Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-06-10
POLITICAL

We frequently hear from some of our
good men, discouraging remarks concerning
our public measures, and even concerning
the permanency ofour political institutions.
from which we hold ourselves bound In
conscience and expediency to withhold our
assent. Indeed, despair seems 10 be more
grateful to some minds than hope, and they
prefer The most wintry prospect, with all
its desolations aud SHOWS, to the budding
tree, the reviving grass, and all the smiles
and promises OF the returning spring. W.
will not say, by any means, that every
thing in our political horizon is as promising
as a sensitive heart and a sanguine mind
could wish. There are some spreading
clouds which threaten storms some agita-
ting questions before the Public. Our
leaders have took little principle, and our
people too little d~isccrnment. The South is
too irritable, and the North too pragmatici
Congress has neither the dignity nor the
wisdom which one would wish to find in
that high assembly and every where We
find proof that our country is peopled by
beings-to say the least-not quite angels.
But what then ! Shall we sit down and de-
spair because we cannot exalt the world 10
our own theories of perfection! No; let
US rather adopt the old Roman maxim.
never to despair Of the republic. We bought
our liberties by our blood, and let US now
strive to preserve them by our persever-
ance and wisdom. Let US remember that
these gloomy prophecies have a tendency to
work out their owl accomplishment. He
that predicts destruction will only be half
awake when we struggle for success.
What is our present state? We have
just escaped the homage of our national ex-
istence. Our country resembles a giddy
young man who has just come to the pos
session of large estate. We have grown
beyond all example in the history uf nations;
our ships cover almost every ocean, and
wealth flows in on every gale. The re-
nown of our liberty has gone out to Eu-
rope. and brought in a host of foreigners to
our shores we invite them to equal priv.
leges, aud universal suffrage soon brings
them to the polls. Under such circum-
stances that the people should sometimes
be the dupes Of demae ogues, excites no
wonder. Perhaps the present age is tho
most cri ica| juncture. Perhaps il is the
very ferment ~ which our discordant ma
terials are 10 settle into some consistency.
PERHAPS at the very next presidential cleo
ton Webster may reach his reluctant eieva.
ton, aud Van Buren, be dismissed 10 his be-
loved retirement. At any rate, we may
have a hundred storms and bad steersmen,
and yet the ship survive.
The truth is, we have no sympathy with
this groaning wisdom; and we aboM,inate
the prophetic inspiration which f~oresees
nothing but calamlties. OF all croakers,
a genuine political croaker is the worst.
An excitement can hardly pass over the
land-a mob can hardly occur in one ofour
great cities, but some OF these moping SOL
onions are ready 10 cry out, "Alas it is
all over with US; our nation ia rotten and
liberty is dead and we may all as well
60 to sleep
Farewell, IA long farewell, to all our greatness"
Now this is a wrong spirit. Go to work
to counteract the evils of the times grid
t on your armor like a man; always come
out at every election, and vote according To
your conscience for the best men ; labor to
enllghten the community, and breathe the
d spirit Of liberty into its forms talk, act
preach, proclaim, write, pray, instruct b,
precepts, and second them by your example
and be assured. with such a spirit, even i,
n the minority of our citizens, OUR coUNrR,
Is YET SAFE. There is a wisdom in hop,
i when II is false, which cannot be found i
y despair when it is true. -.Nepburypt Her