for we will not estimate the value of
liberty--and 'liberty and union are inseparable.' Dissolve this Union,
and let each State become, as Mr. Jefferson truly tells us it would, a
separate government, could we preserve our liberties? Where would be the
army and navy and seamen of the State of Mississippi? how to be
procured, and how to be maintained and paid? Where would be her
ambassadors and treaties, her commerce--and through what ports and by
whose permission would she ship her exports or introduce her imports?
Who would respect her flag, who recognize her as a nation--and how would
she punish aggressions upon her rights, on the ocean or the land? No,
fellow citizens; the President truly tells us that 'separate
independence' is a 'dream'--a dream from which we would wake in bondage
or in death. But, if disgraced abroad, what would be our situation at
home, as separate bordering and hostile States--and how long could we
remain in peace and concord? The voice of history tells us--the
bloodstained fields of our sister republics of America proclaim, that
disunion would be the signal for WAR--a war of conquest, in which the
weak would fall before the power of the strong; and upon the ruins of
this now happy Union might arise the darkest despotism that ever crushed
the liberties of mankind, for it would be established and could only be
maintained by the bayonet. Perhaps, while yet the civil war should rage
with doubtful issue, while exhausted and bleeding at every pore, that
sanguinary alliance of despots, combined to crush the liberties of man,
would send its armies to our shores. Under what standard would we rally
to preserve our liberty? There would be no Union--without it there would
be no strength; and those who, united, could defy the world in arms,
divided would be weak and powerless. Such are the ultimate results of
disunion. Let us take the first step, and all may be lost forever. That
step is nullification by Carolina, then her secession--then, as she
truly tells us in her address, 'the separation of South Carolina would
inevitably produce a general dissolution of the Union.' And shall
Carolina dissolve the Union? No; the liberties of all the States are
embarked together, and if one State withdraw her single plank, the
national vessel must go down to rise no more, and shipwreck the hopes of
mankind. Let us then adjure the people of Carolina, by the ties of our
common country and common kindred--by the ruin and dis