The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-08-15
For THE CALIFORNIAN,
OUR COUNTRY,-NO. IL.

| Why should we love our countrya
First for its History. Romance and novelty nat
urally interest; and when our emotions the re-
suit of truth, and not the nomentary and decetful
beings of fiction, interest though less intense, is
yet more rational and abiding. The history of our
country is peculiar. The provdences of its discov-
cry, its preservation, its rapid growth its bondage,
struggle and emancipation, present at once the con-
summated union of truth and novelty. Who could
have OWNED that in the silent conception of Co.
lumbus reposed the primordial of such amazing
and successive realities What reach Of mortal
ken, what wing of fancy could have explored the
region ofwonder which have been opening from the
fifteenth to the nineteenth century! Who imagin-
ed, that the painful voyage, landing, prayers, and
songs of the Pilgrims, the Indian war-whoop, sud-
den attack and relentless devastation ;; the flash
and roar and carnage of battle; the redesming of
religion from unnatural union, and fatal oppEes-
sion; and the beauty and enterprise which render
our country the goal of worlds advancement,
gathered unperceived around that dawning mo
ment
Visionary the thoughts of the great ad-
venturer, providence led him on to success A
success that outdd his hopes and dazzled his most
sanguine specuations. The man of letters, and the
politician finds ample means of satisfaction in
scanning the records of antiquity in perusing the
history of governments and science. The rise and
fall OF Greece and Rome; the conquests of Alex
ander and Cyrus, the triumphs Of Miltiades, the
patriotic struggle of Leonidas, the achieve ments of
Caesar and Pompey and the bloody drama of Eng
lish tragedy, do not fail to excite in our hearts a
sympathetic emotion but where in the worlds
history, can the eye rest upon page eventful as
our own
When this youthful republic raised the beacon
light of freedom, and bore it Pickering and pale,
through the darkness of universal despotism ;gwhen
she expended her feeble breath to save that light
from dreaded and final extinction; what unity Of
effort wha, submity of action and of hope!
Do we wish for a model Of praisworthy adven-
ture we find it here. Would we kindle up the
living excellence of patriotism? 1t glows on every
page of our early history. Would we admire
sterling exhibition of moral principle and christian
integrity? of rigid and incorporating virtues they
are revealed IN the lives of our Fathers. They
come down to us, not embodied in the breathing
marble, not decked with the garb of poesy, but en-
bamed in the volume of truth, and sacred as human
love can reader them.
There are materials in the incidents of our conn
trys existence, for the foundation of national liz
erature. The muse of history is already searchin
them out She hasin her flight around the world'
alighted upon America; and with argus eyes is gaz.
ing upon the rich and mature harvest. Poetry too
wandering pilgrim from the East, may here find
home. She may build her epic numbers for the
hero ofadventure, and wind up her strain not with
the glory OF new state, subiugation of an enc
my but the discovery of new world. She may
gain inspiration from Religion and sing its recovery
from crushing bondage or glow with her sister
muse over the scenes of our revolution
The scenery, and local adv anages of our country
are worthy objects of regard. Probably no portion
of the Earth is characterized by more captivating
scenery than own. If we have not the Nile
with its fertilizing virtues, can boast the ver-
dant meadows of majestic Connecticut, the tragicaI
shores Hudson and the boundless Wales of Missis
sippi, whose waters roll onward as in emu lation OF
times hurting hde-If we have not the Archipel-
ago with its classic isles; or the ravishing glory of
Scotland and Italy, yet the beauty of matchess
lakes, the thunders of Cataracts, and the terrific
chasms of gigantic Mountains are ours. We can
read the impress of God, where he has,
"Poured the waters from his hollow hand.
| Sand noched the centuries in the eternal rocks"
Our local advantages superior. The conve-
mences for our commerce, the facilities for appro
priating the elements to the increase of wealth
and promotion of science unparalleled. The din
OF enterprise is heard from every top and val.
ley Sea and land are instinct with artificial life
ana motion. Internal Improvement is the burthen
and glory of our times and, excepting the present
emoarrassment,w may boast of enterprises to which
no other country can lay olam.-From the above
and other considerations, shall endeavour to
snow the claims of our country upon regards
That there is bond which cannot with honor
disregard tie whence the value of citizenship
| originates, and which, forgotten though it may be
is the peculiar glory offreemcn.