The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-07-01

merican people have been nattered with a
notion that we are the only free people on
earth--the only men who love free princi-
pies and the rights of man. President
Humphrey, Of Amherst College, true
American, and competent witness, gives
his testimony as follows:---
"In all that constitutes the bone and SIM
ews of national greatness--in physical and
mental cnergy--in persevering and produc-
tive industry--in wealth and science, and
the useful arts-in all these Great-Britain
stands, if not without a rival, at least with
out superior, in the wide world. Beyond
all question, we Americans, like most other
young people, expect one day to carry off
the palm from our sires. Should that day
ever come, and it may possibly arrive ooner
| it will become us TO wear our honors meek
| ly and, in the meanwhile, one would sup
pose, that family pride, as well as higher
considerations, should prompt us to do full
Justice to the English character.
"That the English have their full share
of natural courage, and cf corporcal sta
nina, to sustain and make it effective, any
other nation may learn if it chooses, by NEE
ting them hand to hand, either with the
bayonet, or the graphing irons AS their
quarrels with us were family matters,
shall say nothing about them; but passing
over those, who, with an equal force, ever
vanquished them, either on the land or on
the sea? Who else but the British, after be-
ing mown and cloven down, all day, by the
French artillery and cuirassiers, would
have been in condition, when the Prus-
slams came up, to gain the battle of Water
loo! What they are in brigades and bat
talions, and on the gun-deck, they are also
in the ring, and wherever you meet them
-nota quarrelsome people, but always rea-
dy to fight when their rights are invaded,
or their courage is called in question. What
deteriorating changes may betde them we
know not.
Luxury may enervate them, as it did the
descendants of the Gracchi and Scipios, and
then they may tamely bow their necks to
any yoke. And it might be too much to
say that, while they retain their present
national and individual courage, it would be
absolutely impossible to subdue them but
it would cost infinitely more than the con-
quest would be worth; and, after all, their
spirits would not be crushed, however furi-
ously the conqueror nigh drive his triumph
al car over their PROSTATE bodies. They
would contrive, in one way or another, to
hough his horses in the very moment ofbe-
ing trodden down; and have no doubt
would sustain themselves under this greatest
of all calamiles, with fortitude which has
never been surpassed Such is their ma
tional character. Their enemies might call
it sulkiness, or mere brute obstinacy, as
Napoleon is reported to have said, at Wa
terloo "These English don't know when
they are beat" but these are elements, with
which it is dangerous for tyrants to meddle.
"This leads me to remark, what indeed
is included in the sketch just given, that the
love of liberty is as strong and unconquera-
bic in England as it is in the United States.
The history of that country for ages past,
no less than its present condition, indubita-
bly, proves that the people are prepared to
defend their liberties at all hazards. Any
encroachment on the part ofthe crown would
be met with resolution which would shake
the towers and battlement Of Windsor Cas-
tie to their deep foundation. Weare apt to
suppose that because our government is
democracy, and that of Great-Britan is am
hereditary monarchy, the spirit of freedom
cannot be so unlettered and indomitable