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From an Address of Hon. Edward Everett, delivered before the Boston Union Club, Thursday, April 9, 1863.

GENTLEMEN OF THE UNION CLUB:

In that year (1789) the Federal Constitution went into operation in the United States; the great political consummation of the design of Providence in the discovery and settlement of America; the happy framework of some of the wisest and best men that ever lived, intended to effect the extension of civilization in the shortest possible time, over a vast continent lying in a state of nature; to provide a city of refuge for the starving millions of Europe; to prepare the way for the civilization and Christianization of Africa by the return of a portion of her children from the house of bondage, and to combine upon a scale of unprecedented magnitude, the homebred and fireside blessings of small States and local administrations with the security, influence, and power of a great empire. For seventy years it has been working out these great results; it has conferred upon the rapidly increasing population of the country a degree of general prosperity never equalled; it has welcomed the surplus and suffering multitudes of Europe to the enjoyment of a state of wellbeing never before vouchsafed by Providence to the same extent to the sons of men; and not without the imperfections, and the errors, the woes and, I am sorry to add, the wrongs, which attend all human things, the incidents neither of republics nor of monarchies, but of our common, frail humanity, it has conferred upon more than two generations an amount of good, with an exemption from the sacrifices and trials which have afflicted other States, altogether without a parallel in history.

And now the great question which we have to settle is, shall this mighty aggregate of prosperity perish, or shall it endure? Shall this imperial heritage of blessings descend unimpaired to our posterity, or shall it be ignominiously, profligately thrown away? Shall the territory of the Union, lately so happy under the control and adjustment of the national and State governments, be broken up into miserable fragments, sure to be engaged in constantly recurring border wars; and all lying at the mercy of foreign powers, or shall it preserve its noble integrity under the ægis of the National government? Admit the right of the seceding States to break up the Union at pleasure, nay, of each and every State to do so, and allow them to enforce that right by a successful war;-deny the authority of the Central government to control its members, and how long will it be, before the new Confederacies created by the first disruption, shall be resolved into still smaller fragments, and the continent becomes a vast theatre of civil war, military license, anarchy, and despotism? Better, at whatever cost, by whatever sacrifice, settle the question at once, and settle it forever.

But it may be asked, how can men support the Administration in the conduct of the war, if they do not approve its measures; how, I ask, in return, can any free government carry on a war, if every one is to stand aloof, who does not approve all its measures? That the war must be carried on, till the rebellion is subdued, is the all but unanimous sentiment of the loyal States. It is as much the interest of the South as of the North to hasten this consummation, for she suffers infinitely more than the North by the continuance of the war, and there can be no return to a state of general and permanent prosperity [Continued on third page of cover:]

SECOND EDITION.

OUR

NATIONAL CONSTITUTION:

ITS ADAPTATION

TO A

STATE OF WAR

OR

INSURRECTION.

A TREATISE

BY THE

HON. DANIEL AGNEW,

President Judge Seventeenth Judicial District, Pennsylvania.

PHILADELPHIA:

C. SHERMAN, SON & CO., PRINTERS.

1863.

J

us 5480.9.2

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY

RECEIVED THROUGH THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF! BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

JAN 22 1926

CORRESPONDENCE.

HON. DANIEL AGNEW,

HARRISBURG, PA., March 19th, 1863.

President Judge Seventeenth Judicial District, Pennsylvania.

DEAR SIR: The undersigned having listened with great pleasure to your truly able, appropriate, and patriotic address delivered last evening, and being desirous that our fellow-citizens throughout the State shall participate in our pleasure, as well as enjoy the profit that its perusal must confer, respectfully request that you will furnish a copy for publication, if in your power to do so.

GENTLEMEN: I have your note of this morning. I am willing to be guided entirely by your wishes and judgment as to the publication of lecture. The manuscript is therefore at your service. With great respect,

my

To Messrs. JOHN P. VINCENT,

A. W. BENEDICT,

WILLIAM HENRY,

GEORGE, CONNELL,

And others.

I am your obedient servant,

DANIEL AGNEW.