for
all time, those magnificent words of Webster: 'Liberty _and_ Union, now
and forever, one and inseparable!' For let us be well assured that the
Southern Confederacy cannot triumph. In the darkest and most mournful
period of the despotism of the first Napoleon, when all hearts were
failing, a minister of the Church of England spoke these words of the
military empire of France, and they may fitly be spoken of the military
empire of the South to-day:
'It has no foundation in the moral stability of justice. It is
irradiated by no beam from heaven; it is blessed by no prayer of man; it
is worshipped with no gratitude by the patriot heart. It may remain for
the time that is appointed it, but the awful hour is on the wing when
the universe will resound with its fall; and the same sun which now
measures out with reluctance the length of its impious reign, will one
day pour his undecaying beams amid its ruins, and bring forth from the
earth which it has overshadowed the promises of a greater spring.'[10]
FOOTNOTES:
[8] The writer saw the defiant little yacht lying snug at the Savannah
wharf, in October, 1859--after the trial.
[9] In the constitution of the _republic_ of Texas (1836), it is
declared (sec. 9 of General Provisions), 'All persons of color who were
slaves for life previous to their immigration to Texas, and who are now
held in bondage, _shall remain in the like state of servitude_.' But in
the constitution of the _State_ of Texas (1845) there is no such
declaration; and article i., the Bill of Rights, sec. 1, declares: 'All
power is inherent in the people.' The foregoing provision of the Texan
constitution of 1836, is believed to be the only actual establishment of
slavery in any Southern State, and even that has been abrogated, as is
seen, by the State constitution of 1845. (See Hurd's Law of Freedom and
Bondage, vol. ii.)
[10] Alison's History of Europe, vol. iii. p. 461.
AVERILL'S RAID.
Say, lads, have ye heard of bold Averill's raid?
How we scoured hill and valley, dared dungeon and blade!
How we made old Virginia's heart quake through and through,
Where our sharp, sworded lightning cut sudden her view!
Three cheers!
Red battle had trampled her plains into mire;
The homestead and harvest had vanished in fire;
But far where the walls of the Blue Ridge arose,
Were prize for our daring and grief for our foes.
Three cheers!
There was grain in the garners, f
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