Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-05-04

necessary ami constitutional exercise OF the mind And
II IS consideration Of the rrofuuntest npurtancc that
the character which IS thus created for u.s. whether we
VIII or mo- Is the only security which could be inyep-
ted for the maintenance and perpciui,y of our nsti,,,
tons Aud 4, reveals IL the secret Of the ci.
rii tranquility which has prevailed IL, Great Britain
amidst the w'!d uPsoar WHICH has filed every country
on the coniIDcRt. Where mems private ans cousti-
ute tue absorbing interest m aud public affairs be-
come consideration OF secondary Importance poi-
cal institutions .nrst stand irm upon their basis, and
must incced endure until that stale of things is
sed.
bas frequently occurred 10 me- that as we are so
far removed from the splendid pageantry which ,nonar-
chical governments uphold TO Tie eve peope " iii be
continually opening some new field for the disDIay of
individual eSerton. The love of strong sensation is
of the most universal traits of tue human heart
and when negotiation and finance have been de-
PrWed OF their interest, other exercise for the
mind must be discovered. The man of mere I'VE, nh,
must have his ennui relieved by nox drug
and lie Is unable himself 10 originate any scheme of
benevoience or Improvement, he will subscribe his
means and lend his Influence for tie furtherance of
them No one can form conception of the intoxica-
ting effect which the victories of AusteIlt and Fried
land produced among the whole French people. And
is not wonderful, where the nation identity themselves
with the government, and are willing 10 live o. die by
the false glory which it has acquired that they snulJ
be dsting uished for the opposite DUAL lies
OF irvoiity ard ierccness.-Dut with us, every thing
contributes to form character o the greatest person
al energy 1t Is not merely that mens Interests con
cur 10 produce this effect. Their necessities absolute
~ ensure IT. The habit OF reelection and active thouoht
Which their condition creates, makes them more sen
sio!e TO pleasure and 60 PAIN and if they cannot in.
du'sc IN the great game of war, they must discover
some other cnSIoss!DG amusement and occupation
benlainn Constant re'uars, that is mistake TO SUD
pose mat The french CONSUMPTION considered as
deporable evil BY the subjects of it, The youth of
France became gradually delighted and ia sc;naied nv
the adventurous romantic lie of soldier and would
not voluntarily abandon it. Now If YOU cast YOUR eve
over this country where the ''at and unproiitabicn
pursuits ST peace prevail, and where the grave and
careful countenauce Of the citizen exchanged for the
reckless frivoy of the soldier Won will perceiye from
one end To the other, continual efforts to get I'D some
schene OF private or public Improvement. Every one
engaged 10 these large and liberal schemes is not ac
tiated by the most generous motives. To some they
afford amusement amidst the cares and in the dccline
oil he 40 Others they afford consoati ion in the hour
oil death; and that the great object is effected il is
not OF mich consequence what are the motives which
give rise 10 H. believe then, that there is principle
at work IN our own society, which does not seem IN
me to have been sufficiently noticed which is call
cnateo 10 exercise a more important inluepce over
private Improvement end public prosperity than any
o'her am aware Of And il is not much to bo won
dered at. that the literary Of Europe whose minds
haYe not yet broken ground in this country s,ould
censure deficient in character when in truth no
people on Garth but the British at all approach us IN
strength OF national character 1t will DC perceived
that place my Erin hopes OF the people of this conn
try on the vast scope for individual exertion which will
be created among them. To hear some PEOPLE talk of
.He DRESSINGS OF Tree government, WCul
that vas condition in which prosperity was cheap.
and where great effort might &c ;nternittei But this
mistake Free institutions render the labor of the
cItIzen more Necessary and unTen;ttng than ever
They only cndoW him gith greater power to move and
oc IN uie larger sphere of private relations which is
opened before him. The government has be come no
thing and lie has become every thing and he is ooli
ged To sustain himself in the high and enviabe bull
duous condition, in which he has voluntarily placed
himself He can longer divide with his ruler the de-
ceit!ui glory of dragging triumph CONQUERED ma.
on, and he can no longer console himself for his own
want OF character, by Identifying iirnsefwh the fac
uous spleDdonr which surrounds a t!.rouc Personal
excrtion must be his occupation day and night and
personal repctation his reward.
Is II reasonable 10 suppose that, you increase the
rational and substantial enoyments of men and multi
ply the interests which bind them To life THAI they
VIII be less courageous in the struggle to defend them9
All analogy and even all history prove otherwise
IL Is remarkable that sirce the late war there has
oeen married change in the opinion entertained of US
IN Europe Although the national character was Dre.
c'sey tie same before the deeds Of that day. that it ever
was, 1T seemed TO require something which should al
tract the gaze of men of the old world before tIev
could be brought to any kind Of understanding OF our
character And yet that character distinguished nv
even more vIgour ard intelligence in a time of nro
found peace; and derived its during the late war
from TIC efforts of our citizens, who had been trained
in private life.
MY readers hare seen instances OF indy ;tIuas vyLy
have been bred in obscuy with none of those sngu.
lar advantages which spread usre over the morning
OF life unseen and unuoced by the public eye, pur-
SUNG through every difficulty and discoura cement and
even tenor OF conduct improving tie riches of gifted
understanding aud ultimately casting into fearful
eclipse all those bright spirits, who had started before
them This is the picture of country from inla-
cy to manhood Cast out frCrn the civilized coD;nuni-
" OF tho world, nuIturcd in poverty aud adversely
We reared in the wilderness system Of civil pol!iy
more Just and enlightened than had ever bee! wines
scd Through the long tract of years which has fol-
lowed, we have been living in obscurity and retire
m srcy-N Tho
without any of that dazzling aud beyyderino. Iustre
"hich could attract notice from abroad We have
made use OF The Of peace to cultivate the arts
OF peace, and silently but surely we have been gaming
strength and Solidy Of stature which is nov begin
nng to draw the attention of all Europe towards u.s.
ana even 10 inspire fear that shall out-run any
othcr nation IN the of moral and intellectual i'm
provenent.
The character OF every nation receives tjnse more
OF IeSs from the climate and other physical causes
surrounding them. Indeed fine wriier9 in tracing
he causes OF tho difference Of the character and lite
raure OF the people of northern and southern Europe
re .! of At. n