Any attempt to untangle
the ties, more firmly fastens them. When any one State talks
of separation, the others become spontaneously knotted
together. When a section blusters about its particular
rights, the rest feel each of theirs to be common to all. If
a foreign nation hint at hostility, the whole Union becomes
in reality united. And thus in every contingency from which
there can be danger, there is also found the element of
safety." Yet, he added, "All attempts to strengthen this
federal government at the expense of the States' governments
must be futile.... The federal government exists on
sufferance only. Any State may at any time constitutionally
withdraw from the Union, and thus virtually dissolve it[32]."
Even more emphatically, though with less authority, wrote one Charles
Mackay, styled by the American press as a "distinguished British poet,"
who made the usual rapid tour of the principal cities of America in
1857-58, and as rapidly penned his impressions:
"Many persons in the United States talk of a dissolution of
the Union, but few believe in it.... All this is mere bravado
and empty talk. It means nothing. The Union is dear to all
Americans, whatever they may say to the contrary...
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