South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-07-23
SATURDAY, JULY 81, 1886.


freedom, but seems to have grown out
Of and to stand Upon natural liberty.
The Roman Catholic religion is at least
coeval with most of the governments
where it prevails,and fostered and sup
ported by authority has generally gone
hand in hand with them. The eatab-
ished church Of England, also, was
frem its very cradle fossersd by the
nursing care of regular government.
Blu. the real dissenting interests sprung
up in opposition to both, and could
only justify and maintain that oppose
ton upon strong claim TO natural
liberty. In ths language Of Burke all
pfotestap,ism, even the most cold and
passive is sort Of dissent vindisating
the rights of conscience and liberating
the mind from tyranny and supersti-
lion. But, that prevalent in the north
ern colonies was refinement on the
principles Of resistance. In his Ian
guage it was the difiidence Of dissent
and the professionalism of the protestant
religion.
In the southern colonies, whore the
church of England had regular es-
Enlistment, this cause had by no
means full influence bu. here there
was another, which not only counter
balanced the defect, but rendered the
spirit Of liberty even more proud and
naughty than in the northern. They
had many slaves, and wherever slave
ry exists the free are by far the most
tenacious, of their, freedom-not seeing
there, tina, freedom as in other countries
where ii is common blessing, may be
connected with much toll and misery,
and all the exterior OF servitude, lib
sry stands as something mere noble
and slevsted--no. only tan enjoyment
bat kind Of frank and privilege" The
morality Of this sentiment ia this day
may Do questioned, it, truth however
is indubitabls. Ths history Of the an
cien,, eommonvea lths, the Goshs, the
Poles, all prove it'll, always has been
the case and always will be the ease
among all masters Of slaves Who are
no. slaves themselves. In ,hs language
Of distinguished statesman, "with
such a people the haughsiness Of DOM
nation combines With the spirit OF free
dom, forti6es Ii and renders it invinei-
bie.n
IL Is stated some where, really do
not remember where, that during these
times, there were more copies Of Black
stones commentaries sold 10 the cole
MES than even in Great Britain itself.
From this fac, coupled with the ordi-
nary history, we draw another cause
which contributed no mean part 10 the
growth ofthis spirit. la no country
in the world was the law so generally
studied. The profession itself was
powerful and numerous and in mos, Of
the colonies took the lead. The ten
dency Of this study was to render their
minds "acute, inquisitiye, prompt in
attack ,ready in defence" and intimate
ly acquainted with the British consti-
tuition and history, and the rights Of
the coionists as British subjects. Hence
they were enabled not only to know
their rights and privileges as British
colonies, but TO form accurate concur
sions of the mischievous effects Of bad
Legislation /; to anticipate from errone-
Gus principles 10 government the pres
sure OF grievances, and .'to snuff the
approach OF lyraaay in every tainted
bfeeze."
The last cause that | shall mention
Of moral, political or natural chafac>
Ter, is one which was laid deep in the
natural Constitution Of things. Three
thousand miles OF ocean lay between
them aad the government to which
they we're attached --no political con-
,rivance can prevent the effect of dis
lance in weakening government" Seas
roll and months pass between the
order and the execution {; and The
want of timely explanation may
be sufficient to destroy a whole system
In large bodies the circulation o
power must be less vigorous at the ex-
tremities. Such is the irAmutabe con
d,ion "the eternal law" of all detach-
I'D empires. Bu, when England de-
manded more in principle from her CO.
Ioaial subjects than from ,hose of th'
isle-under the full CO operation o
this last, With all the other causes as
signed, it would be really difiicat foi
the mind to conceive how the colonies
could have continued much longer sub
ject to her domination.
But my countrymen, whilst we ar'
recurring TO the moral, natural and pc
litical causes which contributed 10 tn,