commerce. The South has
always been greatly divided on this question, and, since the act of
1846, the aggregate popular vote of the North has always been nearly
double that of the South against high tariffs. The author of the tariff
of 1846, is now, as always heretofore, devoting all his energies to the
support of the Union. So is the distinguished Republican Senator from
Pennsylvania, the author of the celebrated anti-slavery Wilmot Proviso,
who, with many other Republican Senators and members supported the
tariff of 1846. So is the eminent ex-Vice-President, (who gave the
celebrated casting vote for the tariff of 1846,) supporting the Union.
But it is enough that a majority of Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet supported the
tariff of 1846. No, the tariff had nothing to do with the rebellion. It
was slavery alone that produced the revolt. There are, however,
thousands who favored the act of 1846, and even of 1856, desiring
enlarged trade between _friendly_ nations, who regard England now, as
the enemy of our Union, the champion of secession, and the friend of
this infernal pro-slavery rebellion.

I have stated that the South must know what course we intend to pursue
in regard to slavery. But not only the South, but our friends and
enemies, and _all the world_ must also know, that the AMERICAN UNION
SHALL NEVER BE DISMEMBERED. It is the great citadel of self-government,
intrusted to our charge by Providence, and we will defend it against all
assailants until our last man has fallen. The lakes can never be
separated from the Gulf, nor the Eastern from the Western Ocean. As the
sun high advanced in the heavens illumes our flag on the Atlantic, its
first morning beams shall salute our kindred banner-stars on the shores
of the Pacific, the present western limit of this great republic.
Already the telegraphic lightning flashes intelligence from ocean to
ocean, and soon the iron horse, starting from the Atlantic on his
continental tour, shall announce his own advent on the shores of the
Pacific, The lakes of the North are united by railroads and canals with
the Atlantic, the Gulf, the Ohio, and Mississippi, and our iron gunboats,
bearing aloft in war and in peace the emblems of our country's glory,
are soon to perform their great circuit from the Albemarle, the Potomac,
the Chesapeake, the Susquehanna, the Delaware, and the Hudson, to the
Lakes and the Mississippi. Above all, the valley of the Mississippi was
ordained by God as the resi