seceding State? No line but one of
blood, of military despotisms, and perpetual war, can ever separate this
great valley. The idea is sacrilege. It is the raving of a maniac.
Separation is death. Disunion is suicide. If the South presents the
issue that the Union or slavery must perish, the result is not doubtful.
Slavery will die. It will meet a traitor's doom, wherever it selects a
traitor's position. The Union will still live. It is written on the
scroll of destiny, by the finger of God, that 'neither principalities
nor powers' shall effect its overthrow, nor shall 'the gates of hell
prevail against it.'

Nor will we ever surrender the grave of Washington. There, upon the
Potomac, on whose banks he was born and died, the flag of the Union must
float over his sacred sepulchre, until the dead shall be summoned from
their graves by the trump of the resurrection.

The Fourth of July, 1776, when our name was first inscribed upon the
roll of nations, shall be forever commemorated under one flag, and as
the birthday of one undivided Union. The memorable declaration of
American Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution
of the United States, all subscribed upon that consecrated ground at
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, shall ever mark the noble commonwealth
of Pennsylvania as the keystone of the arch of a perpetual and unbroken
Union.

Nor shall any but the same banner be unfolded over the graves of the
patriots and statesmen of the Revolution, or the battle-fields of the
mighty conflict.

And around the graves of Washington and Jackson, and in memory of their
solemn farewell appeals in favor of the Union, how could Virginia or
Tennessee ever have been disloyal? No, they were not disloyal, but were
torn, by rebel fraud and violence, from that banner round which they
will again rejoice to rally.

We must not despair of the Republic. All is not lost. The Union yet
lives. Its restoration approaches. The calm will soon follow the storm.
The golden sunlight and the silver edging of the azure clouds will be
seen again in the horizon. The bow of promise will appear in the
heavens, to mark the retiring of the bitter waters, proclaiming from on
high, that now, henceforth, and forever, no second secession deluge
shall ever disturb the onward, united, and peaceful march of the
Republic.

OUR WOUNDED.

As loftier rise the ocean's heaving crests,
Ere they sink, tempest-driven, on the strand;