Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-07-24

| hAAS 0NAiiie ~ W q Sulo N5 ullN WISH VIC
were rid of. Surely this is an entire con-
tradiction of terms, and most absurd
But right reason never can support posi-
tive wrong, and never will until the moral
world undergoes an entire change, and
right Is transformed into wrong, and
wrong into right. Let us therefore as
crlbe the conduct Of the southern people,
upon the subject of slavery, to the utter
and entire want of reason to defend a
subject which cannot in itself be defend
ed; and many Of them no doubt stimu-
lated by ayarice, which is correctly de-
| scrlbed by moralists as not ranking with
the noble passions of the human breast.
But in contest Of opinion upon such
subject, the issue cannot be doubtful in
such nation as this.
knowledge and intelligence have in-
creased, and the means of acquiring both,
have been, and are at the present time,
greatly multiplying, in almost all quar-
tiers. AVe have abundant reason to re-
Iolce that our government and our insti-
tutions find their firmcst support in the
knowledge and intelligence of the citi-
zens at large; unlike monarchics, which
are supported upon the ignorance and the
vices humankind. Accordingly we have
seen our general and state governments
patronizing literary Institutions, with
Iiberality and munifcence that entities
them to immortal honor. The native
genius OF Americans will not, we hope.
hereafter be lost, Oh, what is worse, be
nj 4. aprolIn1 FOR bo <r Ia.
walton and instruction. The diamond,
though 1t may shine, yet it never shines
with Its due and proper lustre, until it
has received the polishing hand of the
artist And even the fragrance of the
rose is lost in the desert and the solitary
place.
A question has been considerably agir
tatcd in the United States, that is, whether
our government is likely to be perma-
nent? Some are of opinion that factions,
party splrlt,po litical storms and tempests,
| will destroy it. But why our situation
should be more SO, in time to come, than
| 1t has been in times past, would be very
| difficult to point out. The great mass
of the people born and raised under this
present government, arc beyond all ques-
ton greatly attached to it. The SINH
! larlty IN character, manners, habits, prin-
ciples, modes of thinking, and education,
| is daily becoming greater. The popula-
| ton OF the United States has, in great
degree, lost that heterogeneous cilarac-
| ter IL possessed forty years ago. a most
striking difference has taken place. We
may be said at the present time to have
a national character. The greater the
similarity among a people, the more ca
silly they can be governed, and the more
likely are they to live long under one
form OF government Judging then from
present appearances, never was govern
ment SO likely to be permanent as at tic
present time. The voice of faction is not
heard in the land. In the opinion of some
| our territory is too extensive for us alto
live under one government; it must
| therefore necessarily be divided into two
| or more governments. But experience
has taught US, that the increase of the
states has had no tendencyto divide them,
but has given stability to the whole. Tho
more extensive our territory, the less
will be the effects of factions and local
jealousies. In fact, they are harmless
things in large and wide spread empire;
while at the same time they would shake
a small one to the centre. l apprehend
VIC have nothing to fear from the great
extent OF our territory. 1t is truly tho
largest in the world, except that of Rus
STA; and occupying the milder latitudes,
between the extremes of heat and cold,
and producing all the necessarics OF life
in the greatest plenty and perfection 1t
is true that some portions of the United
States are less productive than Others,
but, by an interchange of products and
commodities, we have at all times enough
for our own use, and surplus to spare.
From the principles of our confederation
formed only for national purposes, and
the policy of the government purely ma
tional, excluding all local affairs, and
leaving them 10 be managed and trans
acted BY the states, the probability is that
; our government will be as safe, and as
likely to be permanent, when it is extend
ed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as it
is at the present moment. The govern
ment is peculiar in its instruction, and
different from all others in existence
and we cannot but admire the consum-
mate wisdom and ability that planned
and formed it. Among the band of sages
and patriots of that time, and of the first
rank, we End the names eff a WASHING
TON and FRANKLIN standing pre-emi-
, 'Ibp,- IL