ains, let
one united cheering voice meet the voice that now comes so earnest from
the South, and let the two voices go up in harmonious, united, eternal,
ever-swelling chorus, Flag of our Union! wave on; wave ever! Ay, for it
waves over freemen, not subjects; over States, not provinces; over a
union of equals, not of lords and vassals; over a land of law, of
liberty, and peace, not of anarchy, oppression, and strife! BENJAMIN
HARVEY HILL.

From "On the Perils of the Nation."

* * * * *

It is really astonishing to hear such an argument seriously urged in
this House. But, say these gentlemen, if you found yourself upon a
precipice, would you stand to inquire how you were led there before you
considered how to get off? No, sir; but if a guide had led me there I
should very probably be provoked to throw him over before I thought of
anything else. At least I am sure I should not trust to the same guide
for bringing me off; and this, sir, is the strongest argument that can
be used for an inquiry. LORD CHATHAM.

From "Speech on Sir Robert Walpole."

* * * * *

But let us hope for better things. Let us trust in that gracious Being
who has hitherto held our country as in the hollow of his hand. Let us
trust to the virtue and the intelligence of the people, and to the
efficacy of religious obligation. Let us trust to the influence of
Washington's example. Let us hope that that fear of heaven which expels
all other fear, and that regard to duty which transcends all other
regard, may influence public men and private citizens, and lead our
country still onward in her happy career. Full of these gratifying
anticipations and hopes, let us look forward to the end of that century
which is now commenced. A hundred years hence other disciples of
Washington will celebrate his birth, with no less of sincere admiration
than we now commemorate it. When they shall meet, as we now meet, to do
themselves and him that honor, so surely as they shall see the blue
summits to his native mountains rise in the horizon, so surely as they
shall behold the river on whose banks he lived, and on whose banks he
rests, still flowing on toward the sea, so surely may they see, as we
now see, the flag of the Union floating on the top of the capitol; and
then, as now, may the sun in his course visit no land more free, more
happy, more lovely, than this our own country! DANIEL WEBSTER.

From "