Above all, let us not ignore the lessons of the war. The million graves of the heroes fallen in defence of our liberties and laws, are so many million wounds in the bleeding body of the nation, whose poor, dumb mouths, if they had voice, would cry out to Heaven against the system which has moved this foul treason against those liberties and laws. Let us, then, in the white heat of this terrible crisis, adopt the amendment, and stamp on the forefront of the nation, as its motto, 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!