Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-26

Speak not NOW Of those achievements, In winch
the pride of conspicuous vaIor mingles with the
purer motives of patriotic devotion; but OF that
virtue in the humber walks OF lie, which MS
tory, who rescues from oblivion the INDUSTRIOUS
suferings of kings and magistrates mas no pen
Gil to pourtrav. Yet in these scenes does VIZ
tue often exact the most heroic sacribces' anu
here are lis purest lriumphs not untrequent'y
obtained. In the applause OF distinguished va
lor, we forget the brave soldier VINO mas laiieh
in the pron,iscuous carnage Of the field, or the
hardy mariner, who has braved danger, and
want, and death in attitudes far distant from the
home he was defending Yet there is none SO
obscure whose example shall fail of its effect
Blood of the brave! thou art not lost,
Amidst the waste Of waters blue.
The humbest citizen, who in life and IN deatn'
has fulfilled the duty which he owed to MS
country, has conferred obligations which no
time can cancel, and no glory eclipse
And if such sacrifices have been made, and
made too, with the frankness and pr"mpt!tude
of voluntary services, to what shall we look
as the source of this ennobling sentiment
1t is the enthusiasm, fellow citizens, OF Llber-
ty-of that Liberty, which is hourly realized In
freedom from constraint; which comes not in
the shape only of an abstract proposition, out
is felt in the security of life, and person, and
property, and in the free and unfettered pur-
suit of individual happiness. We do not deny
that there i, an occasional excitement, appllca-
BILE to all governments, which may produce
under certain circumstances crusade or re-
voluton. But it is the first object of our coun-
try, while she promotes the rational devotion
of freedom, to repress this dangerous excita-
bility, the result only of ignorance, and degra-
dation. To this end she employs popular edu-
cation, the sole effectual safeguard of freedom,
because it enables the people to discern their
true interests, and to apply that infallble critic
rion to the conduct Of their rulers.
The American, who should sum up the slo-
ries of his country, would repose perhaps, at
length, on that. humane and philanthropic spirit
which is the vital breath, the animating soul
of alIiherinstitutions. Those philosophic views,
which had hitherto been confined to the closet
of the student, she has not only reduced to
practice, and assimilated with the very sub
stance of her constitution, but has unfolded
more sublime and animating prospects OF So
cial happiness, than had ever cheered the hopes,
or warmed the imagination of the patriot and
philanthropist She has no exclusive policy
to cherish, no monopolies, or privileges to sus-
tain no interest to promote, which can natu-
rally bring her into opposition or collision,
with, ti.S'.a,- -
the same time, her wealth, her strength, her
influence expand with a steady and resistless
energy, like thu; which swcis the oak upon the
mountains. No earthly power can compress
or circumscribe her growth With serene
and cheerful confidence in Heaven, she spreads
her sail upon every sea, and visits every coast,
n enterprises of humanity or commerce.
The friend of man may rejoice, that physical
and moral power, of such vast extent, has been
pledged, not to the support of selfish or con-
tracted principles, but to tho promotion of the
true interests of mankind, in civil and religious
free iom. To the advancement of these OBJ
jects, America was solemnly devoted in the de-
claration OF ne. independence; and she will not
remit her efforts, till they shall be hallowed in
her own example, and become by contrast or
communication reproach or blessing to eve
ry other people.
From the Portsmouth. nv Fl } Journal
DONALD MACDONALD
There is at the Aims House in this TOWN a