Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-02-28


and receiving notes, in keeping and settling
accounts, and in all manner OF conveyan-
cling. What is their security They can
rely only upon the integrity of their mora
knowing ncighbors, which is at best but
miserable reliance, as numberless expert.
menis have fully demonstrated. Much has
been said and written OF Yankee cunning
and Yankee tricks but il is believed that
full examination Of all the instances ever
recorded, will develope this fact, that this
cunning has been exercised, and these tricks
practised, upon the uneducated and gno.
rant. Ii parents would secure their chill.
dren against imposition, they must educate
them if the state would secure its citizens
against deception and fraud, it must edu-
cate them. Nothing can secure any indi
vidual against the cunning devices and prac-
tees Of designing men, but good educa-
ton. To ensure such an education TO each
individual Of all classes in the community,
the state must make sufficient provision to
secure the desired result. Nothing el>e
will do it. Witness those cities aud states
where such provision is not made and be-
hold the multitude of uneducaled and igno.
rant men, and that multitude rapidly in.
creasing, liable to be deceived, 10 pc duped
and defrauded. They are even now pros.
trate, and destined to remain in degrada.
ton, and finally to sink in utter ruin, if MOI
raised and elevated by education. With.
out II, what can they do--without it, what
can they hope to attain without it, they
may toll as the slave, and work like the OK,
and all to no purpose, because destitute of
the ability 10 turn their industry to profta-
BILE account /; for without it, others will reap
the fruit Of their labor, and eat out their
substance. And the end will be utter dis.
enlargement, if not final abandonment to
crime and all its consequent train of mise
ries. But instruct them, and you give them
tie means OF lettering their condition and
cxalting them in the scale of rational be.
ings; you put them at once upon the high
road of excellence, virtue, intelligence, NOR
ais, patriotism and religion.
1t is question of thrilling interest how
tho people are to know aud preserve to
themselves those sacred rights which be-
long to the nature of man as rational and
responsible agent-rights which are as inn
pershabe in their nature as they are un-
alienablc: and of the due exercise and en-
joyment of which no power on earth can
Justly deprive them. Life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness are the essential BIRTH
right of human beings in all ages and chimes.
lis education alone which gives 10 man a
true knowledge of what he is and what be-
longs to the dignity Of his nature. The
rights of man are individual, social, civil,
political and religious. 1t is the RICH, of
every human being TO sit unmolested under
his own bower, and quietly enjoy the pro.
ducts of his industry and labor; it is equal.
y his right TO associate with his fellow on
terms OF mutual good will in all the endear.
ments of domestic lfe-he is equally enti-
tied TO the protection Of the civil arm in all
his lawful pursuits and occupatons--he is
also Justly entitled to be heard and regarded
on all questions Of policy and all matters
pertaining to the government Of the whole.
and the general welfare /; and above all is
he entitled to adopt that form of religious
worship which conmends itself 10 his UNI
Outstanding and conscience. But however,
sacred these rights may be, and indestrucii.
bic in their nature, and essential to the high.
est perfection and happiness of human be-
ings, they have been disregarded and tram.
pied upon through all past time down to this
day. If we 60 back to the days Of the
feudal system, and take review of the gilt
tering splendor and bravery of the olden
chivalry--the tower. the fortress, the tilt
and tournament, the waving plume, the hcl.
met, the lance, the gilded spur, the neighing
steed Of the so called noble lords--con.
trast strongly with the iron collars around
the necks of the poor ser s--the enslaved,
debased. ignorant multitude weighed down
with burdens too grievous to be borne
forced to incessant toll and labor. but not
for themselves or their children, gaining for
these and themselves but a bare subsistence.
In Europe, before the terrible revulsons
which followed hard upon the French revo-
luton, such grinding oppression prevailed I;
all the wealth Of the state was centered in
the hands of the monarch and his MOBILES !;
while The exercise and enjoyment Of private
rights among the great body of the people
we're scarcely known the fruit of all their
labor and toll being regarded and taken as
the inheritance of the noble few In Eng
land the same system, though in some-
what modified and perhaps less oppressive
form, prevails to this day. The wealth of
that vast kingdom is concentrated in the
hands ofthe arstocracy, who spare no pains
so to educate their own sons, as TO enable
them 10 pcrpetuate those institutions which
give them this tremendous advantage over
all other classes. This concentration oil
wealth in their hands, is the moving power
Of the realm. 1t controls the entire legis.
laton Of the United Kingdom, and dictates
all the measures of its government. 1t re.
sists with determination and firmness oil
purpose worthy the best of causes, all at.
Temps to reform the most outrageous abu.
SEES upon the rights of man. Odious mo.
nopolles and the most oppressive instiiu.
tons and privileges, are claimed by the lord.
ly few under that most absurd Of all fictons
--the doctrine of prescriptlvc rights, the
great and oft repeated but worn out argu-
ment of despoiisn--as though the perpe.
tration Of injustice and fraud for ages could
justly give them present valid claim upor
the services, property aud persons Of the
balance Of tho human family. Now the
question may be pcrinently asked, what j.
to preserve the people of our own country
from such concentration Of wealth anc
power in the hands of the privileged few 2
And what is to prevent the rapid growth o
all the bitter fruits of such concentration
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