The patriots of '76 proved the purity of their motives in the pursuit of emancipation more by _acts_ than _words_. They were a united band of brothers who aimed at the general good of their _whole_ country--pledged to make her free or perish in the effort. No local interests--no sectional jealousies--no fire-brands of discord could _then_ disorganize the phalanx of sages and heroes who struck for LIBERTY. Under the guidance of Heaven they were crowned with victory. They purchased FREEDOM with torrents of blood and millions of treasure. That sacred boon they transmitted to us in pristine purity. Do we _all_ fully appreciate this priceless legacy? Far from it. For years it has been the foot-ball of reckless demagogues--the neglected nursling of our people. Many _talk_ loud and long of their patriotism--sing the pæans of our FREEDOM--laud the dear sovereign people to the skies--whose _acts_ too plainly show that they look upon our UNION as a mere rope of sand and not as an invaluable treasure to be preserved at all hazards. They look upon the people as a mass of hood-winked worshippers at the shrine of party spirit--not as those who can, should and _must_ banish them from our councils or be plunged into the vortex of fearful destruction. People of America! open your eyes to our true position! Look at the mighty struggles, the herculean labors, the gigantic efforts of the few pure patriots in our national council who have nobly warded off the lightning thunderbolts of the disorganizers. See the upheaving throes of the volcano that is rocking us in the consuming cradle of civil discord! Ponder well the danger of concentrating men in Congress whose boiling passions cannot be restrained by the safety-valve of reason--men who do not prize our UNION above all other considerations--whose burning zeal for local measures--party success and self interest would be their ruling passion amidst the smoking ruins of the temple of our LIBERTY. People of America! it is for you to perpetuate this expanding Republic. You _can_ and _should_ preserve it. Banish all questions that can place it in jeopardy--permit all agitators to remain at home--let the people of each state strictly observe the eleventh commandment--then we may fondly hope that our course may be onward and upward for centuries to come.