The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-12-11
VOL. |. NO. 80.

ton. lie may varnish over the dcxterity which
ambition never fails to display, with the pliancy of
language, the seduction of expediency, or the pre-
JUDGES of the times. And he may come at length
to ayow, that extensive territory as that of the
U. s., can only be governed by the energies of
monarchy; that it cannot be defended, except by
standing armies; and that it cannot he united, ex-
cept by consolidation.
I Measures have already been adopted which
may lead to these consequences. They consist
In fiscal systems and arrangements, which keep
an host of commercial and wealthy individuals,
embodied and obedient to the mandates of the
Treasury,
In armies and naves which will, on the one
hand, enlist the tendency of man TO pay homage to
his iellow-creature who can feed or honor hun;
and on the other, employ the principle of fear, by
furnishing imaginary instructions, under the pre-
text of preventive justice
In swarms of officers, civil and military who
can incucate political enets tending TO consolida-
ton and monarchy, both by ndu!sencies and Sc
vertes, and act us spies over the free exercise
of human reason.
In restraining the freedom of the press, and in
vcsting the Executive with legislative, executive,
and Judicial powers, over a numerous body OF men,
And, that we may shorten the catalogue, in es-
tablishng by successive precedcnts such a mode of
constituting the Constitution, as will rapidly remove
every restraint upon Federal power,
Let history be consulted; let the man of cxpe-
ricncc reflect; nay let the ariilicers of monarchy
he asked, what farther materials they can need for
building up their flvorite system'
These are solemn but painful truths; and yet
we recommend it to you, not to forget the posi-
biliiy of danger from without, although danger
threatens US from within. Usurpation is indeed
dreadful but against foreign invasion, if hat should
happen, let us rise with hearts and hands united,
and rcpcl the attack with the zeal of freemen, who
will strengthen their title to examine and correct
domestic measures, by having defended their coun-
try against foreign aggression.
Pledged as we are fellow-ctizcns, to these sa-
cred engagements, we yet humbly fcryenlly i'm
plore the Almighty Disposcr of events, to avert
from our land war and usurpaton, the scourges Of
mankind, to permi, our fields to be cultivated in
peacc to ins into nations the love of friendly in
tercoursc; to suffer our youth to be educated in
virtue, and to preserve our morality from the pol
luton, invariably incident TO habits of war; to
prevent the labnrcr and husbandmun from being
harrasscd by taxes and imposts; 10 remove from
ambition the means Of disturbing he Common
wealth; to annhilatc all protests for power afford
ed by war; to maintain The Constitution; and to
bless our nation with tranquility, under whose be-
nign influence we may reach the summit of hap
pness and glory, to which we are destined by ma
ture and natures GOd.
Attest, JOHN STEWART, C, II. ID.
1870, Jan. 23d. Agreed to by the Senate.
II. BROOKE, c. $.
A true copy from the original, deposited in the
Office of the General Assembly.
JOHN STEWART, Keeper of the Rolls.