e harmony of such a structure? Is it a mere fancy
to suppose that such a silent yet powerful educating influence in our
Constitution may be more effectual, on many minds, than any direct
restraining power of special statutes?

This train of thought is tempting, and suggests a great variety of
illustrations, but we can not dwell on them. If the man who should
maliciously cause the destruction of a splendid cathedral, who should set
fire to St. Peter's or St. Paul's, or who should wantonly mar a
master-piece of Power or Canova--if such a one, we say, would justly be
visited with the execration of the civilized world, of how much sorer
punishment should he be thought worthy who should traitorously conspire
the death of our American Union, or even think of applying the torch to
the glorious structure of our Federal Constitution? Even to speak lightly
of its value should be regarded as no ordinary treason. But let us come
down to what many would regard a more practical and utilitarian view of
the matter.

AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD.--What arithmetic shall estimate the value of
our Union and of our political institutions in this respect? This is the
second element in our computation; although in view of the present
condition of mankind it might even seem entitled to the first and highest
place. Between the wild surgings of radicalism and the iron-bound coast of
despotism, what hope for the nations if the fairest and strongest ship of
constitutional liberty part her anchors, only to be engulfed in the
yawning vortex on the one side, or dashed to pieces against the rocks on
the other? When will the experiment ever be tried under fairer auspices?
When may we again expect such a combination of favoring circumstances,
propitious providences, moral and religious influences, formative ideas,
and historical training as have all concurred in building up the fabric
which some would so recklessly destroy? If after the preparation of
centuries--if after all our claims to a higher Christianity, a higher
civilization, a higher science--if after all our boasts of progress, and of
the Press, and of the capacity of man for self-government--the result of it
all should be a dissolution of our political and national existence before
one generation of its founders had wholly passed away, what can we
expect--we earnestly ask every serious reader deeply to ponder this most
plain and practical question--what can we expect of the frivolous French
in