Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/152

THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS to exist, I do not conceive it therefore to be in the line of duty to anticipate the natural effects of those causes by any rash or unjustifiable act. I am disposed rather to hope for the best, while I feel bound to be prepared for the worst. What is really to be the future fate and destiny of this Republic is a matter of interesting speculation; but I am well satisfied that it can not last long*, even if the present differeneer, be adjusted, un- less these violent and bitter sectional feelings of the North be kept out of the national halls. This is a conclusion that al must come to, who know anything of the lessons of history. But our business to-day is with the present, and ^ot the future ; and I would now invoke every mem- ber of this House who hears me, with the same frankness, earnestness, and singleness of purpose with which I have addressed them throughout these remarks, to come up like men and patriots, and relieve the country from the dangerous em- barrassments by which it is at this time sur- rounded. It is a duty we owe to ourselves, to the millions we represent, and to the whole civilized world. To do this, I tell you again, there must be concessions by the North as well as the South. Are you not prepared to make them? Are feelings too narrow and restricted to embrace the whole country and to deal justly by all its parts ? Have you formed a fixed, firm, and inflexible determination to carry' your meas- ures in this House by numerical strength, and then to enforce them by the bayonet 1 If so, you 142