Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-08-17

II
and good men who were the founders of
the republic, but to eyince our reverence
for the Constitution, and laws which
emanate from it.
Let US, then, look around us--let us
see that all is safe. Are the laws re-
spected Can we take shelter under
them as sure refuge against every viola
ton OF our persons or our property e
Should the scrutiny discover defects
either in the laws themselves or in their
execution, the remedy is at hand.-Let
US depute to the Legislature, at the ap-
preaching election, men of good capaci
ty and sound character. Such men will
apply themselves with fidelity to supply
the deficiency or correct the evil. Some
moments of this important anniversary
should be devoted to serious examination
and profitable reflection than which
there can be no better prelude to social
enjoyment.
Ii has been said that honor is the sup
port OF Monarchy, and Uirtue of a Re-
public. True honor is, however, in
separable from virtue. There is a sort
of moral hypocrisy called honor, which
attempts to supply the place of virtue,
" and initiates her actions where she is
not. I'VE will leave this spurious pro-
duction as an appendage to Monarchy !:
it is OF no value in "a Republic---we must
have the reality. Let US, fellow citizens,
adhere TO virtue if we would be honor
able: if we would be useful, let US ad-
here TO virtue: if we would be happy,
lei US adhere to virtue.
1t has been the policy Of Governments
TO cherish an overweening tondness for
the peculiar habits, opinions, and institu-
tons oftheir own people, and contempt
for those Of other nations, founded, not
on their excellence, their truth, OF their
wisdom, but merely OH their nationality
The tendency of this has ever been to
create antipathies, among the members
of the great hannah family, as banelul in
their effects as they are frivolous in their
origin. 1t has made foes oil nations
which ought to have been connected by
links of brotherhood, and kept them SO.
To it may be traced large proportion
Of the nofarious deeds whichrender histo-
ry lll,le else than series OF horrible
tragedies. This national spirit is dignl-
fed with the name Of Patriotism, but it
IS not the patriotism fitted for Repub-
lie. 1t is another of the props of arbtra-
~ power, and, like the mimicry OF viz
tue, ,niscallcd honor, is mere counter
felt. Genuine patriotism is ray OF uni
versal benevolence which beams upon
every nan as brother. Beginning in
the DC charities Of the domestic circle,
it extends through family to neishbor-
hood-to country-to mankind.
This glorious principle, my fellow CT
tizcns is the sure bond Of union in cur
political family. Spread over SO large
portion of the globe, from the State OF
Maine 10 the Guiph of Mexico, aud
llourishing under federal constitution,
founded Oh this principal, it affords the
most exhilirating view OF human efiairs
that has ever been exhibited to the lover
Of his species. May the like fraternal
spirit prevail in the new order of things
rom Mexico 10 Chill!
The recognition of The independence
of South America was carried in Con
gress with but one dissenting voice. A
vote SO nearly unanimous, has never
before passed on any subject OF impor
lance since our own Independence was
established. What American heart
can refrain from EMULATION at this honor
able exposition Of universal leeiing,-
arising out of the inden'ity Of the rep
resentative body, in sentiment with its
constituents
My friends and neighbors, who like
myself, from various causes, have pull
ed down the stakes in the land of your
nativity, and transported yourselves
hither-let me invite you to to take a
view of your present condition, and its
comparative advantages. II is, indeed,
incumbent on us so to do, that we may
be qualified to act rightly in our new
character.
On the Continent Of Europe with
some few exceptions, as we'll as in Great
Britain and her Sister Island, the whole
land, the entire surface Of the earth, has
been long appropriated, and remains in
the possession of small number Of in
dividuals, in comparison with the bulk
Of the population insomuch that the
poor man, having no title by birth in
the soil Of his country, has no means oil
possessing a portion OF mother earth
beyond what he might cover by his per-
son on the field of battle, or what will
cover him when all his labors are &C
complished.
What, in fact, are the possessions