At least, Sir, let the star of Massachusetts be the last which shall be seen to fall from heaven, and to plunge into the utter darkness of disunion.  Let her shrink back, let her hold others back if she can, at any rate, let her keep herself back, from this gulf, full at once of fire and of blackness; yes, Sir, as far as human foresight can scan, or human imagination fathom, full of the fire and the blood of civil war, and of the thick darkness of general political disgrace, ignominy, and ruin.  Though the worst may happen that can happen, and though she may not be able to prevent the catastrophe, yet let her maintain her own integrity, her own high honor, her own unwavering fidelity, so that with respect and decency, though with a broken and a bleeding heart, she may pay the last tribute to a glorious, departed, free Constitution.

THE NATURAL HATRED OF THE POOR TO THE RICH.

FROM A SPEECH IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, JANUARY 31st 1834, ON “THE REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITS.”

Sir, there is one other subject on which I wish to raise my voice.  There is a topic which I perceive is to become the general war-cry of party, on which I take the liberty to warn the country against delusion.  Sir, the cry is to be raised that this is a question between the poor and the rich.  I know, Sir, it has been proclaimed, that one thing was certain, that there was always a hatred on the part of the poor toward the rich; and that this hatred would support the late measures, and the putting down of the bank.  Sir, I will not be silent at the threat of such a detestable fraud on public opinion.  If but ten men, or one man, in the nation will hear my voice, I will still warn them against this attempted imposition.

Mr. President, this is an eventful moment.  On the great questions which occupy us, we all look for some decisive movement of public opinion.  As I wish that movement to be free, intelligent, and unbiassed, the true manifestation of the public will, I desire to prepare the country for another appeal, which I perceive is about to be made to popular prejudice, another attempt to obscure all distinct views of the public good, to overwhelm all patriotism and all enlightened self-interest, by loud cries against false danger, and by exciting the passions of one class against another.  I am not mistaken in the omen; I see the magazine whence the weapons of this warfare are to be drawn.  I hear already the din of the hammering of arms preparatory to the combat.  They may be such arms, perhaps, as reason, and justice, and honest patriotism cannot resist.  Every effort at resistance, it is possible, may be feeble and powerless; but, for one, I shall make an effort,—­an effort to be begun now, and to be carried on and continued, with untiring zeal, till the end of the contest.