4 DEblCATION. 



passages, in my writings, of late years, have been written 

 with a heavy heart. However, to you, under the direction of 

 a kind Providence, kind indeed to you, I commit my volume, 

 and all the. aspirations which I feel, for your prosperity, in 

 common with your parents and friends. 



If this Republic must be destroyed, it will be effected by 

 destroying the liberty of speech and of the press, on some par- 

 ticular subject, at first; but extending its encroachmeats, all 

 freedom of speech and of the press will be blotted out. In 

 that case the party then in power will seize the occasion to 

 intrench themselves in the high places, and unless the people 

 shed rivers of blood, those in office will remain an incubus 

 on the body politic. When that day arrives, rather than yield 

 up the liberties of this country, to the men who are aiming at 

 their destruction, I would prefer to see our own Ohio, breasting 

 the storm of war, alone, if need be, and our citizens, either 

 maintaining their ground valiantly, and victoriously, or dy- 

 ing gloriously. If Liberty ever quits this Union, may her last 

 footsteps, tinged with blood, be imprinted deeply on every 

 plain and every hill of Ohio. My young friends! we live 

 in an eventful period, and you can hardly expect to sustain 

 the liberties of this country, without the utmost vigilance. 

 Watch the men in power at Washington city. What I say to 

 you, I say to all — watch them, because they need it — watch 

 yourselves— watch all parties, and resist every encroachment 

 on your rights. Beware of too closely following any party, 

 and be sure not to adhere too much to any popular favorite. 

 Bitter experience teaches us to do so no more 



Yours truly, 



CALEB ATWATER. 

 Ohio, June 25, 1838, 



