The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1837-12-16
OUR COUNTRY-AN ELOQUENT WITNESS FOR
1,asas THE NATIVE.

OUR COUNTRY--AN ELOQUENT WITNESS FOR
sas THE NATIVE.
country is always marked by separate and distinct
natural lneaments mountains lift their tops TO the clouds
in one regionin Others vast plains extend in sandy de-
ISOLATION which human being cultivate shrub,
but over which the wild nhabitant roams in predatory
excursions not because originally he disposed but
because Of the features Of the country which ne loves
despite its ruggeness The scorchng sun that warns
themthe noxious winds that cool their cheeks--the
trees that at the vast intervals deserts shade Them are
beloved and tend to concentrate their feelings into ma
tional focus These truths cannot be denied In our
own country (and thank heaven that yet, we can call
il our own) the features of nature graphic and ener
getic. They bespeak for character peculiar and IN
dependent Our long chains Of mountains--our ever
flowing and deep water-courses-- ocean--akes Of
fresh waterour caaracts but the finger OF
Creator who TO have paused in his subimer moods
to heap the elements Of physical grandeur into the most
imposing groupes, abroad upon this continent. We
combine within the limits the Union, almost every de-
gree Of climate Every section has its peculiar product
and every production converges to national character
however wide apart they may have been produced The
same love Of Union which is felt by countrymen, is
impaired broadly and widely through all the moral rami
fcatons Of our habits. The nation is arch and
tonal character must be the eysone, to support In
the Old World covering in Europe greater extent Of
country than the United States, how different their
viewshow unintelligble to each other their languages
In these particulars we distinct. The that
operate 10 the formation Of national character to be
found by the truly phiosophic sprnging from the
country. There is reflection thrown by the features Of
the territory, upon the people inhabtng it. Wherever
the surface or the country permits it, the inhabitants
excited to improvement and they gradually rise in the
scale Of intelligence.
nsurope the rise may be general but not universally
national Each State has its narrow limit and the pride
or country confines the improvement to its peculiar cir
cle But in this country how different. We move as
one gigantic peopleas in origin n energyin ends
We move like Triumphant army over the conquered OBJ
stacles Of nature "A member Of the Union proceeds from
Charleston in South Carolina, to the far goes
on mission or internal improvemenhe arrives at his
destinatonhe does not meet strangers Of another
try. Mo- he meets men who hail him brother. They
Co with him in the completion Of great work
n = called national 1t is hailed national by the pub
lie presses in every section of the country And why
is this? The is victory IS because zoe are
one People--our sympathies are the same We are yet
owners Of tile sollthe owners oo OF our Constitution
and our laws Our argument tends toinculcate the doc
trine that national character springs from the primal
cause Of nature than from conventional policy II Is the
land that gives color and hue 10 people, II bleak,
and cold and desoate the traveller starts lest bandit
NAV arrest his footsteps but here every thing IS on
grand scale-our character is forming gaduay IKE
patriot pilgrim ascending to sacred mountain we are
marching with holy steps to the summit Of our honors
We need no helping hands from the Old World 70 teach
us the arts-the sciencesor politics We are full OF The
energy or gallant youth. In our chldhood-whe the
cradle rocked amid sorms-we stretched forth arms
- 80. no,od The serpent Since then, we have been
working in our own plain way, but for high pur-
noses we are selfish in ambition, because we believe
that our own and our chdrens happiness depends
the preservation Of our institutions pure and uncontam.
mated There is bold mechanical genius in this coun-
try. which is dusing its rays into every known quarter
&c tb world and If it can teach the Sultan to build ships
.n the Austrian to construct railroads. surely rely
mon il to improve its own land. Franklin, Full
ton, and a De Witt Clinton, were native Americans
and we can rest secure in the rational belief that
our posterity will not be deficient in the means and the
elements Of utility. We are peculiarly blessed IN the
General national features Of the Union. The splendid hues
Of our forests will enknde the soul Of genius and afford
themes for poetrythe mountains, with their deep bo-
soms loaded with minerals will tempt the genius Of spec
ulaton-tie fruitful fields will command the at
enton Of indusry and taking all in all, we believe thai
our counrymcn are equal the task Of governing such
country In these impulses superior to other ma
TONS and we should in all gratitude, thank the Ruler
the Universe for having crowned fields with glory
and filled our hearts with love for native land
We have received encouragement from Congress; SO
vera or the most intelligent and distinguished OF its bod,
have ordered our paper. We hail them as natives ant
whatever their party politics may be, their hearts arr
true to the great mother that gave them birth and ye
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