Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-15

luton were supposed to exist, even by the
wise and good; and not only did unfriend-
~ or speculative theories anticipate for US
the failure of past republics, but the fears
OF many an honest patriot orerbalanced
his sanguine hopes. Look back on these
forebodings, not hastily, but reluctantly
made. and see how, in every instance,
they have completely failed
An imperfect experience, during the
strugg les of the revolution, was supposed
TO warrantthe belief that the people would
not bear the taxation requisite to dis
charge an immense public debt already
incurred and to defray the necessary ex-
penses Of the government. The cost of
two wars has been paid, not onl v without
a murmur, but without unequaled alacri-
ty. No one is now left to doubt that
every burthen will be cheerfully borne
that may be necessary TO sustain our civil
institutions, or guard our honor or our
welfare. Indeed, all experience has
shown that the willingness of the people
to contribute to these en1s in cases of
emergency, has uniform out-run the con-
hdrnce of their representatives.
In the early stage Of the new govern.
ment, when all felt the imposing infu-
ence, as they recognized the unequsIIed
services Of the first President, it was a
common sentiment, that the great weight
Of his character could alone bind the dis
cordant materials of our government to-
gether, and save us from The violence of
contending factions. Since his DEATH
nearly forty years are gone. Patty ex
ASPIRATION has been often carried 10 its
highest point; the virtue and the fortitude
of the people have sometimes been greatly
tried; vet our system, purified and enhanc-
ed in value by all it has encountered, still
preserves it's spirit Of free and fearless dis
cussion, blended with unimpaired frater-
nal feeling.
The capacity Of the people for self
government, and their willingness, from a
high sense Of duty, and without those
exhibitions of coercive power so general
" employed in other countries, 10 submit
to all needful restraints and exactions OF
the municipal law, have also been favora-
bly, exempli6td in the history Of the
American States. Occasionally, it is true.
the arIor Of public sentiment outrunning
the regular progress Of the Judicial tribu'
nails, or seeking to reach cases not de-
nounced as criminal by the existing law,
has displayed itself in manner ca!cuIat-
ed to give pain to the friends OF fee gov
eminent, and to encourage the hopes of
those who wish 70: its overthrow. These
occurrences, however, have been far less
frequent in our country than in any other
OF equal population on the globe; and
with the diffusion of intelligence, it may
well be hoped that they will constantly
diminish in frequency and violence. The
generous patriotism and sound common
sense Of the great mass Of our fellow CHI
zens, will assuredIy, in time, produce this
result; for as every assumption Of illegal
power not only wounds the majority of
the law but furnishes pretext for abrldg-
ing the Liberties of the people, the latter
have the most direct and permanent inter-
est in preserving the great landmarks of
social order, and maintaining, on all occa-
sions, the invio!abiity of those consttu-
ti0nll AMI legal provisions which they
themselves have made
In a supposed unitneSs Of our institu-
tions foS those hostile emergencies which
no country can a ways avoid, their friends
found fruitful source Of apprrh nsion,
their enemies Of hope While they fore
saw less mrtness Of action than in
Governments differently formed, they
overlooked the far more important consiI-
Grafton, that with us war could never he
the result OF in lividual or irresponsible
will. but must be a measure OF redress for
injuries sustained. voluntarily resorted 10
bv those who were 10 bear the nec,ss irv
sacrifice, who would consequently feel an
individual interest in the contest, and
! whose energy would be commensurate
with the difficulties to be encountered. -
Actual events have proved their error;
the last war, far from impairing, gave new
confidence to our Government; and amid
recent apprehtnsions of a similar con-
fict, we saw that the energies Of our
country would not be wanting in ample
season to vIndicate its rights. We may
not possess, as we should not desire to
possess, the extende and ever ready mill
tary organization of other nations; we
may occasionally suffer in the outset for
the want Of it; but, among ourselves, all
doubt upon this great point has ceased,
while saIutary experience will prevent
contrary opinion from inviting aggres'
| sion from abroad.
Certain danger was foretold from the
extension Of our territory, the mulipIica
ton of States, and the increase Of popuIa
tlon. Our system was supposed 10 be
adapted on v to boundaries comparatively
narrow. These have been widened be-
yond conjecture; the members of ou
confrderacy are almost doubled; and tn,
numbers Of our people are incredibly aug
mented. The alleged causes of DANCE