Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-08-13
D0MESTIC.
Mr.. WEBSTER'S ADDRESS.

LhiiSe3o hbtu ii'C tohCiuNiUB hcNIaIkS
Of Mr.. WEBsrnR's Address, deliver
ed a, the laying of the Corner Stone
ofthe Bunker Hill Monument.
Among he greats events Of the hals
century, we must reckon, certainly, tho
Revolution of Sooth America; and we
are not likely TO overrate the importance
| 0. that Revolution, either to the people
Of the country itself or to the res, of tho
world. The late Spanish Colonies, now
independent states, under circumstan-
ces less favorable, doubtless, than az
tended our own Revolution, have vet
successfully commenced their national
existence.-They have accomplished
The great object of establishing their In
dependence they are known and ac-
knowledged in the world; and although
in regard to their systems Of govern
men,, their sentiments on religious TO-
lcration, and their provisions for public
instruction, they may have yet much to
learn, ii must be admitted tina, they have
| arisen to the condition of settled and es-
,ablished states, more rapidly than could
| have been reasonably anticipated. They
already furnish an exhilraing examplc
Of the difference between free govern.
ments and despotic misrule. Thei:
| commerce, at this moment, creates a
new activity in all the great marls of the
| world They show themselves able, by
| an exchange OF commodities, to bear an
useful part in the intercourse of nations.
A new spirit Of enterprise and industry
begins to prevail; all the great interests
OF society receive salu,ary impulse;
and the progress OF inform alton not only
teslifies to an improved condition, bu,
constitutes, itself, the highes, and most
essential improvement
When the battle OF Bunker Hill was
fought, the existence Of South America
was scarcely felt in the civilized world.
| The thirteen little colonies of North
| America habitually called themselves
The Continent. - Borne down by colo
! NAL subjujation, monopoly, and bigo,ry.
those vast regions Of the South were
hardly visible above the horizon. Bu,
in our day there hath been, as it were, a
new creation. The Southern Hemis-
phere emerges from the sea. us lofty
mountains begin to iif, themselves into
the light of heaven; its broad and fertile
plains, stretch out, in beauty, to the eye
OF civilized man, and at the mighty bid
ding of the voice OF political liberty the
waters of darkness retire.
"And, now. let us indulge an honest
| cXaltation ID the conviction OF the benefit,
which the example of our country has
produced, and is likely to produce, on
human freedom and human happiness.
| And let us endeavor to. comprehend in
all is magnitude, and to feel in all it's
| importance, the part assigned to MS in tho
great drama of human affairs. We are
placed at the head Of the system ofrepre-
sentative and popular governments.
Thus far our example shows, that such
governments are compatible, not onlv
with responsibility and power, but with
rspose, with peace. with security OF per-
sonal rights, with good laws, and just
administration.
We are net propagandis.s. Where
yer other systems are preferred, either as
being thought better to themselves, OF
as better suited TO existing condition,
we leave The preference to be eTioyed,
Our history hitherto proves, however,
that the popular form is practicable, and
that with wisdom and knowledge men
may govern themselves; and the duty
Incumbent on US is, to preserve the con-
slstency OF this cheering example. anil
take care tia: nothing may weaken its
authority VIII the world. lin our case
the Representative system, ultimately
fall, popular governments must be pro-
nouced impossible. No combination Of
circumstances more favorable 10 the ex,
pertinent can ever be expected to occur.
The last hopes OF mankind therefore rest
with US; and if it should be proclaimed
that our example had become an argp.
mcnt against the experiment the kucls
Of popular liberty would be sounded
throughout the earth.
"These are excitements to duty, bus
they are not suggestions Of doubt. Qp.
history and our condition, all that is gona
before Us, and all that surrounds US, aus
lhorize the belief, that popular govern
men's, though subject to occasional va.
ria1ions, perhaps not always for the bci-
! ter, in form, mey yet, in their general
character be as durable and permaneDe
as other systems. We know, indeed,
that in our country any other is irpossi.
Bile. The Principle Of Free Govern
mens adheres to the American soil. II
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