he would have realized from the perfomance of the same. Any child often years can understand by reading the above sentence, that the North would be holden to pay an equivalent for the Slave that they withhold from the South, or else they would annul the contract. The oath of allegiance to the Constitution, which binds the States together into Union, and thereby draw upon themselves the punishment of imprison- ment for violating their oath. What King going to war, sit- teth not down first and counteth the cost ! Let us estimate the cost of a civil war. A war among the brethren of the same family, A war for what ? Can't tell exactly, say you ? Don't brethren, partake so much of the nature of your own little son, who wages war with his sister, because perchance, he thinks her share from the paternal loaf is larger than his own, when with a strong microscope you could not discover the difference, and continue to wage the war until the parent comes forth, and gives to each a severe whipping. Better take the suggestion of that sainted sire, who was willing to be taxed with his fellow citizens of the North, to purchase the freedom of the Slaves. That will cost less than prosecuting a war, besides the blessing that attends a noble action, and save imbruing your hands in your brother's blood; 11 and the Lords inquiring at your liand, where is thy brother ? for his blood calleth to me from the ground. Let us read Brutus's Speech in vindication of Caesar's murder, Romans, countrymen, and lovers I — Hear me for my cause ; and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor; and have respect for mine honor, that you may believe. Cen- sure me in your wisdom ; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Ctesar's; to him, I say that Brutus's love to Cassar was no less than his. If, then, that friend demand why Brutus rose against Ceesar ? this is my answer — not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were, and die all slaves ; than that Cajsar were dead, to live all freemen ?— As Cgesar loved me, I weep for him ; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it ; as he was valiant, I honor him ; but as he was ambitious, I slew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition. Who's here so base, that would be a bond-man ? If any, speak ; for him have I offended. Who's here so rude, that would not be a Roman ? If any, speak ; for him have I offended. Who's here so vile, that will not love his country ? If any, speak ; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. None ? — Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cgesar, than you should do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the capital ; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy ; nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Anthony ; who, though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth : as, which of you shall not ? With this I depart — that as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself when it shall please my country to need my death. — Shakespeare. 12 For my part I think it sufficient for men who have approved their virtue in action, by action to be honored for it, — by such as you see the public gratitude now performing. Justice to our forefathers require that we should on this occasion bestow on them an honorable remembrance. In this our country, they kept themselves always firmly settled, and through their valor, handed it down free, to every since succeeding genera- tion. Worthy indeed of praise aie they. But not less worthy are our immediate Fathers ; since enlarging our inheritance into the extensive Country which we now possess, they be- queathed their work of toil to us their children. Brethren do act understandingly about this strife, and do not sell this fair heritage of our Fathers, which was bought by their sufferings and blood ; do not sell it, I repeat, for a mess of Pottage, or at any other price. Rather say, as did that eccentric Senator, when a challenge was presented to him to fight a duel with his brother Senator, when he sent back to his adversary this laconic answer. Tell my friend, I will write home to my wife and family for their consent, for I cannot myself, not wholly my own, and if I obtain it, I will fight the duel ; or if it suits him, he may chalk out my figure on the wall and fire at that, and if he hits it I will acknowledge my- self dead. To whom will ye liken God ? who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meeted out heaven with a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance ! Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, and ride forth thou King most mighty, from conquering and to conquer, until He shall reign, whose right it is to rule. 13 The Union of the States, and of the Families of the States, 'bearing so near a semblance, we shall treat them as synony- mous. We read that God swore by himself because he could swear by no greater. First. — We remark that the blessed Union may be preserved by performing unto the Lord our " vows " or oaths. Let us all adhere to and keep inviolable, the oath of allegi- ance to the Covenant or Constitution, entered into by our Fathers, when they framed the Corfederacy or Union of the States. Which Oath is the basis on which rests the Republic. " God who in times pa^t, spake unto our Fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last days, spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all tilings ; by whom also he made the World." " Believest thou the Prophets ? I know that thou believest. Hear me for my cause, and be silent that ye may hear. Be- lieve me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe." If ye hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither would you be pursuaded though Washington should rise from the dead. Read the Inaugural^Address of Gen. Andrew Jackson, and your duty will therein be made manifest. An extract reads thus : — " It will devolve on me to execute the Laws of the United States, to superintend their confederate relations, and to promote their interests generally. And the principles of action by which I shall endeavor to accomplish this circle of duties, is now proper for me to explain. In ad- ministering the Laws of Congress, I shall keep steadily in view, the limitations as well as the extent of the executive power, trusting thereby to discharge the functions of my office, without transcending its authority." **************jj^ g^^l^ measures as I may be called upon to pursue in regard to the rights of the seperate States, I hope to be annimated by a proper respect for tliose sovereign mem- 14 bers of our Union ; taking care not to confound the powers they have reserved to themselves, with those they have gaanted to the Confederacy. The management of the public revenues, that searching opperation of all governments, is one of the most delicate and important trust in ours ; and it will of course demand no incansiderable share of my official solicitude ; under every aspect in which it can be considered, it would appear that ad- vantage must result from the observance of a strict and faith- ful economy. This I shall aim at the more anxiously, both because it will facilitate the extinguishment of the national debt, the unnecessary duration of which, is incompatable with real independence, and because it will counteract that tend- ency to public and private profligacy, which a profuse expen- diture of money by the government, is too apt to endanger. Powerful auxiliaries to the attainment of this desirable end, are to be found in the regulations provided by the wisdom of Congress, for the specific appropriations of the public money and the prompt accountability of public affairs. With regard to a proper selection of the subjects of imposts, with a view to revenue, it would seem to me that the spirit of equity, caution and compromise, in which the Constitution was framed, requires that the great interests of Agriculture, Commerce, and Manufactures, should be equally favored, and that perhaps the only exception to this rule, should consist in the peculiar encouragement of any products, of either of them, that may be found essential to our national independence. The military should be held subordinate to the civil power. As long as our government is administrated for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will, it will be worth de- fending, and so long as it is worth defending, a patriotic militia will cover it with an impenetrable aegis. Partial injuries and occasional mortifications, we may be subjected to, but a million of armed freemen, possessed of the means of war, can never be 15 conquered by aforeig-n foe, " neither can they be conquered, if they continue true to tl)eir oaths, by any home made foes. The recent demonstration of public sentiment enscribes on the list of executive duties, in characters too legible to be misunderstood ; the task of reform, which will require partic- ularly, the corrections of those abuses that have brought the patronage of the Federal government into conflict with the freedom of elections ; and the counter-action of those causes, which have disturbed the rightful cause of appointment, and have placed or continued power, in unfaithful or incompetent hands. In the performance of a task thus generally delinia- ted, I shall endeavor to select men, whose diligence and talents will insure in their respective stations, able and faithful co-op- eration, depending for the advancement of public service, more on the integrity and zeal of the public officers, than on their number. A diffidence, perhaps too just, in my own qualifica- tions, will teach me to look with reverence to the example of public virtue, left by my illustrious predecessors, and with veneration to the lights that flow from the minds that founded and reformed our system. The same diffidence induces me to hope for instruction and aid from the co-ordinate branches of the government, and for the indulgence and support of my fellow citizens generally. And a firm reliance on and good- ness of that power whose providence wonderfully protected our national infancy, and has since upheld our liberties in various vicissitudes, encourages me to offer up my ardent sup- plications that he will continue to make our beloved country the object of his divine care, and gracious benediction." What, my readers, is the light that flowed from the minds of his illustrious predecessors, who founded and reformed our system. Let us study with deep reverence for a knowledge of their public virtues, and endeavor as far as possible to imitate their 16 example. It i» not our province to instruct the enlightened minds of the readers of this article, but to awaken a train of thoughts now dormant, with regard to Personal Liberty Laws. It is unnecessary to repeal that law, since it is illegal and therefore void. The law conflicts with the constitution, which was framed with the oaths and compromises of our Patriotic Fathers. The Union cannot be dissolved, for as soon as it is attempted, the party that assists therein, if he be a public officer, is liable to imprisonment as a perjurer or a traitor. Dispel your fears — cast them to the winds. Ye shall not need to fight in this great battle ! set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you ; fear not, nor be dis- mayed. It is well known, that the law teaches, that the tie of Alle- gienca is more obligatory than any other. " What, my good people, is the meaning of this commo- tion ? Be not concerned for the loss of your leader, follow your new leader into the field and you shall have whatever you desire." It reads in Gen, IV, 12-15, that the Lord said to Cain, " When thou tillest the ground it shall not hence- forth yield unto thee her strength. A fugitive and a vagabond shall thou be in the earth. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord." Who among you will determine the color of the mark that the Lord set upon Cain ? The Lord said to Adam, for his sin in Gen III. 19, " In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Why should we murmur against God for the performance of his threat in the first in- stance more than the second ? Why such a commotion be- cause the illegitimate children of one color is seperated from its parents, when there is in the other color, or white race — (which philosophy teaches that white is no color), — there is no commotion at a separation. Exercise your reason, and it 17 will be restored and strengthened. Did you ever know any instances of white children's being separated from their pa- rents ? Go with me to the Reform School of this State, and see if any of those youthful rosy cheeked, bright eyed boys, have been separated from their parents during their minority, for truancy, and perhaps without the knowledge of their pa- rents, by the testimony of one witness. Oh look into our State Prisons for adults and see if there are not some innocent persons there separated from wife and children, through the false testimony of some one. Come, gentlemen philanthropists, and take a stroll through the streets of this boasted city of New England, and see what you can discover that requires the enlistment of your sympa- thies. Hark ! hear ye that cry of deep anguish from that group of little girls yonder ? One of whom is seated, this cold, bleak, autumn morning, on that mound of damp earth, with a helpless, little cripple child in her arms ? Inquire the cause of her sorrow, and learn from her bursting heart her tale of anguish ; her mother camnot take care of her any longer, and they have no home ; for their father, who finds employment from the city, ivill not take care of his children. Listen to the sympathizing words of that little group of girls that have gathered around, and let your own heart beat in response. Inquire for their master, and take the children up- wards a few blocks where you see that group of women. In- quire of the mother who is among them, the cause of her suf- ferings, and she will tell you that her landlord wants his house, or room, because she cannot pay the rent ; that she has no food to feed her famishing half clad children : hear her while she relates to you of better days, of her powers and capacities and willingness to work. But that she cannot pro- vide for those five children that are gathered around her and pay the rent, also. While her husband is spending his (?) money elsewhere. Take her with her group of children along 18 with you to some benevolent public officer, and state her case to him ; then hasten from your own stores to supply their im- mediate wants, by filling her empty basket with provision, of which she has scarcely partaken for several days ; and by putr ting stockings on the bare feet of that little cripple of three summers, who has never yet been able to walk, place a cover- ing on her bare head, and also clothes on the other tattered children. Listen, then, for your reward to that " God bless you" from the grateful mother, as she stands before you with the tear-glistening eye, and say ; is it not more blessed to give than to receive ? Or come ye, and listen to that tale of by-gone days from the lips of that aged saint, of eighty summers ; from whom you can glean a history of the deepest interest. The looks of Gen. Washington, as she saw him while on a visit to Boston, in the days of her childhood. Hear her narrate the many in- cidents of her early life in Boston, her native place, and of Plymouth, and of Dorchester, where her grandfather resided. Hear her relate the story as she heard it from the lips of her own mother, that when the British, in their red coats, were seen by her coming up the heights of Dorchester, with what fear and trepidation she seized her fii-st born, sleeping infant from .the cradle and hastily descended to the arch in the cellar, while the " red coats" came and searched, and departed without discerning her retreat. With what haste, after their departure, she gathered a bundle and run across the fields to her own father's house. Listen as she tells you of her grand- father's slave, and of his neighbor's slaves. When he was sent to the pillory for a whipping to be given him, the trick he served upon another slave, by feigning sickness, and em- ploying another slave to bear his master's note. Of the slave that was hung with his master, for stealing-, who came down alive upon his feet, and begged so hard of the by-standers to be forgiven, ascertaining that he only obeyed his master. How are the aged watched over and regarded by us ! Have the rights of the marriage contract, which were guar- anteed to her by the most solemn oath, been secured to her, inviolate ? She may have reared a family of twelve children J of her own children, many of whom may now be slumbering in the tomb, or immersed in the cares of their own families in distant parts of the country, have almost forgotten the claim of affection which she, in her long pilgrimage of four score years, holds to them. But can we, who dwell in her midst, forget with what alacrity she hastened to the call of suffering, be that call made upon her in the still watches of the night or at early dawn, through heat and cold, tempest and sunshine alike, for friend or foe, for rich or poor, without expectation or wish for reward, other than approval of her divine Master, " Well done, good and faithful servant." See her again as she recovers from a severe and protracted sickness, taking into her own family five little orphans until the relatives and friends may come forward to adopt them. Again behold her visiting one of that number, daily, at an infectious hospital. Regardless of self and of danger (and even past four score) see her shrouding her neighbor's little one for burial. But as they pass away, who will arise to imi- tate such virtues ? Or visit that aged widowed saint, who is childless ; listen to her well stored, historical narratives of by-gone days. See that oppressive taxation does not take from her the comforts of life. Speak kindly words to her, and lift the veil of sor- row from her heart. Revefence the aged. Oh, how blessed to have them remain so long with us ! Show them by every act of attention, that you know their worth and work. What an open field is spread out to the Philanthropists of this State, for active service ! Who, among my readers, will voluntarily enter this field and labor to liis utmost powers, till 20 his Master shall call him to labor in a higher sphere in His heavenly kingdom ! We have all been living too much at our ease, and have for- gotten the injunction of our Heavenly Master, to labor till he comes, — to improve the 07ie or more talents which has been given us with his injunction, " Occupy till I come." Let us hasten to do our first work, and leave off this contention, tur- moil and strife. And do faithfully, in our oivn fields, with all our might what our hands find to do. For there is no device, nor wisdom, nor knowledge, in the grave whither we are has- tening. Let us follow the injunction of the Apostle to the Gentiles, to do nothing to offend. He says, " If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat." My readers will allow, that Charity is one of the most heavenly graces. " For Charity suffereth long, and is kind, is not easily provoked, eeeketh not its own." Let us, therefore, cherish it in our hearts, and we shall be abundantly blessed with peace and prosperity, and with the Union of the States ; which have been the pride and glory of our Fathers, and which they have trans- mitted to us their children, by their struggles with hunger and cold, and even with their blood, hoping thereby to secure to us the peace and happiness we now enjoy. Let us not forget their pledge of life, and fortune, and sacred honor, to secure to us our free institutions. We are happy in the form ot government which cannot envy the laws of our neighbors ; for it hath served as a model to others ; but is original at this country. And this one form, as not committed to the few but to the whole body of the people, is called a democracy. How different soever in a private ca- pacity," we all enjoy the same general equality our laws are fitted to preserve ; and superior honors, just as we excel. The public administration is not confined to a particular family, but is attainable only by merit. Poverty is not a hind- rance, since whoever is able to serve his country, meets with 21 no obstacle of preferment from his first obscurity. The offi- cers of the State all go tln-ough without obstructions from one another ; and live together in the mutual endearments of pri- vate life, without suspicion ; not angry with a neighbor for following the bent of his own humor, nor putting on that countenance of discontent which pains, though it cannot pun- ish. So that in private life, we converse together without diffi- dence or damage ; whilst we dare not, on any account, offend against the public through the reverence we bear to the mag- istrates and the laws, — chiefly to those enacted for redress of the injured ; and to those unwritten, a breach of which, is allowed disgrace. Our laws have further provided for the mind, most frequent intermissions of care, but the appoint- ment of public recreations throughout the year, — a charm that puts melancholy to flight. The grandeur of this our country causeth the produce of the whole earth to be imported here, by which we reap a familiar enjoyment, not more the delica- cies of our own growth than of those of other nations. We lay open our country to general resort nor ever drive any stranger from us, whom either improvement or curiosity hath brought among us, lest any enemy should hurt us by seeing what is never concealed, we place not so great a con- fidence in the preparations and artifices of war as in the native warmth of our souls impelling us to action. In point of education, the youth of some people are inured by a course of laborious exercise to support toil and hardship like men ; but we notwithstanding our easy and elegant way of life, face all the dangers of war as intrepredly as they. — What though from a state of inactivity rather than loborious exercise, or with a natural, rather than an acquired valor, we learn to encounter danger, this good at least we receive from it, that we never droop under the apprehension of possible misfortune, and when we hazard the danger are found no less courageous than those who are continually inured in it. 22 In these respects, our whole community deserves justly to be admired, and in many we have yet to mention. Herein consists our distinguishing excellence, that in the hour of action, we show the greatest courage, and debate be- forehand the expediency of our measure. And those un- doubtedly must be owned to have the greatest souls, who, most acutely sensible of the miseries of war, and the sweets of peace, are not hence in the least deterred from facing danger. Permit us again to invite the attention of Philanthropists, and of the Judges of our Courts, and of the Clergy, to a few more observations respecting the laws of this State. It strikes us as remarkable and ludicrous, that the laws of the State of Maine, which recognize the right of her citizens to acquire property by an honest profession, do not ac- knowledge his right to dispose of that property by his own contract ; and that contract the most sacred, taken as it is, in the name of the most Holy Trinity, and in the presence of witnesses, thereby annulling that most sacred of all con- tracts, — the marriage contract. The Judges of our Courts will surely acknowledge, that all contracts for the perform- ance of unlawful acts, are void. And that where one of the parties to a contract makes a misrepresentation of an impor- tant fact, snch misrepresentation, though unintentional, will entitle the other to rescind the contract. Observe the con- tract : " With this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow^ It is unlaivfid to endow the wedded wife with all the husband's worldly goods, therefore the mar- contract is void, even though the husband was ignorant of the law, and they are unintentional on his part ; and that sacred spot, boasted of by him, and sung of by poets, " Sweet Home," around which, clusters all his sweetest memories. That home that man's meek angel has striven to make a heaven of, can no longer be claimed law- 23 fully his own, because the laws will not permit a man to en- dow his wife with property without the approval of the Judge of Probate of the County in which he resides. It may be humiliating to an honest man, to contemplate the laws, and imagine his own widow, after he has left a will, unable to carry out any of his wishes, and to see that widow, after recovering from her confinement, petitioning the Judge of Probate to be appointed Guardian of her own infant, and her child that she is appointed guardian of she is never en- titled to the services of, but is bound to support that child out of her own estate, if her husband leaves an insufficiency. The Mother, as Guardian of her child must give a bond in a penalty of double the amount of the personal estate, and of the gross amount or value of the rents and profits of the real estate during his minority, together with at least two sufficient sureties, each of whom, must be worth the amount specified in the penalty of their bonds, over and above all debts. Again, imagine your own widow, as Administrator of your estate, petitioning the Judge of Probate for license to purchase a burial spot for yourself, and imagine her feel- ings as she sees the publishment of her petition, week after week, and trembles lest her petition cannot be answered. Do you wonder that woman is weak with such laws ? Reverse them and her strength will be increased, and thus the strength of future generations be increased ; for the mother surely im- parts her nature to her sons and daughters. Ever bear in mind that our blessed Redeemer was born of a Woman, and his last act was to commend his Mother to the care of his beloved desciple John. Should the husband survive his children (whatever their number might have been) and die childless, and without leaving a "Will, the widow loses all but a dower, one-third interest in the estate. The husband's nearest relative, who is the heir at law, can 24 take possession of the property, push her ojff, and leave her without the means of subsistance, except such as she can glean from her one-third, whatever the widow's age or infir- maties may be, or whatever may have been her cares, and struggles as a help-meet to her husband for a long series of years. The widow must not look for mercy from the hus- band's relatives who succeed to the two-thirds, for they will annoy her in a thousand ways to crush out her spirit and life, that they may the sooner enter upon possession of the other third. The widow's feelings cannot be imagined as she enters with her humble petition into the kingly presence of the Judge of Probate, lest through lack of knowledge of etiquette, her manners should not reach the standard that would induce the king to hold out to her the golden sceptre, and thus her petition and spirits be alike crushed. But cheer up, afflicted widows, " for behold, your redemption draweth nigh." For if the state refuses to allow your deceased husband's estate to fulfil the marriage contract, you are entitled to an equivalent in damages for the direct gains which you would have realized from the performance of the same, form the State itself. So never again distrust that God, who has told you in his Word, that the very hairs of your head are num- bered, although you may not be able to see the number thereon. What a spectacle will it present for a general disunion of families to take place. Hasten, legislators, to enact a law that will confirm the marriage contract, and thus save that most hallowed union. " Nor for wealth, or fame, or power, hath men's meek angel striven, But silent as the growing flower, to make of earth a heaven." Permit us to call the attention of philantropists to a few observations drawn from practical life among us at the North. 25 It cannot fail, we think, at this exciting time of secession movement, to attract the attention of legislators, and of the Judges of our Courts, that an extensive and noble field of labor is spread out for their philanthropy in this State. Since the Chief Executive of this great confederacy has told us, in his recent message, that the sovereign States of the South alone are responsible before God and the world for slav- ery existing among them, will it not exonerate our philanthro- pists of the North from future labors in that field, and afford them time to look up the oppressed at Jiome ? For whom they will enact such laws as will give those who bear the responsi- bilities and care of rearing families and of sharing the sorrows of their partners in life, the rights that the Great Creator en- dowed our first mother with, as may be learned by reading Gen., chap. 2, verse 24 ; chap. 3, 26. From the first quotation we learn that by marriage covenant, God pronounces Adam and his wife one, and in the second quotation, that she is to share with him equally in his possessions, she being called " mother of all living :" and as they had no children at that time, it must be to show her equality in all their living pos- sessions, that she is thus called the mother. Tlie great number of divorces decreed at our Courts of late, show conclusively that new laws are needed — ^that something is wrong ; or the Judges of our Courts would not so often ap- prove of secession in the marriage contract, which to us seems equally as binding and to contribute as much to the happiness of nation of families as does the union of the States of this great Republic. Let us look at the marriage contract and compare it with the laws of this State : " With this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost." Is it true that the wife or widow finds herself thus endowed when she settles her deceased husband's estate ? On 26 the contrary, is she endowed with any definite power, either as partner, agent, or anything nameable ? Does not her posi- tion bear a semblance to the shive ? She has been faithful to her lord and master, or husband, says the Judge of Probate to the administrator, suppose we make her an allowance out of the personal property, amounting to which perhaps is less than she brought with her to her husband. She can have her right of dower of one-third from his real estate : that is, the income of one-third ; but suppose it to be all land, from which no income can be obtained ? Can she sell one-third of the land ? Why no ! She can sell her right of dower, calcu- lating with a nicety the time she will be likely to live. And who takes the other two-thirds of his property ? Why, his chil- dren, as tho' the mother could forget her own children, or they were nothing to the mother. She is placed under bonds to be guardian to her own children, thus making her a slave to them. The child becomes of age and marries, and if the son-in-law or the daughter in law is benevolent, the mother is permitted to live with them, if she makes herself useful. What can be done to improve matters ? let us inquire. Why, let justice always take the throne and we shall perc^ve at once that we should do as we would be done by. How would the husband find means to change the laws were they vice versa. But it may be urged that the husband can make his will. But does he always make it ? On the contrary, " all men think all men mortal but themselves," and so procrasti- nate, and death overtakes one man, perhaps in a foreign coun- try, and the name of one of a rising family was not mentioned in his will. Or, perchance, the dying husband makes his will, distracted with pain, and without a sulhcient number of wit- nesses — will it be lawful ? Or, his wishes may be learned by letters, but are they approved ? It is to the framers of the laws that this appeal is made for redress — that the laws may be so amended as to improve the conjugal relation, having 27 them based on a good foundation. The child of twenty-one now is la\V^fully entitled to the same, as the child of one year. So that if there are many children, with a small property, the mother has enough to do the rest of her life, for she is expect- ed to care for her young children. But, say you, the Judge of Probate has discretionary power to do for young children. Yes ; but suppose, for some reason best known to himself, he refuses to exercise that discretionary power ? What man among you wishes to place a King on the throne over his own family affairs, and have his own widow silenced and his own written wishes disregarded ? The widowed mother, without property, will not be placed under bonds to be guardian of her children ; but if she fail to exert herself for their support, she will be likely to find herself in a place of confinement, properly called the Work house, where she will most certainly be expected to contribute towards her children's support. The constitution of marriage which was made in the gar- den of Eden, when the Lord pronounced our first parents One flesh, has since been confirmed or ratified by the Oath of the Covenant, at the marriage altar. Marriage, to a woman, is at onee the happiest and the saddest event of her life. She enters into the path before her, buoyed up by the confidence of requited love. Then woe I to the man that would blast such fond hopes. " Its life is the one by which higher, or more interior principles in the mind are enabled to flow down with ultimate activity and become purified from hereditary stains. Thus purified, they minister to higher and more in^ terior capacities to happiness. In other words, they enable us to perform higher uses in life, and as a conseq^uence, ren- der us happier. Marriage has its cares, its sorrows, its deep anxieties, as well as its duties. But though you have your crosses to bear, your griefs and pains and anxious cares, all 28 will be blessed to you, the character will become more and more perfected by these cares." No spiritual good is born without labor and pain. It must be so in the very nature of things ; for it is only by the resistance to, and putting under our feet, of mere natural ajffections, that we rise into the life and delight of pure, un- selfish spiritual affections. Marriage being a state essential to the preservation of the human race, being a state for which every one is created, there must be perverted affections of a very vital character, which never can become active, and therefore never resisted and regenerated, unless the marriage relations be formed. How important, then, to every one, is this union ! It may and will have its trials, its pains, and its temptations ; but without them, its uses would never be fully attained. The oath of the marriage contract is regis- tered on high, and cannot be broken, inasmuch as it is taken in the name of the most holy Trinity ; but if the contract cannot be kept inviolate for the law, that law must be taken from the statute books. The recommendation of President Buchanan to the people of the United States, to observe th 4th day of January as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer, strikes us, as shad- owing forth the wisdom of a Soloman ! What profound wisdom ' Every line I and every word ! of that unequaled petition or invocation of the Great Chief Magistrate, to this people to observe this day by fasting and prayer, shows faith ! •' It is like apples of gold in pictures of silver," and ought to be engraved on every heart. Hear him, where he says, " in this^ the hour of our calamity and peril, to whom should we resort for relief but to the God of our Fathers ? His omnip- otent arm only can save us, from the awful effects of our own crimes and follies — our own ingratitude and guilt towards our Heavenly Father," " Let us then^ with deep contrition and penitent sorrow. 29 unite in humbling ourselves before the most High. * * Let us implore him, to remove from our heart that false pride of opinion which would impel us to persevere in wrong for the sake of consistency, rather than yield a just submission to the unforeseen exigencies by which we are now surrounded. Let us with deep reverence beseech Him above all to save us from ' blood guiltiness.' An omnipotent prudence may over- rule existing evils for permanent good. Let me invoke every individual, in whatever sphere of life he may be placed, to feel a personal responsibility to God and his country for keep- ing this day holy, and for contributing all in his power to remove our actual and impending calamities." Let this great nation, as one heart, respond to this invoca- tion, and with deep contrition and penitent sorrow, unite in humbling themselves before the most High, and in confessing our individual and national sins, and in acknowledging the justice of our punishment, and we are saved — " saved from blood guiltiness" — for God will hear and answer prayer, be assured of that ye that never pray, and if prayer has never yet ascended from your heart, let this first prayer ascend, that yon may not imbue your hands in your brother's blood. God forbid that we should have a civil war ! The power of prayer ! Who doubts its power ? Go ask the lone widow with her orphan children, bowed down by oppression, where she obtains her strength to buoy up that cheerful spirit, and she will point you to that never failing fountain, from which she obtains her supplies, the throne of Grace. I have a case to relate which recently came to my notice of a christian woman, that was suddenly bereft of her hus- band and child by death, where sympathising friends -stepped in between her and her step children, and out of pure friend- ship (?) to the latter, broke up the family harmony, somewhat as these United States are now in fearful danger of being 30 broken up. Her means for providing for her young children was melting away by the combined efforts of her professed friends. And when her heart was well nigh crushed by her oppressors, and her breath seemed almost about to leave her, she sank upon her knees with her little one kneeling beside, and as she raised he voice in prayer, the little one beside her says, " Mother, pray God to make hearts good," naming those who had created all the trouble. No sooner had the prayer ascended than the widow became calm, and the deep anguish passed away /orerer, and she arose and opened her Bible at 2d Chronicles, 20 : 11, 12 — 17, in which the Omnip- otence of God is strikingly set forth — and quietly she slum- bered that night, which she had been unable to do for many nights, from her deep anguish I a bruised spirit who can bear! no person can without Divine aid. Let us the all seek now Divine aidy and as the little one suggested to her mother, pray for not only ourselves, but for blersings on those who have produced the trouble, " that God will make their hearts good," as well as our own, and this anguish that has now seized our country will pass away forever. I close this work with a few remarks on our beloved "Wash- ington. I shall not attempt a review and philosophical an- alysis of the whole character of Washington, as my space is limited. When the news of the splendid feat performed by Wash- ington, in the surprise and capture of the Hessians at Tren- ton, reached the headquarters of the British army at New York, it found Cornwallis just about to embark for England, in the comfortable assurance that the conquest of the Colo- nies was already virtually accomplished — a sad mistake for him, as the future was destined to prove. Gen. Howe, the British commander, arrested his departure, and sent him with a considerable force into New Jersey, to check and drive 31 back the American army. Leaving in his rear a quantity of stores at Brunswick, and a number of troops at Princeton, Cornwallis went forward to Trenton, near which the Ameri- can forces under Washington then were. In consequence of harrassments which he met on the way, he did not enter Trenton until about nightfall ; and there- fore determined to delay till the following morning, his in- tended attack on Washington. The latter, finding himself face to face with a force greatly superior to his own, and knowing that either to sutler a re- pulse, or voluntarily to retreat from the Jerseys, would at that time eiicert a very disastrous influence on the patriotic cause, struck out one of those grand manoeuvers with which he oc- casionally astonished his friends and overwhelmed his adver- saries. Leaving a few men to keep up fires and other camp op- erations during the night, thus deceiving the enemy, and then to follow after, he drew off the body of his forces in the dead of night, and made a hurried march to Princeton. Reaching the vicinity of that town early in the morning, he found the troops left there by Cornwallis in the act of setting out for Trenton. One or two regiments, under Col. Mawhood, already on the march, intercepted a division of the American force under Col. Hugh Mercer, whom Washington had sent on to enter Princeton by a route different from his own. A collision ensued, and the troops under Col. Mercer were repulsed. A division of Pennsylvania militia, coming up to his relief, were also checked, and were in danger of being routed. At this juncture Washington himself dashed up on his white charger, and seeking by voice and example to rally the flying troops, and encourage the halting militia, rushed forward under the very muzzles of the enemy's guns. His soul was thoroughly fired with determined zeal. The con- tagion spread. The American troops, with their reinforce- 32 ments, returned to the contest. "Washington's position, be- tween opposing fires, was one of great danger. A terrific discharge from the enemy's guns at one time enveloped him in a cloud of smoke. He was lost to the view of his own friends, and his affectionate aid-de-camp gave him up in de- spair. The cloud was, however, not charged with ruin, but filled with mercy. He was presently seen to emerge unhurt. The greatest enthusiasm seized the American forces. The enemy in turn gave way, and as he saw them breaking into flight, Washington waved his hat in enthusiastic and exultant triumph. At the moment already described, when he dashes forward toward the enemy's guns, and draws himself up in calm defi- ance, as though he would challenge his fate, and was indif- ferent to the result — it is as he appears at this moment that the artist seeks to present him in the statue before us. How firm his resolve ! how his great soul is uplifted by a sense of his noble mission ! Feeling himself an instrument of Heaven^ to accomplish a nation's deliverance, he fears no harm. The messengers of death fly around him, but he heeds them not. His trust is in the shield of the Most High. APPENDIX TO THE UNION OF THE STATES, AM TEE mm M m rAiiiiiEs of thj ilfl Slffll ill ■! ilfil. HOW THEY MAT BE PRESERVED. BY MRS. J. P. THURSTON. PORTLAND: PRINTED FOR THE PUBLISHER- 1861. To THE Pamphlet entitled, " The Union op the States, AND the Union op the Families op the United States and of Great Britain. How they may be Preserved. " The Power of the Prajer of Faith." The Union of the States is a subject paramount to all others, and one that should be carried with true faith bj every praying Christian to the throne of grace ; that God will save us from the miseries of a sundered Union. Let us ask of Him (who never refuses a request offered in faith), wisdom to direct our Rulers, and for wisdom to direct the whole people in the right measures to preserve the Union right. Justice is strong ; next to the Almighty. " Real manifest justice, in our civil relations to the entire copartner- ship of our Union on the one side, would be more successful in promoting harmony, than many ships of war on the other side. We are to do right, then, on the Statue books, so as to fulfil our constitutional pledges, and by every manifestation of kind- ness and forbearance endeavor to conciliate and harmonize discordant elements, or spirits. Lest the Lord pour out his indignation upon us, as upon Jerusalem, as written in Ezekiel 22d, 15th verse to 31sl, which read and reflect upon. Wlien our States combined together under one government^ they came into the Union, each with all the imperfections and wrongs it had tolerated; and with some, which the rulers themselves, no more elevated in morals than the people, had justified and confirmed. They took each other with a clear understanding of what they took, for better or for worse. If we examine the character of Washington, we shall find it thoroughly imbrued with conscientious convictions of duty. Duty ! Duty ! was the great controlling idea with him. So strong, so deep, so sublime was his sense of duty, that in its discharge he felt himself under special guidance, or protec- tion of an overruling destiny. " I think I see clearly the finger of Providence in my past life," was a form of ex- pression used by him. And again he said : "As the All- wise Dispenser of events has hitherto watched our very steps, I trust," &c. His sense of duty was a robust, manly feeling, the verdict of a sound judgment sustained by an active healthy con- science ; and acting up to its dictates he felt himself under the guidance and protection of the great Arbiter of truth and justice. This was the basis of his belief in destiny. Stayed by it, as by a great anchor, his soul was calm, steadfast, im- movable. He had not that vulgar firmness which boasts itself for a purpose and surrenders for a price. His was that firm- ness that repels temptation, and makes one calmer as the storm grows louder. Let me present one or two illustrations. When the great work was done and the time approached for the army to be disbanded, they were greatly dissatisfied ; they thought th^it Congress had treated them with injustice. With the assent and encouragement of Washington, they would undoubtedly have been ready to make him supreme ruler, with the title of King. Washington scorned the prof- fered bribe, and successfully rebuked the sedition. Another incident in his life, which perhaps equally exhibits his self-denial and controlling sense of duty. The year 1777 was drawing to a close under circumstances very unfavorable to the American Commander-in-chief. The operations were probably planned by him, which led to the svirrender of Gen. Burgoyne, but Gates had reaped the credit of the achievement Brandy wine, German town and Fort Mifflin, had been the scenes of disaster to his foes ; and to crown all, Philadelphia was in possession of the enemy. In the meantime, a formi- dable rally had been formed, in which Gates, Conway, Mifflin and Sewell were the prime movers, whose object was to displace Washington from the chief command, and they were working not without some effect. Under these circum- stances, his friends thought it a matter of great importance to him to make a brilliant stroke. To drive out the enemy from Philadelphia and retake it, Washington was satisfied he could accomplish. But he concluded that while success would re-establish his own influence, the effect would be attended with so much loss of life as to do real injury to the patriot cause. He therefore resisted all persuasion, and yielled his own interest to the good of his country. What Napoleon or even Wellington would have done under similar circum- stances, none can doubt. Washington alone could thus prefer duty to fame and power. With so controlling a sense of duty, it may well be conceded, that success could not greatly elevate, nor reverse cast him down. In the one ease, he felt that he had merely been an instrument in the advancement of a good work ; in the other he replied, that He who is stronger than armies, and more powerful than the winds and wars of ad- verse fortune would, in His own time, take care of Hio own cause. He was therefore prone to " hope against hope." It was his maxim, " never to despair." Washington possessed a clear sound judgment, and a firm will, an ability to undergo hardships, and sympathy with the sufferings of others, econ- omy in the use of means." God grant that our rulers may follow the light which flows from the character of our beloved Washington, and that the Union of the States and of families may be preserved to the latest generations. We see that what- ever wisdom could devise, or firmness execute, or clemency soften, or devotion suffer, all this, it was known, might confi- dently be expected of him. And his example, may it be the 6 study of our rulers who represent the people, in whom the sovereignty is vested, and from whom, as trustees and agents, they receive their power, and to whom they are amenable at all times, to so imbue themselves with tlie spirit of Washing- ton, as to remove the present difficulties and to produce union and harmony to our beloved country. Let us not suppose we shall gain any good by disunion. The English Colonies might wish to unite with the North. But what possible benefit could be derived from them. Their own strength is perfect weakness. Let us imagine, for a mo- ment, what the state of the British Government would be if her Majesty, the Queen Victoria, should be removed by death. Who would then be at the head of that Government as King ? Prince Albert, or the Prince of Wales ? We read in a Lon- don paper, of the date ***** wliich is now before us, the whole marriage ceremony and contract. That contract is void, inasmuch as it is unlawful for the Prince to endoiv her Majesty with all his worldly goods, even though it be enforced !)y an oath. The Queen endows the Prince, by the marriage contract, with all her powers o^mind, and wealthy which over- balances his, so far as to annul the marriage contract. For it is a maxim in law, that a contract based upon an unreasonable consideration is void. A contract where the consideration is palpably insufficient for the performance of such contract, is void. Who, then, would be King of England ? By the marriage contract, they (Prince Albert and her majesty, Queen Vic- toria, long may she live to bless her nation) are like our first parents in the garden of Eden — one flesh ; and if they are one, it is apparent to my readers who would be the King. If they are not one, then is the marriage contract void. Then who would be the King of England at the Queen's decease ? We would suggest that the Statute books be made to con- form to marriage contract, and thus Prince Albert can unite Ills witl with Queen Victoria, for the Prince of Wales to suc- ceed her, and thereby bless, and save the Union of Families in the United States, as well as in Great Britain. Let us take another view of the marriage contract. Two fundamental doctrines of the church, viz : man's accounta- bility and free agency are destroyed by the conflicting law, which gives a portion onl?/, instead of endowing tlie wife with all. The comprehension of which is the several parts of the whole. *■' With all my worldly goods I thee endow" in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." With the sun's clearest effulgence in the heavens, how absurb to reason with man that it diffuses no light and heat to the earth. Thus absurd does it appear to ns to argue the point at issue. Even the definition of the word preceding the last period signify the married couple, — one, only. The Trinitarian, surely, can understand the divine nature. (We speak with deep awe on that most sacred subject.) The Scriptures teach us that the " wayfaring man though a fool need not err therein. But to return to the " contract of mar- riage." The law recognizes not the ivife as one. Farenis were recognized by the Lord at the marriage in tlic Garden of Eden, as " one flesh," and as " mother of all living," signi- fying Adam's estate. But the law in lieu of it endows the wife wtih nothing, actually/ ; although it is written in their Statute books that the wife is endowed with one-third. For ex- ample : The husband becomes addicted to gambling, and his (?) one hundred thousand dollars gradually diminishes ; and the distracted husband, to drown his remorse and anguish, puts an end to his existence, after having squandered it all away. Where, then, is the wife's dower, if that property was all in bank stock, scrip and bonds ? The law does not recognize the wife as a partner with her husband, consequently no action can be sustained to her ad- vantage therefrom, as might be in the case of a partner, who I 8 draws a note or bill in his individual name, the firm would not be liable therefor. But as we have already said, where the light is as clear as the noon-day sun, how absurd to argue the point. Unless the married couple are owe, the oaths and laws are useless, and void. 1st. We have shown, that by an oath the wife is endowed at the marriage altar, with all, " not a portion," but all, com- prehending the several parts of the whole — as one with the husband. And the law should be made to conform thereto. How absurd does it appear for his Royal Highness, the Duke of Sussex to take the hand of her Majesty, and place in that of his Serene Highness, and take a vow, pledge each their oath, and the Archbishop of Canterbury to call upon the " Eternal God for his blessing, and that they may surely per- form and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received, is a token and pledge,) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Those whom God hath joined together, let no men put asunder. Forasmuch as Albert and Victoria have consorted together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God, and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and re- ceiving of a ring, and by joining of hands, I pronounce that they be man and wife together." Though we have copied more than we intended of the cere- mony, we cannot forbear copying that portion of the cere- mony where Prince Albert placed the ring on her finger, re- peating, '' With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."^ How absurd does all this sacred rite appear if the law of the land cannot be made to conform to it. If that sacred oath 9 can be laid aside, on what foundation rest all laws ? Is not the oath the very basis of the laws ? All contracts for un- lavjful acts are void. Is the law that conflicts with man as a free agent, as a moral and accountable being to his Creator, and to his most sacred vow at the marriage ceremony to re- main, and yet the laws of justice be based upon man's oath. Where is thy faith ? By their works ye shall know them. " The oath was administered in the time of Christ at the judgment hall of the Sanhedrim. Christ himself is cited be- fore the throne of the Almighty, and called upon to testify on oath and under invocation of the name of the Most High God^ as to whom he was, whether a false prophet and deceiver. The High Priest uses the form of adjuration customary in Israel. " I adjure thee," says he " by the living Ood, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of the blessed." The High Priest thus solemnly calls upon Jesus, as it were for his credentials, while making the basis of the en- tire Christian religion as the object of his inquiry, and in sa doing is perfectly justified by his official position. He knows the Messiah will be the Son of God, and not only like Jeho- vah, but Jehovah's equal, and thus really God. Caiphas asks, " art thou he ?" He stands there ready to sink with weari- ness from his sufferings, forsaken of his friends, inveigled against by his enemies, apparently the offscouring of the earth and incomparably wretched. Jesus is silent while the accusations were being made against him. He knows his an- swer will cause his death, but he no longer refrains. He tes- tifies before the throne of the living God with clear conscious- ness, consideration and formality, and solemnity. Thou hast said it, " 1 am." His affirmation establishes our faith on an everlasting foundation. If the Oath is the basis of our religious faith, how is it that the laws of the land are permitted to conflict with it, as in the marriage contract ? 10 Wc recollect an instance in Tory early life, of attending a Sabbath day service, of a cold autumnal morning, with our little treasure, in one piece of money in our pocket. The pas- tor took for his text, " He that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord ; that which he giveth him will He pay him again." The sermon was a strong one in behalf of the destitute ; una- ble to resist his arguments, (after vainly wishing our money in broken fragments that we might give less, as our various wants arose up in the mind, and that it must be our all or none.') As the box came around, we cast it all in, believing that the Lord would provide for our immediate wants. It was a cold windy day, and as we were returning from church, not more than five minutes after leaving it, a bit of paper blew at our feet. Judge of our surprise on looking at it to perceive a three dollar bill, which we could find no owner for. And thus we took it that the Lord sent us principle and interest. Let me assure my readers that it taught us to " Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but to trust him for his promised grace, ever after. Will you do likewise ? Take him at his promises, " that to him that hath no mite. He increaseth strength." Faith in God is all that is needed to save the Union of the States ; of the families thereof. We feel assured that all that is needed for our salvation, as a united people, as well as our eternal salvation, is true abiding faith in God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One. Let our rulers, one and all, unite with the people and ask wisdom of God, as did Solomon ; and who doubts God's promise that he will answer by bestowing it. When the heart is made con- trite before God, how easy is it to make our conduct right to- wards our fellow men. For the love you bear towards your wives and daughters, and your aged mothers^ who are powerless, comparatively with yourselves, we had almost said, — (yet not powerless are they in a right cause and with a right spirit, 'if they plead at His 11 footstool who is Almighty.) For He has promised to hear and to answer the prayer of faith. He has all power in heaven and in earth. Let us therefore, my sisters, beseech Him to save us as a nation. Let me entreat our brothers, also, to ask God for wisdom and direction, and thereby save to your loved ones the United States — the home of the free. It is a duty we owe to them to make every concession that God and conscience dictate ; to save this Uuion which our fathers have bought with the price of their own blood ; that we might enjoy its rich blessings — a free country. The power of the prayer of faith was strikingly manifested to us, on a passage from Europe to New York, in the winter of 185-. It was amidst discouragements sufficient to have crushed all hope of ever seeing the port of destination that the passage was made. The Captain of the ship had been sick in a foreign port, but was convalescent at the time of embarka- tion. His wife who was with him, secured the services of the mate of an American ship, to make tlie passage with them, and he was shipped as one of the crew, but he signed an agreement that she drew up, that he would do such duty as the Captain and ship most required. They had been out on their passage only ten days before the Captain was again seized with the malady which, to appearance, must certainly prove fatal. Quick as thought, the prayer ascended that he might be so far restored as to reach the port of destination — and that prayer was constantly going up, the prayer of faith ! was it answered ? Yes ! it was answered ! He reached his own home, but died shortly after. It was amidst storms and tempests the passage was made^ and on one occasion when the tempest was raging most fright- fully, at early dawn, (and it came on with such suddenness as to find the ship illy prepared for it — she having her sails all set) that the power of prayer was again manifest. The Capt.. was only able to stand up, with all the assistance his wife could 12 afford liim, but to the companion-way he would go, and as he looked out upon the scene, the ship lying almost on her beam ends, with all her sails set — oh the horrors of that moment — he exclaimed in the deepest anguish, we are lost ! we are lost ! At that moment the prayer of faith ascended — Lord, save, or we perish. The vessel righted. The Capt. revived, and ex- claimed, " the pumps ! we shall sink !" The water was rush- ing with great violence across the decks. But the men were all needed at the yards. " What can be done," says the wife. " Promise me that you will not attempt to rise," and address- ing the little children, " you keep watch that your father does not attempt to rise while I run forward, and in the name of the Captain, order the cook, steward and Consul passenger to the pumps. Which was immediately executed, and while the waves were washing over the decks she stood and saw it per- formed, — and whenever the Captain forgot his weakness, in bis eagerness to come forward to assist, and attempted to rise, those little watchers would cry out, " Mother! Mother !" and thus remind him of his weakness, and of his promise. Judge Story, of the Supreme Court of the United States, says, — The understanding is general, if not universal, that having beeii adopted by a majority of the people, the consti- tution of the State binds the whole commumty, proprie vifforCj (by its own innate power,) and is unalterable, unless by the consent of a majority of the people, or at least, by the quali- fied voters of the State, in the manner prescribed by the Con- stitution, or otherwise provided by the majority. No right ex- ists in any town or county, or any organized body within the State, short of the whole people of the State, to alter, sus- pend, resist, or disown the operations of that Constitution, or to wilhdraiv themselves from its jurisdiction. Much less is the compact supposed, liable to interruption, or suspension, or dis- solution, at the will of any private citizen, upon his own notion of its obligations or of any infringement of them by consti- 13 tuted authorities. The only redress for any such infringe- ments and the only guaranties of individual rights and prop- erty, are understood to consist in the peaceable appeal to the proper tribunals, constituted by the government for such pur- poses ; if these should fail, by the ultimate appeal to the justice and good sense of the majority. And according to Mr. Locke, is the true sense of the original compact, by which every indi- vidual has surrendered to the majority of the Society the right, permanently, to control and direct the operations of the government therein. Story^s Comm. vol. 1, p. 305. Mr. Rawle, a distinguished Commentator on the Constitu- tion of the United States, has given us the following remark- able passage : " It is not necessary that a Constitution should be in writ- ing ; but the superior advantages of one reduced to writing, over those resulting on traditionary information, or which are to be collected from rare acts and proceedings of the govern- ment itself, are great and manifest. A dependence on the latter, is indeed destructive of our main object of a Constitu- tion, which is to check and restrain Governors. If the people can only refer to the acts and proceedings of the government to ascertain their own rights, it is obvious, that as every such act may introduce a new principle, there can be no stability in the government. The order of things is inverted ; what ought to be the inferior, is placed above that which should be supe- rior, and the legislature is able to alter the Constitution at its pleasure." Rawle, on the Constitution, p. 16. Locke says : The legislature, being only a judiciary power, to act for certain ends, there remains still in the people a su- perior power to renew or alter the legislative when they find the legislative act contrary to the trust reposed in them. If they (the people) have set limits to the duration of their legislature, and made this supreme power in any person or assembly, only temporary ; or, else, when by the miscarriages 14 of those in authority, it is forfeited ; upon its forfeiture, oi' at the determination of the time set, it reverts to the society ; and the people have a right to act as supreme and continue the legislative in themselves, or erect a new form ; or under the old form, place it in new hands — as they think good. ( Ch. 13, s. 147.) Justice Iredell, of the Supreme Court of the United States, in relation to the difference between the principles of our own government and those of Europe, (3d vol. Elliot's Debates') says : " Our governmens is founded on much nobler princi- ples. The people are known, with certainty, to have origi- nated in themselves. Those in power are their servants and agents. And the people, without their consent, may remodel the government whenever they think proper, not merely be- cause it is oppressively exercised, but because they think an- other form is more conducive to their welfare." (Story Co mm., vol. 1, 326.) Judge Patterson, in advocating the adoption of the Consti- tution of the United States, says : " The first question that offers itself is, whether the general form ajid aspect of the government be strictly republican. It is evident that no other form would be reconcilable with the genius of the people of America, with the fundamental principles of the revolution, or with that honorable determination which animates every votary of freedom, to rest all our political experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government." (Federalist, No. 39, p. 203. Hamilton says : " The fabric of the American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent of the people. That streams of material power ought to flow immediately from that pure original fountain of all legitimate authority." (Federal- ist, No. 22, p. 119. Let us take a vote of the people of the State of Maine, and let a vote of the people of each State of this nation, be taken 15 to remedy the present evils, and see how quickly harmony will be restored and the Union preserved. Not one vote in this State, and we believe not one in any other State would be cast for the dissolution of the Union. If any one did vote for the dissolution of the Union in this State, we feel assured that his name would evermore be branded with that of Benedict Arnold, and his fate would surely follow him, also. Or of Judas, the betrayer of our blessed Redeemer, Judge Wilson, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and a member of the Convention which framed the Constitution, and a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence, says : " The consequence of the sovereignty being vested in themselves is, that the people may change their constitu- tion whenever and however they please. This is a right of which no positive institution can deprive them." Again he says : " Of the right of a majority of tlie whole people to change their goveinment at will, there can be no doubt." 1 Wilson, 418. 1 Tucker's Black. Comm. 168, cited 324 p., vol. 1 Story's Comm.. Again he says: "As to the people, however, in whom the sovereign power resides, the case is widely different, and stands upon widely different principles. From their authority the Constitution originates ; for their safety and felicity it is established. In their hands, it is as clay in those of the potter. They (the people) have a right to mould, preserve, refine, and finish it as they please." Works, vol. 4, p. 418. These important truths are far from being merely specular live ; we, at this moment, speak and deliberate under their immediate and benign influence. To the operation of these truths, we are to ascribe the scene, hitherto unparalleled, which America now exhibits to the world ; a gentle, a peace- ful, a voluntary, and a deliberate transfer from one constitu- tion of government to another, (from the Confederation to the Constitution of the United States.) In other parts of the 16 world, the idea of revolution in government, by a mournful and indissoluble association, is connected with the idea of wars and all the calamities attendant on wars. It seems, then, that revolution may be peaceful. But if we acknowledge the principles of American government and pro- pose to change their institutions and consider a change as pro- gressive steps in improving the knowledge of government, and increasing the happiness of society and mankind, we must con- sider that it can be accomplished only by the consent of a ma- jority of the people. No ri<^ht exists for revolution, to alter, suspend, resist or disown the operations of the Constitution, or to withdraw themselves from its jurisdiction. Much less is the compact supposed liable to interruption, or suspension, or dissolution at the will of any private citizen, upon his own no- tion of its obligations, or of any infringement of them by con- stituted authorities. The only redress for any such infringe- ments and the only guarantees of individual rights and prop- erty are understood to consist in the peaceable appeal to the proper tribunals, constituted by the government for such pur- poses. If they should fail, by the ultimate appeal to the justice and good sense of the majority. Take a vote of the citizens of all the States including those seceding States, and we doubt not for one moment the result will be an overwhelming majority in favor of the Union of the States, and the repeal of all obnoxious laws. Try the experiment, brethren. Oft have I viewed with silent pleasure and admiration, the force and prevalence through the United States, of this prin- ciple, that the supreme power resides in the people, and that they never part with it. It may be called the panacea in poli- tics. If the error be in the legislature, it may be corrected by the Constitution ; if in the Constitution,. it may be corrected by the people. There is a remedy, therefore, for every dis temper in government, if the people be not wanting to them- 17 selves. For a people wanting to themselves, there is no remedy. — Ibid. A proper regard to the original and inherent, and continued power of the society to change its Constitution, will prevent mistakes and mischiefs of a very different kind. It will pre- vent giddy inconstancy ; it will prevent unthinking rashness ; it will prevent unmanly languor. — Werks, vol. 1, p. 420. Luther Martin, Attorney General of Maryland, and one of the Delegates to the Convention of 1787, says : " Agreeahly to the Articles of Confederation, entered into in the most solemn manner, (and for the observance of which, the States pledged themselves in the most solemn manner to each other ;. and called upon the Supreme Being, as a witness and avenger between them), no alterations are to bo made in those Articles, unless after they are approved by Congress they are agreed to by the Legislature of every State ; but by the resolve of the Convention, this Constitution is not to be so ratified, but is to be submitted to Conventions chosen by the people ; and if ratified by them, is to be binding. The sovereign power itself is enshrined and vested in the people, and as such, the Article of Confederation was sub- mitted to Conventions chosen by the people and ratified by them, after they were agreed to by the Legislature of every State. The States pledged themselves in the most solemn manner to each other ; and called upon the Supreme Being: as a witness and avenger, that no alter a'ion.-i are to be made in those Articles. If the people when weighed in the balance,, are not found wanting in themselves, they can submit the present difficulties to Conventions chosen by themselves, and if ratified by them, is to be binding ; as did our fathers at the Convention of 1787. So may the people now do. We have- put in the widow's mite to save the Union of the States ; let each individual member of this great people do likewise, and we shall be saved. God grant that it may be thus saved ; by 18 the individual members of this great family, heretofore so united and blessed. To repress a short or harsh answer, to confess a fault and to stop (right or wrong) in the midst of self-defence, in gentle submission, sometimes requires a struggle like life and death ; but these three efforts are the golden threads with which do- mestic liappiness is woven. Once begin the fabric with thia woof, trials shall not break, nor sorrows tarnish it. It seems to have been clearly shown forth, that in our Government, the supreme, absolute, and uncontrolable power remains in the people. ■Quarrels ensue instead of amendment. We brood over our failure and wonder at the perversity or mankind, not le- flecting that we have not put on that " Charity Avhich suffereth long, and is kind, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil." Nothing can be farther from the spirit of heaven than a stern, harsh, vindictive utterance of truth. We should ever remem- ber that we can ourselves only be assisted by one who mani- fests to us a spirit of kindness in his counsel. To an assailant we close up. We cannot bear our faults to be opposed by one, exposed by one who does it in a spirit of exultation and inso- lence. But we love the friendly hand w^iich has the brother's touch. We delight to see tlie dress not starched with prudery, but the truth softened and warmed by love Truth, without love, is cold, hard and unpitying, and therefore repulsive." Remember the charge of Joseph to his brethren, — " See that ye fall not out by the way." Noticing a fault, rudely, betrays the appearance of dislike, and wounds deeply. In the Union of the States, as in that most sacred of all human ties, the marriage Union, (and which Union the Catholic Bishop told his congregation Sabbath eve., could only be dissolved by death, when the rite was performed by their Church,) we should take kindly the opportunities of showing, that ours has not been Id selfish love by being forgetful of self and seeking the happi- ness of those we love. To assist and be assisted, is the object of the Union of th-e States, and of the marriage Union. Let us strive to preserve them till time is no more. This Confederation was quietly set aside by the people through their delegates in Congress, and was succeeded by the Constitution ; and the first quiet, bloodless revolution, of which the history of the world bears record, was effected. There stands the triumphant principle which the revolution established, confirmed by the seal of the first Congress, who, by their successful experiment, practically reaffirmed the truth, that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish their constitutions of government ; and showing by their own act, that such change might be effected peacefully. There stands our first great precedent, as it shone forth living from the hands of the sages of " 76." There it shall stand forever, aa an example to all future ages, showing that the great princi- ple for which we contend, is no more sublime in theory than safe and true in practice. We trust that the bands may yet embrace, in harmonioua Union, all the States, even the seceding States. " Speak the truth in love," said the Apostle. " Truth coming from a loving hand, firm but gentle, and sweet like the warm sun- beam, is welcome to all. Perhaps the neglect of it is the cause of more failures in delivering of well meant advice than any other circumstance.. We proceed to correct with the rough, stern hand of truth alone, and we encounter resistance. We are sure we are right, and we proceed to reproach and invectives. Against this people may it never be written as against an ancient King, " Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting."" " Thy kingdom shall be divided." Rather let me advise my readers, whom we trust are all be- 20 lievers in Revelation, to read carefully and prayerfully the 4th chapter of Jeremiah. Act promptly upon the command of God, as given therein. Be God fearing and loving people. Let the voice of the people of this great nation speak thro' the ballot box, as it speaks for the election of all public offi- cers, and say, shall the subject of slavery, (for which the north bears no more responsibility before God and the world than one neighbor bears for the conduct of another, in his own domestic relations,) be dropped forever by them, and left to flow on undisturbed as the waters of the rivulet flows on to the river and in time becomes absorbed therein, and the country remain undivided, united, as our fathers pledged themselves by their n.ost solemn oaths before God and the world it should be, or say through tlie ballot box to the con^ trary. Attention, then, kind reader, and gentle patience, for the question which is now pending — shall this country remain united, or shall the Union be dissolved ? Speak quickly ! It is a question for the north to answer. "We 'iope and believe the people of the north will say. We are for Union ! God's love for this nation has been extraordinary. He has caused it to multiply as the bud of the field, and to be increased and waxing great. " And thy renoun went forth among the hea- then for thy beauty, for it was perfect through my comeli- ness which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God." — Eze 16 : 14, 7. " Return unto the Lord, then shalt thou not re- move, saith the Lord," Hereafter guard more carefully and punish more promptly the violation of the oath. To say nothing of the sin of its violation, but confine it to our liberty as a nation, and as in- dividuals, how indispensibly necessary is it, forming as it does the basis of our government, as it did also that of the Jews, that summary punishment should follow a violation of the oath. Let us contemplate for a moment the council of 21 the venerable seventy rulers of Israel, collected in the spa- cious hall of audience, sitting in the seat of Moses, to admin- ister justice according to the book of the law, and in the name of the Most High God, with Christ at the bar of the ecclesiasticle. Jesus bound ! Think of the Holy One of God arraigned as a criminal. The Judge of the world judg- ed by sinners ! Where was there ever a more outrageous contrast exhibited ! The council seek for witnesses against Jesus ! They seek because unsought nothing of the kind presents itself. They long to meet, in the garden of his life, with a single poisonous plant from which they may weave for him a fatal wreath. But a more fruitless undertaking was perhaps never attempted. A number of bribed witnesses are suborned, who strive to fasten one or other false accusation on the Holy One. But what is the result? They expose themselves, with those who hired them, in the most bare-faced manner, and serve only as a new foil to the inno- cence of the accused. They become confused and con- fute one another ! With a judiciary mien, which only par- tially covers his perplexity, the High Priest says to him, in an imperious tone, " Answerest thou nothing ?" But Jesus, we are told, " held his peace." How easy would it have been for him by a few words, to have most painfully exposed the august assembly ! But he honors in it, as before the powers ordained of God, of whatever injustice they may be guilty ; and viewing the matter thus, he deems it becoming him to hold his peace. His holding his peace is the reflection of a more mysterious silence, before another and higher than any human tribunal: and regarded from this point of view, it may be considered as a silence of confession and assent. Thus we see Jesus was betrayed, falsely accused and cruci- fied. Oh how it thrills the heart to read it ! Are our Courts guarded against false witnesses ? See ye to it. 22 We have cast in our influence to save the Union, the widow's mite. But if others can suggest better methods, we will cheerfully acquiesce in them. Let us say to the Union of the States, as they say to the Marriage Union. " Thy rise of fortnne did I only wed, From its decline dutermined to recede, Did I but purpose to embark with thee. On the smooth surface of a summer sea, While gentle zephyrs play in prosperous gales, And fortune's favor fills the swelling sails, But would forsake the bark and make the shore When the winds whistle, and the tempests roar ? No, States of the Union, no ! One sacred Oath has tied Our loves, one destiny our lives shall guide, Nor wild, nor deep our common way divide." In addition to what I have already said upon the subject, I will add, will it be necessary for the two houses of the British Parliament to pass an Act in conjunction with that of the will of her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, establishing the order of succession to the Crown, to their son the Prince of Wales ? And will it not also be necessary for them to pass an act legalizing the marriages that have taken place, and removing the law from their statute books that now annuls marriages ? The law places the mother under bonds to be guardian for her own child : what an anomaly would it present to the , world for the men of this Union of States to dissolve them, and cast themselves at the feet of the Queen of Great Brit- ain — a woman — for annexation to her government. Fie, fie on it. Be men ! true, active, energetic men, and govern yourselves and people, or else choose a woman from your own people to govern you. We did intend to extract largely from Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia^ written, in Virginia in 1781, 23 and somewhat corrected and enlarged in the winter of 1782, in answer to queries proposed to the author by a foreigner of distinction, but have not time or space for extensive ex- tracts. He says — " The following is an epitome : The Col- onies were taxed internally and externally — armed troops sent among them to enforce submission to their violence. They closed in the appeal to arms, and declared themselves independent States. They confederated together into one great republic, thus securing to every State the benefit of an union of their whole force. In each State separately a new form of government was established. We have before us the 'Articles agreed on and concluded at James Cittie in Virginia, for the surrendering and settling of that planta- tion, under the obedience and government of the Common- wealth of England, by the commission of the Council of State by authority, of the Parliament of England, and by the grand assembly of the Gov. Council and Burgesses of that country.' The 16thly reads, That the commissioners for the parliament subscribing these, engage themselves, and the honor of parliament for the full performance thereof, and that the present Gov. and the Council and the Burgesses do likewise subscribe and engage the whole collony on their parts." These Articles were signed and sealed by the Commiss- ioners of the Council of State for the Commonwealth of England, the 12;h day of March, 1651. Then follows an Act of indemnity made at the surrender of the country. It ends thus — And we do promise or declare further, by the authori- ty of Parliament and Commonwealth of England, derived unto us, their Commissioners, that according to the articles in general we have granted an act of indemnity and oblivion to all the inhabitants of this collony from all words, actions or writings, that have been .spoken, acted or writ, against the 24 parliament or commonwealth of England, or any other per- son from the beginning of the world to this daye." The Colony supposed that by this solemn convention en- tered into with arms in their hands, they had secured the an- cient limits of their country, its free trade, its exemption from taxation but by their own assembly, and exclusion from mil- itary force from among them. Yet in all points was this convention violated by subsequent Kings and Parliament. Their General Assembly, which was composed of the Coun- cil of State and Burgesses, sitting together and deciding by plurality of voices, was split into two houses, by which the council obtained a separate negative on their laws. Appeals from their Supreme Court, which had been fixed by law in their Genernl Assembly, were arbitrarily revoked to England to be there heard before the King and Council. Instead of four hundred miles on the sea coast, they were reduced in the space of thirty years, to about one hundred miles. Their trade with foreigners was totally suppressed, and when car- ried to Great Britain was there loaded with impost. But enough of that. He says with regard to laws, " ne- cessary alterations were made in the common law of Eng- land, and so much of the whole body of the British statutes and of Acts of the Assembly as were thought proper to be retained, were digested into 126 new acts, in which simplici- ty of style was aimed as far as was safe. Then follows the alterations made. With regard to slavery he says. To eman- cipate all slaves born after passing the Act. The bill report- ed by the revisors does not itself contain this proposition, but an amendment containing it was prepared, to be offered to the legislature whenever the bill should be taken up, and further directing that they should continue with their parents to a certain age, then be. brought up at the public expense, to tillage, arts or sciences, according to their geniuses, till the females should be eighteen, and the males tweenty-one years 25 - of age, when they should be colonized to such place aa the circumstances of the time should render most proper, sending them out with arms, implements of household and handi- craft arts, seeds, pairs of the useful domestic animals, &c., to declare thsm a free and independent people, and extend to them our alliance and protection till they have acquired strength ; and to send vessels at the same time to other parts of the world for an equal number of whit :; inhabitants ; to induce whom to migrate hither, proper encouragement were to be proposed. It will probably be asked, "Why not retain and incorporate the blacks into the state, and thus save tha expense of supplying by importation of white settlers, the va- oancies they will leave 1 Deep rooted prejudices entertained by the whites ; ten thousand recollections, by the blacks, of the injuries they have sustained ; new provocations ; the real distinctions which nature has made ; and many other circum- stances, will divide us into parties, and produce convulsions,, which will probably never end but in the extermination of the one or the other race. To these objections, which are political, maybe added oth- ers, which are physical and moral. The first difference which strikes us is that of color. Whether the black of the negro resides in the reticular membrane between the skin and scarf- skin, or in the scarf-skin itself; whether it proceeds from the color of the bloody the color of the bile, or from that of some other sc cretion, the difference is fixed in nature, and is as real as if its seat and cause were better known to us. And is this difference of no importance ? Is it not the foundation of a greater or less share of beauty in the two races ? Are not the fine mixtures of red and white, the expressions of every pas- sion by greater or less suffusions of color in the one, prefera- ble, to that eternal monotony, which reigns in the counte- nances, that immoveable veil of black which covers all the emotions of the other race ? Add to these, flowing hair, a 26 more elegant symmetry of form, their own judgment in favor of the whites, declared by the preference of them, as un- formly as is the preference of the Oranootan for the black wo- men over those of his own species. The circumstance of su- perior beauty, is thought worthy attention in the propagation of our horses, dogs, and other domestic animals; why not in that of man ? Besides those of color, figure, and hair, there are other physical distinctions proving a difference of race. They have less hair on the face and body. They secrete less by the kidneys, and more by the glands of the skin, which gives them a very strong and disagreeable odor. The greater degree of transpiration renders them more tolerant of heat, and less so of cold than the whites. Perhaps too a difference of structure in the pulmonary apparatus, which a late ingen- ious experimentalist has discovered to be the principal regu- lator ot animal heat, may have disabled them from extricating, in the act of inspiration, so much of that fluid from the outer air, or obliged them in expiration to part with more of it. They seem to require less sleep. A black, after hard labor through the day, will be induced by the slightest amusements to sit up till midnight, or later though knowing he must be out with the first dawn of the morning. They are at least as brave and more adventuresome. But this may perhaps pro- ceed from a want of forethought, which prevents their seeing a danger till it be present. When present, they do not go through it with more coolness or steadiness than the whites. They are more ardent after their female ; but love seems with them to be more an eager desire, than a tender delicate mix- ture of sentiment and sensation. Their griefs are transient. Those numberless afflictions, which render it doubtful whether heaven has given life to us in mercy or in wrath, are less felt, and sooner forgotten with them. In general, their existence appears to participate more of sensation than rt flection. To this must be ascribed their disposition to sleep when abstract- 27 ■ ■ ' ed from their diversions, and unemployed in labor. An ani- mal whose body is at rest, and who does not reflect, must be disposed to sleep of course. Comparing them by their fac- ulties of memory, reason and imagination, it appears to me that in memory they are equal to the whites ; in reason, much inferior, as I think one could scarcely be found capable of tracing and comprehending the investigations of Euclid ; and that in imagination they are dull, testacies, and anoma- lous. It would be unfair to follow them to Africa for this in- vestigation. We will consider them here, on the same stage with the whites, and where the facts are not apocryphal on which a judgment is to be formed. It will be right to make great allowance for the difference of condition, of education, of conversation, of the sphere in which they move. Many millions of them have been brought to, and born in America. Most of them indeed have been confined to tillage, to their own homes, and their own society ; yet many have been so situated, that they might have availed themselves of the con- versation of their masters ; many have been brought up to the handicraft arts, and from that circumstance have always been asssociated with the whites. Some have been liberally educated, and all have lived in countries where the arts and sciences are cultivated to a considerable degree, and have had before their eyes samples of the best works from abroad. The Indians, with no advantages of this kind, will often carve figures on their pipes not destitute of design and merit. They will crayon out an animal, a plant, or a country, so as to prove the existence of a germ in their minds which only wants cul- tivation. They astonish you with strokes of the most sub- lime oratory ; such as prove their reason and sentiment strong, their imagination glowing and elevated. But never yet could I find a black that had uttered a thought above the level of plain narration ; never see even an elementary trait of painting or sculpture. In music they are more generally 2g gifted than the whites with accurale ears for tune and time^ and they have been found capable ot imagining a small catch.* Whether they will be equal to the composition of a more extensive run of melody, or of complicated harmony, is yet to be proved. Misery is often the parent of the most affecting touches in poetry. Among the blacks is misery enough, God knows, but no poetry. Love is the peculiar oestrum of the poet. Their love is ardent, but it kindles the senses only, not the imagination. The improvement of the blacks, in body and mind, in the first instance of their mixture with the whites, has been ob- served by every one, and proves that their inferiority is not the effect merely of their condition of life. We know that among the Romans, about the Augustan age especially, the condition of their slaves was much more deplorable than that of the blacks on the continent of America. It was the com- mon practice to expose, in the island ^sculapius, in the Ty ber, diseased slaves, whose cure was like to become tedious* The emperor Claudius, by an edict, gave freedom to such of them as should recover, and first declare that if any person chose to kill rather than expose them, it should be deemed homicide. The exposing them is a crime of which no in- stance has existed with us ; and were it to be followed by death, it would be punished capitally. We are told of a cer- tain Tedius Pollio, who, in the presence of Augustus, would have given a slave as food to his fish, for having broken a glass! With the Romans, the regular method of taking the evidence of their slaves were under torture. Here it has been thought better never to resort to their evidence. When a master was murdered, all his slaves, in the same house, or within hearing, were condemned to death. Here punishment * The instrument proper to them is the Banjo, which they brought hither from Africa, and which is the original of the guitar, its chords being precisely the four lower chords of the guitar. 29 talis on the guilty only, and as precise proof is required against him as against a freeman. Yet notwithstanding these and oth'^r discouraging circumstances among the Ro- mans, their slaves were often their rarest artists. They ex- celled too in science, inasmuch as to be usually employed as tutors to their master's children. It is not their condition then, but nature, which has produced the distinction. Whether further observation wiU or will not verify the conjecture, that nature has been less bountiful to them in the endowments of the head, I believe that in those of the heart she will be found to have done them justice. That disposi- tion to theft with which they have been branded, must be as- cribed to their situation, and not to any depravity of the moral sense. The man, in whose favor no laws of property exists, probably feels himself less bound to respect those made in favor of others. When arguing for ourselves,we lay it down as a fundamental, that laws, to be just, must give a reciprocation of right ; that without this they are mere arbi- trary rules of conduct, founded in force and not in conscience : and it is a problem which I give the master to solve, wheth- er the religious precepts against the violation of property were not framed for him as well as the slave ? And whether the slave may not as justifiably take a little from one, who . has taken all from him, as he would slay one who would slay him ? That a change in the relations in which a man is placed should change his idea of moral right and wrong, is neither new, nor peculiar to the color of the blacks. Homer tells us it was so 2600 years ago. Jove fixed it certain, that whatever day Makes man a slave, takes half his worth away. But the slaves of which Homer speaks were whites. Not- withstanding these considerations which must weaken their respect for the laws of property, we find among them numer- 80 ous instances of the most rigid integrity, and as many as among their better instructed masters, of benevolence, grati- tude, and unshaken fidelity. The opinion that they are in- ferior in the faculties of reason and imagination, must be hazarded with great diffidence. "To justify a general conclu- aion, requires many observations, even where the subject may be submitted to the anatomical knife, to opticle classes, to analysis by fire, or by solvents. How much more then where it is a faculty, not a substance, we are examining ; where it eludes the research of all the senses ; where the condition of its existence are various and variously combined ; where the effects of those which are present or absent bid defiance to calculation ; let me add too, as a circumstance of great ten- derness, where our conclusions would degrade a whole race of men from the rank in the scale of beings which our Cre- ator may perhaps have given them. To our reproach it must be said, that though for a century and a half we have had under our eyes the races of black and of red men, they have never yet been viewed by us as subjects of natural history, I advance it therefore as a suspicion only, that the blacks, whether originally a distinct race, or made distinct by time* and circumstanccH, are inferior to the whites in the endow- ments both of body and mind. It is not against experience to suppose, that different species of the same genius, or vari- eties of the same species, may possess different qualifica- tions. "Will not a lover of natural history then, one who views the gradations in all the races of animals with the eye of philosophy, excuse an effort to keep those in the depart- ment of man as distinct as nature has formed them ? This unfortunate difference of color, and perhaps of faculty, is a powerful obstacle to the emancipation of these people. Many of their advocates, while they wish to vindicate the liberty of human nature are anxious also to preserve its dignity and beauty. Some of these, embarrassed by the question/ What 31 further is to be done with them ! Join themselves in oppo- sition with those who are actuated by sordid avarice only. Among the Romans emancipation required but one effort. The slave, when made free, might mix with, without staining the blood of his master. But with us a second is necessary, unknown to history. When freed, he is to be removed be- yond the reach of mixture." Gentle reader, bear in mind that our blessed redeemer taught us by his own example and precept, to suffer, or per- mit the state of things, evil or otherwise, to be so now. Speaking to John, who objected to obeying our Lord's com- mands, from a view of his unworthiness, He said, " suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteous- ness. Then he suffered him." He says likewise to us, " let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest." Will we suffer it ? Let the slaves remain as they are, — let them go into the territories, — make no talk or compromises north or south, but each man stand at the door of his own heart and his own household, and see to guard it carefully that no obtruder enters therein to mar and divide that holy sanctuary. Don't let us be looking at our daily papers as soon as we arise, to see if the Union of the States and the union of families have been dissolved during the last twenty- four hours, but rather put from us obnoxious laws, and be once more a united, happy, loving band, one household. Let us contemplate for one moment, man, deprived of rea- son by his Maker, or by his passions, and what is more fear- ful or more to be dreaded ? Is our nation bordering on to it? Reflect. The second, sober thought of the American people has always produced good results. God grant that it may be the case now, and that the seceeding States may all come into 1 armony and union, and thus remain until time shall be no more. We can all readily understand with how much more ease 32 a parent can quell a family affair without the aid of neigh- bors than with. And with how much more ease he can re- move evil therefrom, and rectify what is needed. So with Slavery. Let it alone and the South will rectify in its own time all the evil that arises therefrom; as their good judg- ment may and will dictate. Jefferson says : It is the manner and spirit of the people which preserve a republican vigor. A regeneracy in these, is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and consti- tution. Secret organizations should be discouraged in a free country. We have assumed from the first, that our readers are all believers in revelation. Let us therefore dwell a while longer on the great confession of Christ at the Judgment Hall of the Sanhedrim. The false witnesses have acted their part most wretchedly and stand unmasked. The sublime bearing of the accused, expressive only of innocence, completely paralyzes his adversaries. There the proud hiearch sits, and his thoughts take tumultuous counsel how the difficulty may be overcome, and how he may escape from the pressure. Such is the end of the Judicial proceedure. The perplexity of the High Priest is great. He must give the affair another turn. But of what kind ? The hierarch convulsively snatches up his fallen dignity, and with the gravity of his office sol- emnly steps forward a few paces, and makes known his inten- tion to cite the accused before the throne of the Almighty. Think of a testimony on oath by Jesus respecting himself I The High Priest re-assuming all his dignity, opens his mouth to utter the sublimest of all questions. I adjure thee, says he, by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of the Blessed. He made use of the legal form customary in Israel. The person seems answered without repeating the form itself, with a single " yes I" or " no," being conscious at the same time that the 33 answer he gave, if it deviated from the truth, would be pun- ished by the High and Lofty One who had been invoked as a witness, with his righteous displeasure, and the loss of eter- nal salvation. The High Priest thus solemnly calls upon Jesus, as it were for his ci-edentials while making the basis of the entire Christian as the object of his inquiry. To what is Jesus to swear ? Whether he is the Christ — that is the Messiah. Caiphas indicates by that name, the ob- jects of prophecy and comprehends in it all the promises and types of the Old Testament, out of which a sublime form as- cends, who as Prophet, is to bring down the light of eternity to the earth ; as High Priest, to give his own life as an atone- ment for the sins of the world ; and as King, to establish an everlasting kingdom of grace and peace. This dignified Being is called the " Lord's Anointed,'* or " Christ." But Caiphas knows that this Christ will be a man, and yet at the same time the Lord Most High. He knows that the Mes- siah will be the Son of God. He will not only be like Jeho- vah, but Jehovah's equal, and thus really God. From this sublime point of view Caiphas asks, " Art thou he ?" and believes that in Jesus affirming it, he will be justified in pro- nouncing him a blasphemer, and as such condemning him to death. What a momentous question ! What would have been the consequence had an answer in the negative ensued ? What mercy would then have been the portion of the sinful race of man ? We are aware of the astonishing miraclea by which Jesus had magnified himself. At the bier of the- young man|of Nain, and at the grave of Lazarus. We have- seen Him in the endangered vessel, when the rage of the ele- ments ceased at his beck, and on the stormy lake where the waves became firm beneath his feet and spread a crystal car- pet for the King of Nature. We heard him say, " He that hath seen me hath seen the Father also," for " I and the Father are one ;" and " Before Abraham was. I am," Who 34 is a God like unto our God ? Fear him, obey him, and for- get not to keep or pay to him thy vows, and be saved. Out Lord says, " Whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be boand in heaven." The vow to keep the Union of the States, and the vow to keep the Family Union, until time shall be no more, are alike registered and bound in heaven. Think of that vow. May we be enabled, by Divine aid, to perform unto the Lord our vows. Let us examine the constitutionality of the Personal Liber- ty Laws. The venerable John Quincy Adams has said that the Declaration of Independence was a social compact by which the whole people covenanted with each citizen, and each citi* zen with the whole people. The good of the governed is the end of government. Plato's opinion on this point, speaking of a good prince, he says : He neither thinks nor commands what may advance his own private interest ; but what may promote the benefit of his subjects, and whatever he says or does is done for their advantage. Puflfendorf, speaking on the same subject, Book 8, Sec. 2, says, " And therefore they (rulers) ought to esteem nothing as contributing to their own private or personal good, which is not at the same time profitable to the Commonwealth." Mr. Pitman says ; " The citizen owes allegiance to the government, the government owes protection to the citizen." These duties and the rights that grow out of them are reciprocal. He goes on to show, that if the citizen makes war upon the goverEment, it is treason. Can we find a justification for a law which, if carried to its consequences, will terminate the State itself, as one of the States of the Union ? This will apply equally to the law which annuls the marriage contract by limiting " All my worldly. goods, to a "dower," which signifies nothing, comparatively speaking. How can a law be true in theory and false in practice ? What is a theo- retical principle which admits of no practical application ? It can be nothing more than a nonentity. Truth is true, and all beside is false ; and there can be no theory which will not bear the application of practice. What is law? Tho Reviewer of Montesquieu says, " it means a rule of action prescribed by an authority invested with competent power, and a right so to do." (What right has the State to enact laws that will con- flict with the oaths of allegiance to the Constitution, and des- troy its union with the States, and destroy their union with their partners, or companions, in the marriage union ?) This idea of law comprehends that of penalty, consequent of an in- fraction of a tribunal which determines the penalty, and a phy- sical force to put it into execution. Think ye that the law has the right to inflict a penalty on the wife who should fail to render to the apprisals of a deceased husband's estate, as his, and to be heired by his nephew or niece instead of herself,, property that she received from her own parents, and proper- ty that she had assisted her husband to accumulate ? Think you it io just and right for an administrator (a partner in busi- ness), to take possession of thousands of dollars from the wid- ow and keep it a year or more for his own benefit, and leave the widow with her little ones penniless, from a power impart- ed by a stranger called a Judge of Probate, who is empowered by law and they have the privilege of settling the acts to suit themselves, where there is only their o^n account to settle ? and if any should remain, the widow can have a right of dower therein only ? Locke says : " A man, as has been proved, cannot subject himself to the arbitrary power of another, and having in a state of nature no arbitrary power over the life^ liberty, or possessions of another, but only so much as the law of nature gave him for the preservation of himself and the rest of mankind ; this is all he doth or can give up to the commun- ity, and by it to the legislative power, so that the Legislature can have no more than this. Their power in the utmost bounds of it is limited to the public good of society. It is a power that can have no other end but preservation, and therefore can 36 never have a right to destroy, enslave, or designedly injure the subjects. " The obligations of the law of nature," says Locke, " cease not in society, but only in many cases are drawn closer, and have by human laws known penalties annexed to them to enforce their observation." Thus the laws of nature stand as the eternal rule to legislators, as well as to others. The rules that they make for other men's actions must, as well as their own, be conformable to the law of . nature — that is, to the will of God, of which that is a declaration; and the funda* mental law of natui-e, being the preservation of mankind, no human sanction can be good against it. In the law of nations, the law of nature is included — included, but not annihilated. Mr. Hamilton, speaking of the introduction of Bills of Rights, (which include Personal Liberty Bills, and Rights of Dower), into State Constitutions says : " It is evident therefore, that according to their primitive signification (abridgments of pre- rogative in favor of privilege), they have no application to constitutions professedly founded upon the power of the peo- ple and executed by their immediate representatives and ser- vants. Here in strictness the people surrendered nothing, and as they retain everything, they have no need of particular reservations. Madison replied to certain cavilers that had objected to the Convention that framed the Constitution of the United States, on the ground of their having transcended the powers with which they were entrusted, strenuously ad- vocates a disregard of the Articles of Confederation ; or, in other words, that the end should not be sacrificed to the means. After very ably suotaining this point, he says : " In all great changes of established governments, forms ought to give way to substances, that a rigid adherence in such cases, the former would render nominal and nugatory the transcendant and special right of the people to " alter" or abolish their governments as to them shall seeni most likely to eflfect their safety and happiness ; since it is impossible for 37 the people, spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards that object ; and it is^ therefore, essential that such changes be instituted by some informal and unauthorized prop- ositions made by some patriotic and respectable citizen or citizens. It was by this irregular and assumed privilege, of proposing to the people plans for their safety and happiness, that the States were first united against the danger with which they were threatened by their ancient government j that Com- mittees and Congresses were formed for concentrating their efforts and defending their rights, and that conventions were elected in the several States for establishing the Constitution under which they are now governed ; nor could it have been forgotten that no little, ill-timed scruples, no zeal for adhering to ordinary forms were anywhere seen, except in those who wished to indulge, under these masks, their secret enmity to the substance contended for. They must have borne in mind, that as the plan to be framed and proposed was to be submit- ted to the people themselves -— the disapprobation of this su- preme authority would destroy it forever, its approbation blot out all antecedent errors and irregularities. Shall we, as a people, adhere to forms, in the shape of lib- erty bills, and rights of dower, and thereby lose the sub- stance, — the union of States, and the union of families there of? It seems then, that the original Congresses and Conven- tions of the United States were formed by an " irregular and assumed privilege." Who among our northern citizens will now volunteer to assume the privilege of submitting a Plan to the People to save the Union ? The writer's plan would be, to let the government of the United States, and the gov- ernment of each State, remain as at the beginning. If a State, through the people, see fit to change their own Constitution and laws, they have that right to do thus. But we can see no right one State has over another State, more than we can the right of a neighbor to interfere with another's, in his domestic 38 relations. Do not, therefore, longer contend for forms, but embrace substance, and then surely the union of States and the union of families are both preserved. Who says aye I Take a vote. I hear aye ! aye ! from all quarters, without a dissenter. Well 1 we pronounce it a vote 1 ! I The union of both States and families are saved I I Preserved for all time, as designed by their framers from the beginning. The only laws the young couple know, or recognize, when they enter the union of marriage, is the law of love, and a reciprocation of kindness to each other. And as one they strive to build up an edifice which shall perpetuate, to coming generations, a last- ing memento of their names and works. Shall that tender, loving being be deprived of her equal rights in the works of her own hands, after struggling with poverty, and sickness, and self-denial, by a/orm of law, without substance ? Shall the substance, which as an help-meet with her husband, and the substance she brought to her husband to rear that edifice, be snatched from her and given to others ? Shall she have no right over her children,' but be placed under bonds to their guardian, as any stranger would be, and even denied that priv- ilege, if she claimed the privilege, that a foe may have, viz : — that of administering on the estate ? For the Lord's sake, (who is angry with the wicked every day), and for the sake of humanity, begin here at home, in the Northern States, to set your own houses in order. Don't delay another day, we be- seech you. We see by your glistening eyes, gentlemen, that you are ready for the question, — shall the marriage union, as instituted by our Lord, in the garden of Eden, where He pro- nounced our first parents one flesh, and our first mother. Eve, the mother of all living, which included all Adam's possessions. Our Lord having given him, to possess and to name, every liv- ing thing. And as also ratified by the marriage contract, " with the ring I wed thee, and with all my worldly goods I endow thee," in the name of the Holy Trinity. We say, again, we 39 know you are now ready for the above questions, now for the vote. We hear nothing but aye ! aye ! from all quarters of the Union of States, (which we have just cemented with your votes) ; well, then we pronounce it a vote — that the union of families shall be preserved through all times ! even until death, shall the husband love, cherish, and protect, and the wife, honor, love, and obey her husband. Can anything more be said or done, or is any more needed, now that the people have spoken ? Why yes ! blot out the writing from your stat ute books, that the remembrance of them may not be left to disgrace the name dlfk people who profess to love God, and to obey His commandments. He has said, Children obey your parents. Honor thy father and thy Mother, with a first promise viz : — " that it shall well with thee, and thou mayst live long on the earth.^' Forget not to perform unto the Lord thy vows 1 ! God is not so far off but what he takes cognizance of a viola- tion of them; as also of every other false act. Blot out the form, the law which conflicts with the oath of allegiance to the Union of States and the Union of Families, and see what bless- ed results will flow therefrom. We could specify them ; but we leave it for you. We seem at this moment standing on an eminence which overlooks the whitening harvest; the good results flowing from the votes of the people to preserve the Union of States and families as set forth, in this pamphlet, but we have no time to enlarge, we must hasten and do quickly our work ere the day be passed. Jefferson says it is not only the right, but the duty of those now on the stage of action, to change the laws and institutions of government to keep pace with the progress of knowledge, the light of science, and the amelioration of the condition of so* ciety, nothing is considered unchangeable but the inherent and inalienable rights of men " and women." It will be seen by the readers of 4th Sec. of the 4th Art. of the Constitution of the U. S., and portions of the acts of Con* 40 gress approved Feb. 28, 1795, also a portion of the act of March 3d, 1807, that no power is vested in the Executive of the United States to anticipate insurrectionary movements against the Government, so as to sanction the interposition of military authority, but that there must be an actual insurrection manifested by lawless assemblages of the people. We speak with all the deference due to the position and exalted virtues of her Majesty Queen Victoria, whose virtues we so much admire, that we would fain strive to imitate, and have all our sisters strive to imitate. Still we think it an anomaly for the men of this great nation, and those who have sought an asylum among us, to cast themselves at the feet of a woman, — the Queen of the very nation our fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honors, that they would be freed from ; because of their oppression. Then again the women of this nation will surely feel slighted to be overlooked in the establishment of a Crown, to have the gems added to one that already has sufficient, by the ap- proval of the citizens of this State. With the forbearance of men, in the strength that holdeth passion in subjection to itself, urging always that Truth and Right must finally prevail, bear ye awhile with insult, or in- dignities, and accustom not yourselves to use your will ; as your right hand, and your reason ; as your left. Then har- mony will be perfectly restored throughout our borders. And hereafter watch and guard more carefully your liberties as a people. As we have decided to sustain the Union by the vote of all parties. North, South, East and West, and have fully proved, by Jefferson and others, that the decision of the majority is the vital principle of Republics, from which there is no ap- peal ; it seems superfluous to enlarge, or enforce any longer upon that point ; but we wish to show you the danger that has lurked about us. Now, gentlemen, what would have ^1 been the consequences ? And what would our Fathers have said, to have seen their sons appreciate so little their toils and sufferings, and blood, to secure to us our independence ; to have to throw it all aside, and no longer celebrate the 4th of July, the birth-day of our independence, but living volun- tarily under the red flag of the British. We know there are many excellent people among us, frOm the British dominions. Let America, then, still continue to be the Nursing-mother of Nations. Let the poor and the oppressed of every clime flock to her wide-stretched arms. — These were the almost dy ing words of my aged Father— as he stretched out his arm* he exclaimed, « Oh that I had the power thus to embrace the whole world and make them happy." We have said that it might be worth while to inquipe what consequences would have followed a disunion. We stood upon the brink of an awful gulf. We were about to take the leap, and felt some anxiety to look down into it and ob- tain a glimpse of what sort of a tartarus it was, into which we were about to make the final plunge. Let us examine how much combustible material there is in this wide-spread Union. How many daring and reckless ad- venturers of all sorts. Gentlemen, it is the faith of the un- tutored savage, that certain birds of the air and beasts of the desert are endowed with something like a foreknowledge of a coming banquet which human strife is to provide ; and that some days, in anticipation of the event, they come from all quarters to await the carnage. But we will not enlarge or specify. They would be sufficient to send a thrill of horror through the heart of every man, woman and child in this country. We have already taken the vote of the whole people and have said to the North, give up, and to the South, keep not back ; it may not be out of place however, to speak of a Con- vention of the people of all the States. We have shown that 42 the people are the sovereign rulers, and that they have a right to assemble to consult upon the public welfare ; a right to give instructions to their Senators and Representatives, and a right to apply to those invested with the powers of govern- ment for redress of grievances, for the repeal of injurious laws, for the correction of faults of administration, and for all other purposes. We would suggest that a mass Conven- tion of the people be called immediately in every State throughout the country, and the people speak for themselves and say, — Shall not the Union of the States be preserved ? Will not the North give up and the South keep not back, but bring their sons from far and their daughters from the four quarters of the nation. And thus honor the works of their Fathers, and claim the promise " that they might live long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Resolving that they will disclaim all action with, or for, any political party in this great question of the preservation of the Union, reserving to themselves, individually, their own opinions on all matters of State and National politics, which they call upon no man to sacrifice, and that heartily invite the earnest co-operation of men of all political parties, in the cause which they have at heart, and which we believe to be the cause of God and humanity. Robert Hall says the people have always the right to new model their government and set aside their rulers. No human power can have any preten- sions to intercept its exercise. For civil rulers cannot be con- sidered as having any claims that are coextended with those of the people, nor as forming a party separate from the na- tion. They are appointed by the community to execute its will, not to oppose it ; they cannot bind the Society itself, cr prevent it, when it shall think proper, from forming an entire new arrangement ; — a right that no compact can alienate, or diminish, and which has been exerted as often as a free gov- ernment had been formed. 43 We have discharged our duty in the call of a convention of the whole people, in every State, embracing those of the seceeding States, to provide for the attainment and security of the union of States. The first proposal we should make would be for all the seceeding States to harmonise again with their sister States, and the remaining States to remove all obnoxious laws, and every form, and cleave to the substance, viz : the preservation of the Union. Let all things remain as they are — make no line of divis- ion, but let the South remove in their own time and manner their own domestic troubles, as suggested by Jefferson. We trust there will be no necessity for repeating the injunction of Joseph to his brethren, " see that ye fall not out by the way." As well might a sane man insist to his wife that he has a right to chop oft his right hand, or his own head, and leave her to provide for all his responsibilities, as for the States to seceed or consent to it. Take a trip in a sailing vessel across the ocean, and see with what joy you espy the flag of our Union on the deep blue waters. Especially after the hardships of boisterous weather, and no sun visable to take an observation. How joyfully you exchange signals to hear from home — the United States. It matters not from which State, provided she belongs to the United States. How different are your feelings if she raises the standard of any other nation, even though they speak the same language. We have hastily thrown these ideas together, thinking each day that we sent to the printer, the last page at the 24th, and yet we have found each day something else to add, and now had we the time and power, we could enlarge and cor- rect it. But we throw it as it is, with all its faults, before an enlightened community, and invite and beseech each indi- vidual, be his talents one or two, to assist in his own way to preserve the Union of the States. Editor Eastern Argui—YcKterday^i Argns contained an article from the Journal oi Commerce from Que- rist headed "Is it to slavery, or to auti slavery we cwo our national troubles." "As a correct answer to t lis question is of immense and vital importance just now," permit me throuffh your columns to give the Ijliowing answer. And I leel assurLd that I have de. rived the answer from the fjreat lountain of wiedom viz: The word of God. It is to. a violation of the oath to support the Constitution of the U. States, as our fathers pledged themselves it should be support- ed, that we owe cur pressnt national troubles. When our States combined together under one Government they came into Union, each with all the imperfect Ions und wrongs it had tolerated. They took each other for better or worwe, with a clear understanding of what they took. The North has sinned, inasmuch as they have not kept inviolate the constutional pledges of our lathf rs, for the North bears no respon- sibility before God and the world lor slavery at the South. Junge Story says the understanding is gen- eral, it not universal, that ha.ving been adopted by a majority ol the people, the Constitution of the State binds the whole community, proprit vigorie,{hy ita own innate power,) and is unalterable unless by a consent of a majority of the people, or at least by ti-.o qualifitd voters of the State in the manner presciibed by the Constitution, or o'herwise pre-ciibfed by the majority. Let the people perlorm unto the Lord their vows, viz: support the Constitunon of the Uni- ted States and the war will cease; othei wi^e the war will continue. As well may public men attempt to step the sun's revolving ou its axis, ae to stop effects following causes. Not ten years hence the question above will be asked respecting family government? and the hame answer will be given, viz- perform un- to the Lord thy vows-support the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution reads that no State shall pHSs a law impairing the obligations of contract,'^ The husband at the altar takes a vow to love, cherish and protect, for better or worse, until death, the wife of hi,s bosom. Ue also endows her wit.'i all hi f worldly goods by an oath. Will you perform unto the Lord your vows? '-What is man that Thou art mindiiil of him ; or the son of man t hat Thou visilists him? Thou hast made him little lower than the ar.gels, and hast donned him with glorv and power." r, J ^ The Constitution of the U. S reads in article 4, ?eo. n,— "No person held to service or labor in one State' under the laws thereof, esciping iutn another, shall' in cousf quence of any law or regulation therein be discharged from such service, or labor, but shall bo delivered np on c'aim of the party to whom such ser- vice or labor may be due " Article 6, sec 4_.'The Constitution of the U. S shall be the supreme^w of the land ; and the Judges in every State shall ba bound ther by, anything in the ConstituMon ot any ' State to the contrary notwithstanding " What is the. use of Col. Smart's resolves, engrossing so much of the time of ttie present Legislature? Isnottledi-' vorced husb-ind and wife held by their marriage cove- nant, the divorce to the contrary notwithstanding, by the Ceustitution of the U. S? i hat seems to be the case. ^ ^ "" Fortland, March 18, IPfiO J. P. Thurston, [ For the Advertiser.] Truths Well Expres.sed.— In his address at the New York Fair, Gov. Wright, of Indiana, made the folIo^ving excellent suggestion. They compirse a vol ume in a nut-shell : — "Wo must cultivate the roots, not the top.s. We must make the/amili/ //uvtrnmeiit, the school, the fiu-m, the church, the shop, the agricultural fairs, the l.abraitories of our future greatness. We must educate our sons to be fanners, artizaus, architects, engineers, geologist, botanists, chemists,— in a word, practical men. 'ilieir eyes must be turned from Washington to their States, counties, towiisliips, districts, homes. This is true patriotism, and the only patriotism that will perpetual- ly preserve the nation." xne J>08itioii of the Seceding- SltateH. The question is whether the Seceding States continue to be .States within the meaning of the Constitution, notwithstanding they are armed in rebellion, and wag- ing war to overthrow our Government— Declaration of Kights. iState con.stitntion of Maine reads Art. 1, Sec 5 ; Ihe people shall be secure in their persons, houses and possessions from all unreasonable searches and seizures. j^ec. 1 reads : "all men have certain inaliena- ble rights, among which are those of acquiring, poses- sing and protecting property, and of obtaining safety and happiness." ° ' I shoiJld answer the above question in the affirma- tive, and to Illustrate my opinion, will t:ike the c.ise of a lamily,the sons of whom at the decease of their father became rebellions to maternal authority, and compel the mother, for her own and for her young children's .safety, to yield and give up to the Law (thinking there- by she w-ill be protected,) every particle of property that has been given to her by her Imsband, or her fath- er during her marri.ngt". The law should protect that w-Ue and mother m her person and property, as they guarantee to do by the constitution. Notwithstanding she has given up all her power— her estate, into the mna» ol the ^tate Government's Agent, the Judge of Irobate. So with the Seceding States, the State Gov- ernment, or agents of the people were overpowered by the number of rebellious sons. But on suppressing that rebellion, the general government should rein- state them as in the case of the widow with her rebel- lious sons. j p Y I'oin-LAXD, March 27, 18(52. " ' ' *The husband gives to his wife, not only by his mar- riac/e coveneiit and by his writings, but by actual pos- sesion, his children, and all of his estate. But the Judge of I'robate, although there are no debts, sends several men culled appraisers, to search the prem- ises, and they take into their ])ossession, all the proper- ty; and the chilch-en that have been nurtured to maturi- ty, and leave the widow with her little ones to strug- gle tor a year or two, until that property becomes well reduced, and the widow then finds but one quarter ot the original amount is given her, and for her com- fort the Judge of I'robate tells her "he wishes every widow had as much as she has." J P N •The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wis- lom. Wisdom is the principle thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get understand- ing. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Tlie fear of the Lord is to hate evil." — I'rov. 8. Mr. Editor : — We have a written Constitution of the U. States, arid all Legislators and all public oflicers take an oath to support tliat constitution, and a ])eualty is attached to a violation of that oath, either by legislator or any other public officer. — We have also a written Constitution of the State of Maine. By reading those Coustitutions, we learn that the People" are the .Sover- eign lUilers of this Country. Preamble: "We the peo- ple of the U. StBtes ill order to forma more perfect Ciiion, establish justice, insure domestic tranquiliiy. provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and e.stablish this Consti- tution of the U. States of America." Sec. 10 reads, "No State shall pass a law impairing the obligation of con- tracts." Constitution of Maine reads, that "the Legis- lature shall pass no law impairing the obligation of con- tracts." Article 1st, Sec. 15: "The people may petition for redress of their wrongs and grievances." Sic. lU : "Kvei-y person for an injury in his person and property shall have remedy, and right and justice shall beadmln- i.stered freply ana without sale completely, aiid without denial, promptly and without delay." Let us exiimine, and see wdiether it is the People, or the people's agents, (the . I udiclary committee) that are the Soverejgu Kul- ers of the State of Elaine. We carried to the Legislature of Maine last January, tuH) petitions, one signed for myself and minor child- ren, (as their Guaridan,) for iiidemnitication for the acts of the Judge of I'l-obate. This petition was brought up in House and referre-f to the Judiciary committee, and after an investigation of the case, and the facts be ing so stubborn against the Judge, and several of that coniniiitee being his near relatives, and the committee being lawyers, tfiey requested to have the petition re- ferred to the committee on Claiins. And the ( Iiainnan of the .ludiciary Cimimittee gave us his word of honor, that he would "bring the subject before the Senate, and have it referred to the committee on Claims. But tlid not refer it to that committee, or bring it before the Senate. The second petition winch we presented was signed by many excellent people of Portland and vicin- ity. That petition was for the Legislature to remove from the Statute Books an unconstitutional law, viz : the law of "dower." In other words, the petition to the Legislature was, to "make the law of tlie .state of JIaiue to conform to the man-iage contract," viz : "with tlie ring I wed thee and with all my worldly goods I emloir thee.'' The husband to "love, cherish and pro- tect," until death his wife ; and the wife to "love, hon- or and obey, until death, Iter husband." That petition was brought up in the Senate and also referred to the Judiciary committee. The next we hear from the Leg- islature is, tlie Judiciary committee give the petition- ers leave to withdraw tlieir petitions. In viohition of their oath to support the Constitution of the U. S., the Judiciary committee keep on their Statute books, an unconstitutional lawa law that is a violation of the con- stitution of the U. States, and a violation of the consti- tution of .Maine, a law which impairs and destroys the most important of all contracts — viz : the marriage con- tract. And the Senator that presented to the Senate tliat petition, refusek to advocate its passage, und ex- erted his utmost powers to pass resolves on jSTational all'airs that were unconstituaional and therefore void, and useless. Is their power enough in the officers of Justice to brinn up the agents t)r servants of the people, who liave violated theu' oath to support the constitu- tion of the U. Spates ? The constitution of the United States is the Anchor thai holds the Ship of State, and the Bible is the C/iart and Compass, by which the Ship will be enabled to outride the storm. Let the officers of Justice bring up and punish every person that vio- lates the oath to support the constitution of the United State.s-. Or else open all the prison doors, add shut up all our Court rooms, and call the government of the people an entire failure. If the people's agents or ser- vants can violate the highest laws with impunity, and a standard is not set up, "how lang ere anarchy will take the place of order i If there was ever a time when the philantlirophist, the man of integrity, the man of wisdom, the lover of law and order, was ever called upon, to lay aside, every selfish motive, and to support and protect the laws of his country, to establish justice, and to secure tranquil- ity, provide for the common defence, &c., it is at tlie present time. When rivers of the blood of our own icountrynien is being shed, how can we fail to see tlie importance of obeying implicitly, the law of t!ie consti- tution of the U. States. For tlie Lord's sake and for humanity's sake, obey — obey — obey implicitly the law, the highest law of our beloved country — the Constitu- tion ot tlie United States of America. J. J^. X. Portland, March 22, 1802. What a strange infatuation has seized the'wise men men of the Legislature to persist in keeping on our Statute Books, laws wiiich are void, (being in violation of the constitution of tlie U. States) — laws that pervert the holy covenant of marriage into legalized seduction — laws that make sla^'es t)f tUeir own wives and daugh- ters. Kead their resolves to Senators and Kepreseuta- tives of the U. S. to emancipate the cotore(/ slaves of the district of Columbia. "Ever as man in wisdom grows I he honors her (woman) the more." What would our 'departed mothers of revolutionary times say, could they know the present state of the laws, with regard to their daughters. What wise Legislators ? To make slaves of their own mothers, to whom they owe their very ex- istence, and by whom they have been nurtered up to manhood. "Love I ay. love ! 'tis the hope of the world, Love ! ay, love I 'tis the lampligiit of life. Still guiding our feet o'er the dark rugged way. Ask the mother, tiie husband, the sister, the wife. Shall we blot from existance and "love not" again, Huusli I hear the quick answer, "ye 'U crush out my life If tliis be oh God, all existance in vain I" ;9Sg=- This letter to His Excellency Gov. Washburn was read in the Senate, and the Hon. J. A. Peters said if we returned to Portland he would use his influence to have an indemnification and would write concerning it. Here is his promised letter : AuousT.4, March 19, 1802. Mrs. Thurston :— The Legislature refused to do any- thing. Call on Mr. Vinton. Yours truly, J. A. Peters. Portland, March 10, ]8(;2. To His Excellency the Hon. Governor and Council of tlie State of Maine. Gentlemen :— I learn by the Hon. Mr. McLellan, representative from this city and the county of CUiin- berland, to the State Legislature, that my petition for indemnity for the acts of the Judge of I'roiati* t., over the eiguature of Jane P. ThnrBton, was paid [ten dollara $10] for as an advertisement. ''But we should not have printed it, had we been aware of its contents."— ^dtier/j'ser. The editor was aware of ita contents, as we made a verr^al statement of It more fully to him, and chal- lenged contradiction from the parties implicated, by giving the editor two names of disttngaiebed persona as proof of the statement. We publiehed it that the people might know how their tsta.es were adminis* tered on. The editor will pie ise refund the $10 to this office. As he made no comments on my commnnica* tlon of the let insl. ,he is entitled to that $4. Portland, April 4, 1862. JANE P. THURSTON". Every lover of union and barmony, will be gratiSeJ to itarn that petitions are now pendiug before the Legiaiataro to niake the law cuuformto the marriage contract, and which will utidoubte'l- ly be paesed at the present term. The prteent liiw is a vielatiou of the law of God, which sr.ys, "What Gcd hath joined togttVier, let no man put asunder," for it makes void the marriage cou- tr«ct. The present Uw is also a viclatioa of the hijRhPSt law of our land, viz : the Constitution of the United States, which reads in sejtion Ist, ar- ticle h, 'that no State pass a law impairiai; the obligation of contract?." Let the Stsr arise in the Eist, which shall en- lighten the nation and proclaioi peace and good will on earth. A oa'ion's gratitude was due the Mother of WijshingtoQ, for rearing him to be the Father and Sivior of hie Country Let the saoae be said ot the Mnthers of the present Legislators of Maine, who will pass this law, which wdlsav the nation. Who that desires to keep a popular Government, does not see the uect-seily of preserv- ing family Government? J. P. T. rortlaod, Feb. 16, 18(32. \ I '% ^'^"' 'ci- A'' v^^ -^^ <; %,,v^^ '^^ v^' ./ .^-"^^ ..- / ►^^ "' , ^ . / ^ ■'^^K>^^' *-. %c.^ .V> "^^ ^. - 0' •^oo^ •J' .^^' % ^^ "^^^ ,^^ -^^^ ,-^ * <.>' -^^ .'?- ^" ^. •x''- -y. ->' ci-. .-^ ,cr A^^" ^-r. -^.^ v^' ■,V •■r,. .<^' ^^^' v^^" ■<>>. ■X^^' % " -?=L. '^. ' " . .^ -^^ v^'