139. America to the world.
You cannot be too decided or too explicit in making known to the French Government that there is not now, or has there been, nor will there be any, the least idea existing in this Government of suffering a dissolution of this Union to take place in any way whatever. There will be here only one nation and one Government, and there will be the same republic and the same constitutional Union that have already survived a dozen national changes and changes of Government in almost every other country. These will stand hereafter as they are now, objects of human wonder and human affection. --William H. Seward.I.
Tell them this Union, so great, cannot sever,
Though it may tremble beneath the rude shock;
As it hath lived, so it shall live forever,
Strong as the mountain oak, firm as the rock.
II.
Others have fallen — are falling around us;
Dynasties tremble and sink to decay;
But the great heart whose stony fetters have bound us,
Never has throbbed as it's throbbing to-day.
III.
Let them not deem in a moment of weakness,
We can surrender our birthright and name ;--
Strike the old flag, and with patience and meekness,
Bear the foul blot on our hardly-earned fame.
IV.
Dumb be the tongue that would tell the foul story,
Blighted the brain could conceive it in sin;
Crushed be the heart that would tarnish the glory
And honor our country hath striven to win.
V.
Ever and ever our flag shall be streaming,
Adding new glories of stripes and of stars;
Though the sword glancing and bayonet gleaming
Tell us of treasons, corruptions, and wars.
VI.
Soon shall our land, to its old peace returning,
Spring to the duties that make nations great;
And while in every heart valor is burning,
Calmly and bravely her destiny wait.
--Vanity Fair, May 18.
