The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-24

our shame only, and not our misfortune,
10 lose. 1t is not alone the sparkling
jewel, or the flaming meteor which daz-
zles, but which may corrupt, or may de-
stroy: it is the genial sun also, which
gives fertility to our fields, and comfort TO
our homes. 1t is not far we have to look
to discern that this is no airy castle of
words, built up but to be gazed at and
passed by !; we have but to cast our eyes
upon neighboring province, to perceive,
in their condition, a conviction of its
truth: to discern, in Canadian privation
of its influence, how essential liberty is,
not to the glory of nation only, but to
the prosperity of the people. Approach
ing nearer, perhaps, to us their American
neighbors, in !heir perception and enjoy
ment of liberty than any other commune
ty :--dwelling in country of the most
redundant natural resources equallng at
least, the most favored portion of our own
land in this respect; we have yet but to
contrast her condition. in population, in
enterprise, in intelli 9epee. in wealth, in
every thing, in fact, which makes peo-
pie great, prosperous, or happy-to feel,
that it demonstrates TO us and to mankind,
that to liberty we owe something more
than the glory of having wrested her from
the grasp of reluctant oppression: some
thing more, than the consciousness that
we may claim with exultatlon and pride,
to be the only nation upon the face of the
earth, enjoying full. just, and enlightened
freedom: that to her we owe the broad cult
waited fields, and the teeming villages and
cities, that spring as by magic, from the
surface of our vast, and beautiful, and so
lately wild domain those vast chains of
internal Improvements, unrivalled in the
Oldest Despotisms in the world, which
leaves to our vast territories all their ex-
tent, but annihilates the labor of traversing
their limits-which 4" whitens every sea
with our canvass" and brings the wealth
of all nations to our shores which in
spires all with industry, activity, and en-
terprise and last, though not least, which
diffuses knowledge, which is power, a.
mong all, by providing the means where.
by all may acquire it. If there be, on the
face of the earth, another nation, possess.
ing with equal rapidity of acquisition, and
enjoying, with equal general participation
by all its citizens, all, or any considerable
portion of all these extraordinary advan
tages then let it be said, that to liberty
we owe nothing-that to acquire or enjoy
it is but an idle Establishment but if there
be not, let the value of that which We
inherited from our fathers, and the lmpor
lance of preserving and cherishing it
sink, with the most profound reflection o
its priceless value, deep in every Ameri
lean breast.
If it be true, then that liberty is thus
valuable, and that the antagonist princi
pies of tyranny and usurpation are con
tinually tending to supplant it, knowl
edge of the means whereby it may be
preserved, and those insiduous influences
which perpetually assail it, may be held
in allegiance, becomes of the deepest i'm,
portance. A survey of the history Of
past times will leave us in little doubt, as
to the causes by which communities once
free, were deprived of their llber
Ity. Enjoying the full plentiful,
of freedom, they sigh for something
more: that restless principle, so deeply
implanted in the human breast, which
bids us seek in the auguries of the future
some solace for the real or unreal inqui
etudes of the present, perpetually sug
gests the reflection that some enioymen
to which we are rightfully entitled il
withheld: and the elements of whicl
mans nature are composed must b.
changed, before we shall find that Their
are not enough uneasy and aspiring spirit
in every state, if not TO excite at least t.
Influence, that inherent uneasness whicl
all feel with their present condition.
may cite, from the history of one of tn
most illustrious Of ancient states, peril
nent example. Athens, while her gov
eminent was vigorous, and the spirit c
her people pure, had amassed consider
able fund, beyond the immediate wants c
the state: which constituted what wa
then deemed a sacred trust, for the dc
fence of the state in times of peril an
danger. A long enjoyment of libert
and rcpose, had induced a general eflem
macy of manners and sentiment, and lul
ed the perceptions of danger: dem;
gogue proposed, in this crisis, that the
funds should be devoted to procuring tn,