Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-10-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Magnolia.
THE WARLIKE RESOURCES OF
THE UNITED STATES.

THIS i. a subject OF vast interest and
impor ance 10 The American peo'le. j. Is
n matter in itself Of tran.cendant magni
tude, and in its connexion with the pre-
sent welcome and future destiny of the 'e
public, no topic that an American pen, OF
me defamation of the Senate, has eiuci
dated, could he regarded as comparab u
it, in the gigantic proportion OF It's details
or the grandeur Il it, results, as they re
late to the curity and pernanence Of the
democratic principle. The people OF the
United States, as n whole, have developed
upon them degree OF responsibility IN
the maintenance of their rights OF self
government, of which there il no parallel
in the condition or history Of any other
nation of ancient or modern times. Thus
far, this responsibility, however It may
have been subject to occasional menaces
ON the part OF not. headed faction, has con-
tinued 10 sustain the most rigid trials OF It's
tenacity-its expansive and con,ractiVe
qualities-and its capacity to cope sue
cessfully with all the virissitudes OF a
broad and large national existence. We
have passed safely through the or zeal OF
wars cond ,cted upnn an enlarged scale OF
military operations, by land and sea-and
what is vet a stronger test of national co
hesion, we have passed through several
political CON lectures, which involved crises
where the most fearful consequences were
anticipated, and where, but tor the re
markable intelligence that prevails in the
BODY of the people, and tho patriotism,
which, like presiding genius, guides their
counsels, the most alarming evils would
have been inevitable. The time has been,
when calculations were entered into, to
learn how tar certain States might he able
to resist imputed aggression Of the general
goyernment-and the enquiry upon this
subject, has usually been as unsatisfactory
as if our country were governed by the
naughty arrogance OF an eastern despe'
tism. The systems OF government by
which we have our being, as politica
community, local and natiopal, require
that full information should he conveyed
to the minds OF the people, not merely as
20 the variety, and extent OF their abstract
political, rights, but also as to their means
and ability to maintain their just position
among the nations Of the earth. Nothing
can tend mpre directly 10 infuse feeling
of self.confidence and security in people
than knowledge founded upon obvio"
facts, that they have abundant means anc
capacity to repel the aggression Of "worlf
in arms" This is precisely the knowl
edge, and these are the facts which il viii
be the purpose OF This essay 10 embody II
such form, as that the plainest ciiizer
ina, understand the great and soul-inspir
ing truth-ihat he belongs to, and cons,i
tuies part Of an elevated and powerful
naiion--a great democratic republic
which, with eighteen millions Of people
is, at ahis moment, for all just AMI legiti
mate objects-in all honest pursuits Of life
liberty and happiness, The greatest nation
and people, on the face Of the Whale earth
Let no one who dares call himself ma,
Of another people, smile at this assnmp
tion--no American will do it-but som,
NAV feel incredulou4, until they are toll
how TO estimate and compare sixteen mil
lions Of freemen, out Of eighteen millions
VI peoples WIN ultI't, uity w q" "o"u' q
millions of serfs or birbarians, who arr
ruled by the iron will of single despot, o.
worse than iron will, where ,he despui
ism is swayed by small oIisarchy OF ~
rants-he will then begin to comprehen'
why il is that a nation Of sixteen million
OF freemen, amongst whom, intelligence o
every kind is extensively ditfased. IS reall,
the most powerful Of nations. If,hen, hi
is true, and the union Of American States
comprises greater amount Of power to re
sist oppression, to vindicate right, and re
pei wrong. Than pertains to the proudes
empire Of the world, il is certainly a mea
sure Of proper expediency that we shout,
Investigate and understand the nature 40,