Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/204

THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS of our institutions, tlio advancing side by side with us in parallel lines, but never necessarily in conflict, it has surpassed us greatly in numbers. We are, therefore, in a numerical minority. But we do not murmur at this ; we cheerfully accept the result ; but we as firmly claim the right of the minority — and what is that ? We claim the bene- fit of the Constitution that was made for the pro- tection of minorities. In the march of events, feeling conscious of your numerical power, you have aggressed upon us. We hold up between us and your advancing columns of numbers that written instrument which your and our fathers made, and by the compact of which, you with your power were to respect as to us and our rights. Our and your fathers made it that they and their children should for ever observe it; that, upon all ques- tions affecting the rights of the minority, the majority should not rely upon their voting numbers, but should look, in restraint upon passion, avarice and lust for power, to the writ- ten compact, to see in what the minority was to be respected, and how it was to be protected, and to yield an implicit obedience to that com- pact. Constitutions are made solely for the protection of the minorities in government, and for the guidance of majorities. Ours are now the institutions which are at stake ; ours is the peace that is to be destroyed ; ours is the property that is to be destroyed ; ours is the honor at stake — the honor of children, the 194