Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-23

law most oInnipotcnt? Where is intelligence,
and wealth ~mostwidely diiIused ana most rapidly
progressive! Where is society in its general dcs-
cription most peaccable, and orderly, and moral,
ard contcnted ? Where are popular tunults
lest known, and the spirit and existence, and al
most the name, Ola mob least heard OF? Where,
in short, IS political animosty lest prevalent
faction subdued-and, at this moment, even
party nearly e~xtinguished, in a prevailing feel
ing Of national pride and satisfaction? Where,
hut IN America: immense dpPtause.) America,
that laid the foundation of her Republican Con-
%stitution in a violent, radical, sangu:nary rcvolu-
ton-America, with her fundamental democra-
cy, made more unmanageable, and apparently
more hazardous, by being broken up into l do
not know how many confederated and indcpen-
dent Observation-Disclosures, with Universal
Suffrage, and monthly or weekly elections-a
free and unlicensed press; without an established
priesthood, an hereditary nobility, or 4 perma-
nent executiye-witL all that is combustible, in
short, and pregnant with danger, ON the hypo-
thesis of tyranny, and without one of the checks
or Safeguards by which alone they contend the
benefits or the very being Of society can be main
tained5(Peais Of apptause.) There is some
thing at once audacious in maintaining such doc
trines IN the face of such experience. Nor can
any thing be founded on the novelty of these in
shtutions, or the pretence that they have not
yet been put fairly on their trial. America has
gone on prospecting under them for forty years
AND has exhibited a picture of uninterrupted
rapid, unprecedented advances in wealth, popu-
iatlon, intelligence, and concord while all the
arbitrary governments of the cid world have been
%overrun with bankruptcies, conspiracies, rebel
hons, and revolutions, and are at this moment
trembling in the consciousness of their insecurity,
aud vainly endeavouring to repress irrerrsssible
discontents, by confederated violence and terror.
(1Pptause.) If any thing more were required
to show the superior security, as well as ener-
g.y and happiness of free government, l must
beg merely to contrast the condition of South A
merica, as it wastill very lately-with that ofths
happy country to which have been referring.
These southern settlements had the advantage
OF beng earlier established, and followed from
the first by the fostering care ofthc parent state.
They were placed in a more fertile soil and more
Propltous climate; but they were governed by
Observation-Disclosures, and given over to bigotted
priests and courtly favorites, & wanting freedom,
allthe blesslngsof nature were turned to curses
Their treasures were exhaustcd-thc popula-
ton withered and s!lrunl1 underthem-aoth rae
es were degraded by their mixture-and they
became Mt last among the governing classes a
degeneratad and corrupted mass, which moul-
dcred away, end dissolved in its own rotteness-
till it fertilizcdthc soil over whiuh it was scatter
cd, for that rising and glorious harvest of liberty
which now covered it with the beauty of its pro.
mise! In the North the lot of our emigrantcoun-
trymen was cast i'll more ungenial regions-and
their first struggles either totally neglected or
but coldly supported by the mother country-but,
carrying with them that innate love of freedom,
which l trust will run forever in the blood of all
Britons, they surnounted all dificultics-and
even under the colonial and not always equitable
government of England, they made very consi-
dcrable advances in wealth and civilization; and
ever since they have been left to build for them
selves OH this firm foundation, have so multiplied
and Increased in theland, and advanced with such
miraculous rapidity in wealth, population, indus
try and power, as not only to put TO shame
the stationary communities of Europe, but even
to make her statists and political economists re-
wise and remodel their systems, to correspond
with their unnatural and excessive prosperity
Such my Lord are the services witch | conceive
America to have rendered to the cause O fliberty
-end though they are, as Iapp1ehend, truly in-
calculable in value and amount, it is pleasing to
think that they have been rendered, not only
without sacrifice or effort on her part--but al
most without her consciousness or cooperation.
They have flowed like a healing virtue from her
existence and her example. She has only had
tobe free: and peaceful land happy, and prosper
GUS in her freedom, to put down the disgusting
sophistry of the hireling advocates of power,
and to give the strongest encouragement to all
the nations ofthe earth to emulate her happiness
and peace by initiating her freedom! For these
services-for that encouragement-for these
leSsons-she is entitledto our warmest gratitude.
But the time is perhaps come when She is des-
tined to render still more active and essential
services, and to confer benefits, by which, as
they cost her more, she will confer still deeper
obligations. 1t was too much perhaps to expect
that, while her own peace and honour were
not in question, this infant giant should stretch
her unncrved arm across the broad Atlantic,
merely to ~controul the encroachments of TO-
reign despots and stranger nations-or testify.
otherwise than by her practice, her scorn of
their professions, and her adherence of the
acts by which they are animated.
But as soon as. the menace of their arrogance
is directed TO the shores of that majestic CONT
nent-oDe extreme of which is guarded and
sanctifed by her seat-ass soon as the borders of
her land profaned by the rumour even of the I'M
followed approach of the principles or powers of
the Holly Ailiance-there issues forth that calm,
resolutc, awful voice of determined freedom,
and prepared resistance, at which the heart of
the tyrant quails more fearful that at the loud
est note of defiance, and which like the loM
muttering of the thunder, announces that aveng-
ing justice is preparing her bolts, to cast down
the pride of her opprossors. May we hope too,
that The symptoms, though tardy and somewhat
r reluctant, of a more liberal spirit-and a true
sympathy with English feeling, which have late
IL appeared in some of the measures of our adj
t1inistrations, may lead to an entire restoration
of cordially with our kipsmen Of the new world,
and place us once more in the delightful relation
of fellow labourers in support of the same rights
and fellow champions of the same regulated
freedom. When tyrants confederate, freemcn
should unite-when bad men league together
for oppression, good men must Join for t!,eir
for this purpose, THAT | offer this toast to YOUR
II ocpDpl,prn When tho rucnpla opI H.