DISSOLUTION OF THE UNION. 343 



A want of reverence for law at home, and of political 

 morality abroad, may destroy that influence ; but 

 the simple multiplication of prosperous republics will 

 increase it. 



The dissolution of the Union was a topic much dis 

 cussed everywhere in the States during my stay. In 

 Washington, Clingman and his followers had already 

 brought it up in Congress as a thing to be expected, 

 were California admitted, and other Free State measures 

 adopted. Even Mr Calhoun was said to be of opinion 

 that the time had arrived when the Confederacy was 

 strong enough to bear dividing into two 5 and that the 

 interests of the northern and southern States were now 

 sufficiently diverse to require it. 



But for this extremity the time has not yet come. 

 The hearts of both ends of the Union are still too proud 

 of their growing strength, and of belonging to a great 

 country, willingly to forego this boast, without some 

 most serious cause. And although, in theory, the federal 

 compact is a voluntary union of sovereign States, which 

 may be dissolved whenever any one or more States think 

 their interest will be promoted by the separation ; yet 

 when an emergency arrives, the majority, if large, will 

 resist such a separation by force of arms, and compel the 

 adhesion of the refractory States. Such, at least, was 

 the temper of many in the northern States whom I heard 

 speak upon the subject, and who .firmly believed in the 

 power of the free States to repress all rebellion against 

 the Union. It amused me to hear men who, in one 

 breath, talked of annexing Canada and Nova Scotia, 

 threatening vengeance in another against the traitor 

 States which should break up the integrity of the 

 Union. 



It has become, however, a matter of grave doubt with 

 many in the eastern States, whether the danger of dis 

 union is not now greater on the coasts of the Pacific. 



