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

Macedonia, invaded the territories of the
Athenians, vanquished them at the battle
of Cheroua, and they passed from the
condition of independent freemen, to that
of servants to king. The instructive
reflection derived from this example is
fortified by the whole history of man.
kind and think American citizens will
not be slow to perceive, IN what quarter
to look for those influences which are hos
tile TO liberty. One thing is certain, from
whence, or howsoever they come, their
approach will be masked by an effected
solicitude for the public good: and while,
in all history there is scarcely an example
of two communities losing their liberty
by precisely the same means, it is equal
ly certain that the principle upon which
they have been enslaved has been always
the same. An insiduous profession of
sollcitude for the public welfare, on the
part of Demagogues who sought to ele-
vate themselves by the sacrifice of their
country, acting upon morbid sensibility
to popular rights, equivalent to real lnsen-
sibility to true freedom, in whatever way
manifested, has been the unchangmg prin-
ciple upon which human liberty has ever
been sacrificed.
But, my fellow-citizens, while in
critical survey of the present condition of
public sentiment in our country, we can
undoubtedly discern the existence of those
influences which, when permitted to pre-
ponderate, end in the destruction of all
which we hold sacred in freedom it is
not less gratifying than extraordinary, if
| have not misunderstood the history of
the world, that, at the end of the long pc
riod Of sixty four years, those dsorgan-
izing principles seem scarcely more per-
ceptible than at the very commencement
of our political existence. Such is yet
the purity and intelligence of public SEN
timent among us, that not one of those
destructive influences has yet assumed
the importance of doctrine, or princi-
pie, but has been permitted to arise and
to fall as the opinions of individuals mere
ly, and not as the doctrine of any party,
however small or feeble. And cannot
have more emphatic conviction of the
correctness of this position, so gratifying
if true, than to reflect, that of all these
destructive influences, not one has yet OBJ
tanned sufficient footing, to merit even a
public reference to its dangerous tendency.
The opinion which attacks the sacredness
of vested rights, the most insiduous, the
most plausible, and by far the most dam
gerous of any, has been consigned to the
modification of being trampled under
foot, by ALI parties, and forced to re-
| ly, not on the voice of any party for
support, but upon the sophistries of indi-
vduals for being even known. Party,
{ that spirit of evil, and as it is generally
deemed, so hostile to liberty, and social
welfare. has made no inroads as yet, up
on the vigor of our free constitution Nor
can it, until it prefers its own advance
ment to the welfare of its country. 1t
is not yet so late among us, that, let the
strife of party spirit rage with what We
hcmence and bitterness it will, let but the
charmed sound, Thy Country is in dam
ger, be blown upon the gale, and the
storm is hushed: or pauses but to burst
with united fury upon the invading foe.
Who does not remember with what
unanlmlty every man of this nation stood
| by Gen. Jackson in demanding our Just
rights of France, nation, too, for whom
we felt every friendship and sympathy !
And, when we reflect that the lapse OF
nearly ten years has not cooled the una
nlmity with which we demand of our
father land the soil which is ours, we arc
permitted to reflect with a just pride, tina,
; the same sentiment which wrested from
! Great Britain this beautiful land, yet in.
, spires the sons Of those who acquired IL
, to preserve every title of the inheritance
) There is too, in our own condition, one
, thing which creates wide discrimination
between our own prospect of continuing
to enjoy our freedom, and that of every
, other people who have proceeded us. II
= is founded in this, That knowledge is
: power. Wherever, then, knowledge is
f power will tend. Among the nation.
: who have preceded us, knowledge wa,
{ limited to the few; consequently power
s by its own inherent law. was continual,
: gliding to them--among us, knowledge il
equally accessible to all--the press--th'
Y policy OF our government, and the gener
: al sentiment of the people, have furnish