The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-07

marks and experiments win the neTUduTd VIII
be given hereafter AN EYEWITNESS.
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From the .Nsao Hampshire Statesman.
American Li6erty.-America Thrice happy
is the man who is born upon thy shores, and can
proud and beautiful in the land of the free. The
very emblem, the mountain eagle, soaring to her
eyre in the highest cliffs, tells Of liberty. And
when oppression and tyranny drove that sacred
freedom Of mind and conscience from its parent
land, it took refuge in America. Here was it
Graded and nurtured. 1t withstood the thunder
of war, and the deprivations to which it was
subjected, and when proud Britain withdrew her
forces from our land, and peace smiled cheer
ing ly upon the brave band whose hearts never
sank within them, liberty burst forth from the
darkness Of night, and spread abroad blaze OF
glory The men who so nobly had achieved
this brilliant act, Of driving rude assailans from
their shores, stood forth in proud defiance, and
called themselves freemen The cry Of liberty
had been sent forth, and it was not in vain. II
was word deeply inshrined in their hearts, and
should be warmly cherished in ours. We are
their children, and should not disgrace the bless
ings SO dearly purchased We are freemen, and
will recognize no master. How infinitely supe-
rior is our condition to that of the dependant
and slavish subject of an European despot. And
| yet we should not boast, but rather pity our
| fellow-beings who are in bondage. IT'S their
| misfortune, not their shame. By Gods law, all
men are born free and equal and because there
are those who spring into existence in a land
where mans law taints the air with guilt, and
loads with chains the innocent, they should have
| our deepest symapthies. We, who breathe the
air OF liberty, and rejoice under blessings innu-
merable, should endeavor to tighten the load Of
oppression, and set the bondsman free.
And while we feel for men in distant lands, we
should not forget that our own Constitution must
be kept free from sacrilege. That Constitution,
framed by men to whom the word liberty was
most dear, must be kept inviolate Is not this
what every freeman will say? Is it not the
right of the people to say what shall be done in
a land that is their own? Yes, and they will
return the echo in voice of thunder the
Constitution shall be kept inviolate." There is
need Of this. We do not sketch from fancy
when we say that there are even now men (?)
at the helm of State affairs, who would not hes-
tate to tear from that Constitution all its jewels,
strike death blow to all that is dear in a re-
publican Government and institute powerful
and tyrannical monarchy. 1t is well for the
Union that her hardy yeomen who had the
power to elect them, have also the power and
liberty to cast them out. They were elected to
serve the people, instead of which they have
endeavored to rule them and will be treated
as unfaithful servants should be. Of what use
is Constitution, we ask, if its provisions are to
be broken and trampled upon whenever it shall
| suit the purposes of a man or set of men! Ii is
useless, and worse than useless.
Our country's honor is stained by disgrace,
but it is fully the privilege of freemen to retrieve
its character. 1t is in the power of the great
mass of intelligent men who inhabit our land to
preserve the Constitution from dissertation, and
it is their solemn and bounden duty to do it.
Americans would you wish to have this land
of liberty2 Certainly it has been your boast
from the earliest periods of our national history
that ours is the land of the free, the home OF
the brave" Then, guard your countrys rights, and
let it not be said Of us abroad that we claim that
which does not belong to u.s. Our Constitution
gives US liberty and freedom if we will but take
them. But if we cringe and kneel before the
power OF created man, we do that which our
forefathers spurned to do; and could they from
their seats in Heaven look down upon us, and
see us in the act of breaking the sacred pledge
which they swore to keep, they would blush to
call US their children. No, freemen, it must not
be SO. Our motives and our acts must be such
as Washington would approve, and a Just God
will give us our reward.
IF humanity shows to the God of this world
A sight for his fatherly eye,
IT'S that of people with banner unfured,
Resolved for their freedom to die;
'Tis the spark of the deity, bursting to light
Thro' the darkness Of human control,
That fires the bold war arm in liberty's fight,
And flames from the patriot, burning and bright,
Thro' the eye of an heavenly soul.''
CODA lawyer not over young or handsome,
made many attemDtS to confuse vO,Inp ladv