Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-03-18
communications.
FOR THE DELAWARE PArRIoT.-No )
HISTORICAL, REFLECTIONS.

The "a years which succeeded the election oi
Thomas Jetferson--that il from the 4th Of March
Il sol to the 4th Of March 1925 may be considered
as the practical demonstration OF popular govern
ment. But 1t is by the comparison of the state ol
society in the two periods each with the other, that
the people at large may know where aud BY whom,
the ends Of the social compact have been regarded
or disrcS arded-atempted to be subyerted. o, hon.
estly restrained-n short the kind OF weapons
and the Kind Of men upon which and whom tile
great objects of free government have been or are
likely to be overturned or maintained.
That most concise and eloquent, that most sim
pie and comprehensive paragraph Of all that has
been written ON government, theoretical or practi-
cal-the inst paragraph OF the Declaration of In.
dependence -savs-and it should be the first les
son of every child from the moment OF it, first ar
tlculaton OF speech--that immortal paragraph says
eve hold these truths to be sele-evden-hat all ,nen
are created equals that they endowed by their creatr
with certain unaienabe rights; that among these are life
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that secure these
lights governments instituted among men, deriving
their just powers from the of the governed &C.
1t is by knowing the principles and objects con
tcmplated by the American people, when they de-
ciared their freedom, that can ascertain exactly
how tar the operation of the public trustees con
form with, or depart from those fundamental
principles; and we see in the very first paragraph
manner OF operation prepared aud digested for the
purposes OF government. That manner of opera
ton IS subjected to forms, the observance OF which
become duties oil the agents and duties on the PEG
pie at large according to the terms--for as LIE To
be enjoyed in security, liberty to be enjoy ed with
out any other restraint than that which prevents
others IRON doing with impunity, that which no one
would wish to be done against himself-and as the
pursuit ot happiness, comp,ehends both the eniov-
ms mt 10 and hart ~
BY each individual is his own choice and will un
cont oiled and uncomfortable in mind and action
where that action does not interfere with or mar
the liberty and happiness OF Others.
The means are perfect union, that is between the
people OF the several states, and the individuals
among each other and il is therefore called mare
perfect anton than existed during the revolution
to ensure domestic tranquility, that is to resist or
to prevent practices adverse to life iberty and the
pursuit Of happiness; to provide for the common
defence, that is against internal or external mach,
nations, or designs to violate the established pin
ciples and order ct public security,lo promote the
general WeYare, or provide such means as eXpcri.
ence and wisdom may from time to time suggest
to render life secure. liberty uncontrolled, and the
pursuit OF happiness, free as the passing AR. and
thus securing the blessings Of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity.
When we have before the ever memorable
Civ o1Nleu uCCIdldtUH VI tne nature and DuIDOSes
OF the revolution OF l776, and the constitution
growing out OF and founded upon that Declaration.
1t becomes an easy task and very plain one, be-
cause 1t is all matter of fact, to compare public
measures with the fundamentals of public right,
and to perceive at once whether the fundamental,
have been duly regarded and maintaincd-or dis.
regarded.
Carry the mind back to the period which was
before rapidly sketched-for nothing more than
sketches can be offered in so limited form as fleet
ing newspaper-look back then to the first period
OIL comparison; and consider what was the state of
society," as to life, liberty, and the pursuit Of han.
piness-that is from 1897 70 1901.
me newspapers Of those days have disappeared
-and those papers which uttered the opinions and
Interpreted the wishes If power at that dark peri
W. ba f ae ~ waere lthat atm acquainted witty to
oe iound the papers, the sad to say, very few
papers which at the hazard of life, liberty and hap
p'ness. maintained the cause Of the revolution and