Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

92. compromise. Inscribed to the Congress of the United States, assembled in Extra session, July 4, 1861.

by Edna Dean Proctor.

Compromise! Who dares to speak it
     On the nation's hallowed Day,
When the air with thunder echoes,
     And the rocket-lightnings play?
Compromise! while on the dial
     Liberty goes ages back--
Scourged, and bound, for our denial,
     Firmer to the despot's rack?

Compromise! while angels tremble
     As we falter in the race!
Cringe, and flatter, and dissemble--
     We! who hold such royal place?
Compromise! It suits the craven!
     Has our valor stooped so low?
Have we lost our ancient ardor
     Face to face to meet the foe?

Compromise is Treason's ally,
     Traitors' refuge, cowards' raid;
All the wrongs that Justice suffers
     Flourish in its deadly shade.
Compromise is base undoing
     Of the deeds our fathers wrought;
They, for Right and Freedom suing--
     We, disdaining what they bought.

No! By all the Mayflower's peril
     On the wild and wintry sea;
By the Pilgrim's prayer ascending,
     As he knelt with reverent knee;
By that fairest day of summer,
     When the tried, the true, the brave,
Name, and life, and sacred honor,
     To the Roll of Freedom gave;

By the tears, the march, the battle,
     Where the noble, fearless died--
Wild around the cannon's rattle,
     Waiting angels at their side--
By our children's golden future,
     By our fathers' stainless shield,
That which God and heroes left us,
     We will never, never yield!

Hear it! ye who sit in council,
     We, the People, tell you so!
Will you venture “Yes” to whisper,
     When the millions thunder “No” ?
Will you sell the nation's birthright,
     Heritage of toil and pain,
While a cry of shame and vengeance
     Rings from Oregon to Maine?

Compromise-then Separation--
     Such the order of the two;
Who admits the first temptation,
     Has the second's work to do.
Compromise — the sultry silence!
     Separation — whirlwind power!
For a moment's baleful quiet,
     Will you risk that rending hour?

Who would sail the Mississippi?
     Who the mountain ranges hold?
Win Ohio's fertile borders?
     Sacramento's sands of gold?
Whose would be our banner's glory?
     Who the eagle's flight would claim!
Whose our old illustrious story,
     Patriot graves, and fields of fame?

Compromise — we scorn the offer!
     Separation — we defy!
“Firm and free and one forever!”
     Thus the People make reply.
“Death to every form of Treason,
     In the Senate, on the field!”
While the chorus swells and echoes,
     “we will never, never yield!”