Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-06-30
THE AMERICAN.

/
zen, which is sui generis, and no resem-
biancein any other people. Very lewsof
the true American character. however.
are to be found IN our Atlantic cities.
/ True. there are some; but not being nu-
meroas. you can easily detect them. A
few of their leading traits we will here
depict; from which it will be easy. at all
times, to discriminate them wherever
/ they be met with.
! a true American is freeaand indepen-
dent in his opinions quick and bold in
his conceptions-un in his mind
and full ofenterpt4se and action. He
blends sensiblity with self-cohfidence:
and conscious integrity endows HIM with
a iearlessness and courage, whch'quall-
lies him for every exigency fife.
The first throb of his heart is for indie;
| pendence. The next is for enloyment-
and the next for power. Industry and la
Dor, therefore, are his natural attributes.
Warm in his feelings, and ardent in
his fancy, he is'naturaIly Jealous Of pow
err; and eagerly attaches himself to par
| ty; but in all his excuses of factious fee
ling, he never forsets las country-never
/ ceaces tovenerate the consiituiion-nev-
err loses sight Of the value of the Union
never fails to consult the glory of the ma
ton. in preference to the triumph of his
! party-and never consents that the force
of his walignity shall overcome his duties
as good citizen, or lead him to degrade
the public institutions to crafty his, peri
sonal revenge. On all occasions, YOU
will find him prompt toassail a foreign
enemy-ever read y TO achieve, or to re-
joice in our victores-and always prepa-
red to punish the domestic traitor, aud
rally in defence of the Union.
His notions of liberty are bounded by
the rights of human nature, rather thar
the definitions of written contracts; and
you will always find him more disposed
to ultra freedom, than to the strict limits
of order. He refers to the rights of man.
in all disputes OF controverted authority;
and is more prone to cast off all restraint
on his thoughts and actions, than to fet-
ter himself by announcement doctrines of
rigid definition and strict decorum. He
never permits his country to be insulted
with iinpunitv: Or the name of American
to be sslied by libel.
He IS more prone to regulate his con-
duct by the dictates of the just expedi-
ency, than the principles of justice.
He loves money, and lusts after office:
| is fond of power,and coye1ious of distlnc-
tom but he is muniicent, liberal, and
magnanimous; especially when removed
! from the degenerating atmosphere Of large
cities.
In every thing, save religion, creduli-
ty is one of his most amentable weakness
/ ses.
| Jealous of all above him. he cherishes
feelings of equality-and often commits
injustice, to bring others down to his own
level, when he cannot rise to theirs.
A determination TO carry his point at
all events, makes him often Indifferent
to the means he uses to accomplish his
ends; still. he is radically honest.
!. Like the country he iahabits, he is
fertile, but rugged-powerful, bu: uncul-
tivated-rich in resources, but his riches
undeveloped, and often useless, because
not properly applied, Or brought into
successful action. He is often :. riddle,
but mere frequently colossus.
He is to be found, in his vigour and
funess, tilling his own ground-a FAR
MER-free. independent, virtuous. and
bold, -untratnmeled in his thoughts
ard vlrtuous IN his,actions.
The moment 'you.piunge the coun-
try, you behold the American citizen
! with his easle-eye-hls iron-hand
his voice of thunder. This is the eagle
|; American.
i Cross the mountains-and the West
will show YOU a giant race. expanded by
the wild breeze OF the woods; the sports
OF the chase; and the perils Of savage
warfare.
AS you recedet from the focus of civili-
eaton and refinement, youfind the A
merlcan more truly chiseled according
to the proportions OF nature. He comes
upon you sudden and abrupt-frank and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Gus! His animal force startles-his
intellectual freedom surprises--his open
and candid temper exhorts admiration,
and inspires confidence. Bold as lion.
heshrlnks from no danger; but his ceur-
age often rms into ierocity; and he
Stays his fellow being for the mere re-
onun Of personal. prowess.
He reconcIles and illustrates the ex-
tremes of tyrany and freedom. AS the
master over thousand slaves, he becomes
comes petty prInce:--aEd exercises more
power than he would submit to from the
government. In this situation, leisure
and curiosity make him an orator, states
man, or a politician! Five, out of seven
OF She American presidents, have been