Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/113

 CLAY -/ gard for posterity — by all their gratitude to Him who has bestowed upon them such un- numbered blessings — by all the duties which they owe to mankind, and all the duties they owe to themselves — by all these considerations I im- plore them to pause — solemnly to pause — at the edge of the precipice before the fearful and disastrous leap is taken in the yawning abyss below, which will inevitably lead to certain and irretrievable destruction. And, finally, Mr. President, I implore, as the best blessing which heaven can bestow upon me on earth, that if the direful and sad event of the dissolution of the Union shall happen, I may not survive to behold the sad and heart- rending spectacle. /"iTlLv^ 193