II.

There is another point of view, in which slavery must be viewed by
every patriot, as a national curse. I allude to the agitation and
sectional hatred, which it engenders. This is a grievous misfortune.
It is folly to attempt to conceal the fact, that it has originated
sectional jealousy and prejudice, which endangers the perpetuity of
the Union. This is a serious view of the subject, and it demands the
sober consideration of every friend of this glorious Union. _The Union
must be preserved_; should be the motto of every one who has a spark
of patriotism in his breast. All those questions of national policy,
which have separated the great political parties in this country, when
compared with this great question, sink into utter insignificance.
Whatever endangers the perpetuity of this Union, demands the attention
of every friend of his country; every man who is worthy the name of an
American citizen. It calls loudly for prompt and effectual action, to
avert the calamitous catastrophe. _God save the Union_, should be the
prayer of every Christian. This petition, should begin and end their
devotional exercises. _God save the Union_, should be the first lesson
taught to the child in the cradle; and from infancy to old age, the
reverential aspirations of our hearts should ascend to him who holds
the destinies of nations in his hands; to save and bless our common
country.

From morn till eve, our hearts should breathe,
Father of mercies, God of love preserve--
Oh! preserve, our blood bought liberties;
Preserve them unalloyed, unimpaired While time shall last.

If we all could be animated by this spirit, then would peace,
prosperity and good will, abound more and more, throughout the length
and breadth of our land. Bound together by cords of love; as a band of
brothers; we should know "no North, no South;" the prime object of all
would then be, the prosperity and preservation of our common country.
We are the conservators of liberty. We hold it as a trust, and the
oppressed of all nations expect here to find a refuge from tyranny;
and here they may find it, so long as we preserve our Federal Union
unimpaired.

But unfortunately for us, ambitious demagogues have seized upon the
subject of slavery, and are convulsing the country from one end to the
other. Slavery is the demagogue's hobby, and he mounts it, raises his
hat, kicks and spurs, as if the salvation of the universe was
suspended on his eleva