Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-07-29


The experience, and what is called the
philosophy Of history warrants the conclu-
sion that internal dissolution is not TO be
expected until after the United States have
ceased to feel the external compression Of
foreign power. The Roman institutions
were not dissolved until the fall of Garth.
age.
But what are tie elements Of disunion
IN North America, where neither Deserts.
APPS or Pyrenees, oppose physical Oh.
sruchons to easy intercourse; greatrivers.
connected with canals, facilitate inter.
change; one language, one literature, one
spirit OF legislation, peryade and amalra-
mate the whole Of people, amougstwhom
he diffusion of property and knowledge
-'elu- cvor rnareSs InOrdlnate individual M
lucnCC The divisions WHICH nave VuNUrsS-
place in the great empires OF the old world,
re TO be traced to causes which DO not
exist in the United States; geographical
distractions, difference of origin Of Ian
ruage. artificial distribution Of property,
dcs1otlc institutions, and religious estab-
hshments. derived from the barbarous
|conquerers Of the feudal ages, a state Of
.hiugs from which Europe Itselfis emery
INC, that can surely never be naturabzed
IN America.
Superficial politicians can discover 10
the federal system nothing bat dlsuuion;
: they perceive not the links OF a chain
stronger from It's pliabdity, and the equal
tension of its parts. America, secure
from invasion, might under any other Cow
eminent have sunk into Chinese sordid
apathy, or fallen a prey TO domestic dlyls-
ions. Patriotism requires sumuauts, and
these are found IN the federal system; tho
/ State governments are the moral nerves,
the distributors Of political feelings and
instruction to the remotest parts of the
/ Unon-the great committees otte nation
] tho proper administration Of local affairs
these divisional governments with heir
senatcs and assemblies, afford dignilied
objects of ambition to the people OF every
district, elicit the talents and excite the
moral energies Of az; they arc so many
/ fofresses protecting the whole from being
carried by one political coup-demain; un-
like all old empires, they present too many
nccks for Nero.
Over this political social system, q gem
'er3l government emanatng from the PEG.
pie at large, presides; its powers restricted
TO measures affecting general interests 81
foreign relations. Undegraded by the
I possession of local patronage, unembar-
rassed by local affairs, and irresponsible
for their abuses; congress can never be-
come odlous to the people, who wal always
ycnerate the central government as the ark
Of their covenant, the depository OF the
] purest principles Of their republican sys-
tenn, the protector and raIlying point Of
, general rights. The concentrated intel
j lcct of the most profound Legislators Of
} ancient or modern times, would have failed
= 10 the conception Of theoretical system
at all approaching to the excellence Of that
, which America derived from the concur
p renee of fortunate circumstances.
Who could have imagined, for people
b lnhabltng a country of vast extent, a sys-
70 tenn Of government, uniting them for gene
raj, aud dividing them for local interests,
o having within itself principle Of neces-
% sary excitement and regeneration not only
O consistent with, but the direct cause Of
S social order, and finding IFS security and
a fpermanence in the very extent Of surface
it upon which It acisl
What sage would have produced a theo-
~ Of a representative government the real
organ of the public will, the very essence
Of democracy Invested Of ignorance and
passion, or would have expected 10 find
through the medium of universal suffrage
and systematic excitement, general tfan-
o. guilty and security?
If there be dignity in human nature. il
Is cynced Ia the splendid example of Z
% people possessing and practising, collect
] yely, that wisdom which egoiism and
selfish ambition have hitherto asauHisD ~
he exclusive attribute Of de rev.
Europe has been misled b. the reports
.ortravellers. whose microscopic eye rest
r ed upon the small incOnsequcniiai iniirmi-
ties iaseoarabIc from humanity under all
governments: not understanding The moral
b1sis Of society, such observers mistake
besIibfH action for Reorganization, draw
|mlcrenccs and expect consequences 90 ac-
Iconiance with their experience Of Europe,
! where the muihtude--the objects Of legip-
laton az s45servient TO the qualification
, Of the lew--suddeoly escaping from des-
potsm direct and delegated, civil and re-
ligious, as might be expected, rendered
, the day Of Liberation 10 themselves one %
: -...r.Int.o-. .-. h. nr--.--o-a III liz