Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-11

and we are now exulting at its immortal conse-
quences. Our Declaration Of Independence was
a blazing meteer, s'perpexing nations" In
lder the long performance Of despostic power
under the grinding bondage Of the feudai and
military principle, the spirit Of man had sunk,
4 and he had become mere mechanism to be nov
ed and directed at the iyran,'s will. The rays
of political liberty had but feebly penetrated the
dark clouds OF ignorance, every where extending
their damp and pestilential blight through the IN
fuence Of the minions Of despotism and the un.
holy doctors of passive obedience and supersti.
tous belief The Crown and the Mitre. never
united out in corrupt and unlawful wediock, had
combined their influence against the progress
of liberal principles, and had but too long sue
ceeded in excluding man from ''that equal sta
ton to which the laws of nature and Of natures
God had entitled them" How, then, was he
prepared for the dazzling illumination which so
(, suddenly burst upon his vision. Not finding
| within himself those moral virtues capable Of an
emenation so unearthly, he gazed and gazed
| with unceasing wonder.
With full confidence in the justice of their
cause, in its ultimate success. and cheered by
the glorious GROWING consequences OF this hap
Ply issue, our fathers burst the political bands
! which united them to the mother country. and
dared .sdefy the omnipotent to arms" Had
they been deceived in their appreciation OF mo.
raj power; had they been mistaken in the charac-
tiers and dispositions Of their cOuntrymen; had
the pronhecy of the immortal Franklin been as
the oracle of an erring spirit, and the econ
queredr - cause'' have become the cause OF
:, Cate' and of US, We could not, indeed, have
so much admired, as we now do. the sagacity,
wisdom and presrience of their minds, though
our love Tor the virtues of their hearts, if posi-
ole. had perhaps been increased. The righteous
ness 0f their cause would have remained the
same. 1t would have been the same glorious
crusade for the recovery of the "Holy City,"
the s.Jerusalem" Of mans long lost rights.
In the full blaze Of the noon, day sun it were
unnecessary for me, fellow citizens. to light my
feeble taper to vndicate the justice of our defec-
ton from the mother country, but you must per-
NIT me to trespass awhile on your patience tor
my own pleasure. If not for the pleasure OF US all.
1t was Plato. believe, whose conceptions OF mo.
raj beauty were SO beautiful and brilliant, bad pic
tured to his mind being superfect, thai he thought
if she could only be seen by the maternal vision. the
eye would tire as il saZed on the majesty Of
her form, her beautiful symmetry and captivating
expression, and that instantly the hearts OF all the
wise would be filled with the emotions Of love.
Facies hOnesti 81 Ocuhs cernrratur mirabIles
amores excitaret sapientie." | do not profess to
be so sentimental as tins philosopher. but love
my ancestors, ] love to contemplate the wisdnn
of their actions, as | trace them to their proper
causes. Who cannot gaze with unceasing de
light OIL those beautiful and unmingled fountains,
which, uniting, have constituted for US the stream
Of civil liberty, carrying its refreshing waters over
every part Of our country, iertiliz'ng the hills
and values till the whole land is flowing ''with
milk and honey"
| shall not enter so mnutey into the doctrine
Of the relation between the governors and the guv
erned, as to discover exactly at what point resis
lance becomes lawful. Ours was a clear case
Blackstone asserts that the foundation Of natural
law is, .'that man should pursue his own true
and substantial happiness" and "that no human
laws are Of any validity if contrary TO tins; and
such as arr valid derive all their force and all
their authority, mediately or Immediately from
this original"
This is the language of the great commentator
on the laws of England, and he has endeavored
10 show Us that the whole superstructure OF Bril-
fish jurisprudence has been based upon this pri.
mary natural right. Whatever may be the fheo-
~ oil the British Constitution, however fair to the
eye the tree of liberty may seem. which grows
British soil. vet sad experience assures Us that
its fruits are like 'sdead sea fruits - they turn
to ashes on the lips.'' The learned commenta-
tor was too much Of cour'ier 20 descend TO the
iuvidous task Of pointing out the gross abuses
which had been introduced by the practice Of 60
vernment, aud though it was hi. pride and plea
sure to elucidaie the clearness Of the spring. he
has furb0rue to show us. bow it has been disturb
ed and polluted by the mingling of the corrupt wa
ters which How from the fountain OF prerogatite.
The spirit which the British government mani
tested towards the colonies wa, tvrannical in the
extreme, and shows how little respect the lust of
power, will pay to the restraints ct human laws.
whenever there Is prospect OF violating them
with impunitv. When the colonies had grown
into sufficient importance 10 attract the notice Of
the mother country, instead of that nourishment
which they had right to expect from parent,
in the elegant aud indignant language Of Col Bar
re, ''her care was exercised in sending pow Frs
to rule over them in one department and in ano-
Their, to spy out their liberties, to misrepresent
their actions, and to prey upon their substance
men whose behaviour on many occasions had caus-
ed their blood to reco within them-men, who
promuted to the highest seats Of justice. glad
by going into foreign country. to escape being
brouoht IN the bar of cOurt of iustice ia their