The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1840-10-17
ON POLITICAL nl.y1LUrIoNs

WINE we are among the first TO assert the
right ofrevoution, we csnnot shu.aur ewes 10
NE deplorable consequences Witch often grow
lpdtoft. Maahas hisfigAts and som eaf these
|sre inherent; dnd When these are Violated,
he is not bopadto Ndldobedieaeslo lie law.
On the contrary, inAhe gripping hand of op-
pression-n the subversion Of rights-n the
violataton Of consttulions-in the ruthless
sway OF power, there does. exist the most.
ample Justification for resistance. But, al
lhough this is the case, still the results of re-
voiu'lons in general, are not such as 10 re.=-
commend them 10 orr practice. Certainly,
'heS produce change, bu, every change is
not always an Improvement. ne are for re-
volutlon, but it is one appealing TO reason
one OF peaceiulness. In Rome, there was
found Brutus to plant dagger in the heart
|oi Cesar; but was Rome free because the
lyrant was dead! In England, there was
Cromwell TO rouse the people TO revolution.
and the blood of Charles the first was made
to flow upon the scadoId but was England
Tree because her monarch was beheaded? In
France, too, the people were stirred IN 10
revolution, and in that revolution headed bv
perhaps the greatest monsters that ever dis
graced humanity her monarch also per;shed
on the block but was France free because
she had shed the blood OF one Of the mildest
kings who ever sat upon the throne? Byno
means. Rome has yet her prince-England
has yet her king. and Louis PHILIPPE occupies
the seat of the beheaded Louis. Such has
been the consequence of these revolutions,
and it must be admitted that they afford but
weak incentives 10 proceed in the work. Let
us not be misunderstood. We do not denv
the right Of revolution in extremi.ies-we do
not deny the right of resisting oppression
we do not deny the right of drawing the
sword to aver &c our wrongs, and to recover
our rights. On the contrary, we assert all
this; but still we say, that revolutions, even
when justifiable, are fearful things, and
should never be resorted to, except from the
direst necessity. Like hurricanes, they some
times PROSTATE every thing before them. Like
rivers which, swollen over their banks, rush
with irresistible fury through the land tearing
up every thing before them, so they often
leave behind them only the indelibe marks
of their rage. Our Revolution had perhaps
as little of this character as any that proceed
ed it; and among its actors were men of as
high moral character and cultivation of mind
as ever have been recorded on the page Of
history; and thank Heaven, we have no rea-
son to lament its consequences. More than
half century has passed away, and the sun
still shines upon free and independent peo-
pie. Our star spangled banner yet floats in
the breeze, and our institutions are still cher
ished with the fondest regard. Long NAV
they be so, is the wish Of every Native Amer
lean and that they aoiN, we may confidently
hope, SO long as we cherish love of morality
and virtue. and confide the management Of
our affairs 10 the natives Of our land. The
elements of a revolution are now not merely
in existence, but pressing with the force of
justice and cxpedency upon our judgment.
and our actions. 1t is for that change which
shall liberate the American from political
aftiiation with the alien, and separate the
birth-rIght Of our own sons from the preten-
sions of the stranger, and the abuse of the
traitorous native. Look at the demogogues
and leaders parties - do we not see them
on either side, turning with implorng hands to
the willing hordes Of newly made citizens to
save them from the success of their oppo-
nents 4? Is this not a degrading spectacle,
that partizans, fearful Of their own country
men should, in the phrenzy of faction, throw
themselves into the arms Of the people of
other countries, rather than trust themselves
on the patriotism of their own blood and
This, then, is the germ of a
revolution, which is fast ripenng by its un-
natural origin into maturity which we trust
will yield its early fruits both Of future Sc
curity and permanencc. This is revolution
which nature prompts and prudence justifes;
and on which, step by step, as the mind re-
luctantly leads our countrymen on in the
path of reflection, will stregthen as is goes,
and become the settled aim and object of us
all.