Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-08-18

daring enactments. II is fact which can
not be controverted, that public sentiment
gives tone and protection to law. Again,
suppose we were DESTROYS to obtain the
| passage Of e law by which community
were to be generally affected, Should we
in the first place petition the Legislature,
on the subject? Would this be our first
| business? Certainly not We would first
operate upon public feeling, and public O.
pinion, through the medium of the press,
and other avenues; and endeavor to work
Its influence into an agreement with our
wishes, before we should invoke legislative
action. Who, then, is the best and most
effective patriot! Certainly, he as, who
does most to give moral tone to public
oplnlon-for it is upon this alone that law
and government are based Which,then,
is most patriotic! the cold-water man? or
the runa-SeIler? Let common sense logic
decide. Which loves his country most. a
friend to beautiful opinion? or one whose
business and example tends only 10 corr
rupt it?
Again. suppose that at the commencement of our
difficulties with Great Britain, the colonial congress
had been organized, and had declared the colonies
Tree and independent of the mother country at that
early day in civil and political differences Would
such declaration, at nQt tige have been maintai-
ned! Would 1t have received Il reciprocal response
from the people? 1t would, doubtless have persisted
upon the hands Of its authors and might for aught
we know, now be l0val subjects of the Gueen of
England. The public pulse was not then prepared
for such a remedy. They would have thought the
standard too high and would have been sprtless in
It's defence. Those wise heads and daring spirits.
VINO hrst conceived the idea of independence, knew
ueH their cOunirymen. They had been educated in
natures school. They well knew tina; public opin-
ION had got to be operated upon through The medium
OF me press, and other avenues, before the people
would lend their support and risk their all on such
measure. But, lii n few years. British aggression
assumed a more open and decided appearance; and
as an Adams an OTIS Henry, Lee, continued TO
pour the light of truth upon the public mind and the
American Press continued to scatter, Broadcast the
seeds OF liberty Throughout the colonies they were
prepared to recelve1tand, how did they receiveit?
Although few tmid minds hesated and acapered
ana others were recreant In principle and proved to-
rles IN practice yet the great mass who were PATRIOTS
indeed with one accord hailed it as the hardin per of
blghterdays; and with universal shout exclaimed
let us have it, we will protect it; or perish honor
coy, ana Ike treemen, in its defence y
What was the plan adopted by the leaders of the
french revolution, which, for awhile threatened
depopulate France and in which, Robbespere acted
conS,lcuous part! Was the bloody design put in
hlthedipte execution after it conceived! certain
ly not. The elements were secretly but constantly
ana progressively developing for months and years
ere public opinion became sufficiently polluted TO en-
gage III tae measure. Those elements were cautious
~ fostercd and maured and the public pulse daily
telt ny the leaders; until it found that prosira-
ton OF the Laws and The Regal prer0 gatiue. would
be sanctioned by the people, " hen these combusbe
materials broughttogether and the dreadful ex-
piosion, which shook Europe TO its centre, the
result. The guillotine, that mighty instrument of
aeatn, was put IN operatlon and scenes the most
bloody and revolving to humanity, from day
day enacted, until the lenders themselves fell VIC
TINS TO their own wicked and daboical Vaccinations
thousands were sacrificed in day-the execution
ers OF one hour became the victims of the next until
me blood OF France ran free water The seeds of
dlScord had been secretly and cautiously stroWn by
tOltGire and his organized troop of indel writer's
Tor long time previous; until the favorable moment
arrived, when the mercess Robbespere and his
hearuess associates, attempted their own elevation
upon The ruins OF France. and the bones of French
men. These daring sceptes had operated upon nnh-
TIC SENTIMENT until II was worked into the belief that
there was no God. The subversion of civil aulhori-
~, and the execution of Louis XVI. followed. All
sense OF amenabliIty TO future tribunal was annihi-
lated-tor they believed in none. The Sabbath was
abolished by legal enactment the decqdi or tenth
DAY was instituted in It's stead and the sentiment
that death is eternal sleep was inscribed upon
the gates Of their cemeteries
The mind Is naturally led to inquire into the re-
mole cause OF this terrific explosion ah the problem
Is easily solved, and full of instruction to us These
disastrous and deporable consequences are eosilv
ahaIy2ed, and traced TO their legitimate cause There
was deficiency Of virtue and intelligence amonc the
common classes OF citizens, and where these defects
exist IL follows, as never-talIng consequence that
there public sentiment is easily corrupted bv artiice.
ana where there is no healthful public sentiment
there can be 10 law; and, where there is no law the
moral depravlty of man, unenlightened by know
ledge, Will lmpel him to every species of crime and
feroclty and rapIne, and barbariSn and blood RIM
VIII any one aver that Americans, can make no de-
auctions from the history Of the French Revolution
me needing OF which, would tend to ensure the safe
" and stability Of our republican institutions?
n NJ If
ana moral instruction, among the common citizens
that gave rise TO the bloody iragedy in France and
II Is only from deficiency of those qualifications a.
mong our citizens, that we may reasonably entertain
fears Tor the stability of our Republic
Danger is always nearest, when we feel most Sc
cure III has been we'll said that eternal vigilance is
the price of liberty. Just abandon our systems of
intellectual and moral education, and let ignorance
and vice generally prevail aud in a few short years
some American Cromwell would seize upon our
rights, with unblushng temerty and rule as with
rod OF iron. Our safely downfall, depends who'll
y upon our own agency. Permit intellectual and
moral darkness 10 envelope us-and we should be
bought up like cattle in the market by an aristocra
teal faction. We should barter away our suffrages
Tor song-ior we should be totally nCapactated TO
appreciate the value of The elective franchise
DO you say this is all fiction the mere vaeary of
perverted imagination the wild illusion Of IA
natlcal brain The path to ruin is not so difficult
and inaccessible as may imagine No fact is
more easily proven, than that ignorant and be-
nghted nation never sustain a free government
until the lights of science and the diffusion of know
ledge moral, as well intellectual, have dssipated
The murky mIsts in which their understandings and
their conscences developed. Another fact is also
certain, that Republican government on which the
rays of scientific and moral light are not constantly
beaming cannot be sustained with as much ease as
limited mondrchlcat one, though i. is no more
enlightened. But some may, perhaps assert that it
was light and knowledge, which dethroned and ex-
ecued Louis XVI. and produced the scenes of blood
that followed. Had the leaders held out vrtu-
principles and taken course more in accordance
with The just and equal rights of man, we might
rally arrive at such conclusion But what was the