The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2 No 4, October, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2 No 4, October, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
prophets in the Scriptures of truth.
This great valley, one mighty plain, without an intervening mountain,
contains, west of the Mississippi, seven States and Territories of an
area sufficient for thirteen more of the size of New-York. East of the
Mississippi, it embraces all the remaining States except New-England,
New-Jersey, Delaware, South-Carolina, and Florida. New-York is connected
with the great valley by the Alleghany River; and Maryland by the
Castleman's River and the Youghiogany, and Alabama, North-Carolina, and
Georgia, by the Tennessee and its tributaries. Nearly one half the area
of Pennsylvania and Virginia is within its limits. Michigan is united
with it by the Wisconsin River, and Texas by the Red River; whilst Ohio,
Indiana, and Kentucky, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, and Mississippi,
Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana, and Arkansas own almost
exclusively its sway.
And who will dare erect the feeble barriers designed to seclude the
great valley and its products from either ocean, the Lakes, or the Gulf,
or persuade her to hold these essential rights and interests by the
wretched tenure of the will of any 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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