Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-11-02

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other men subjected Is similar .iniiueni-
ces. His first spirited exertions in VIM
dIcation Of hts country's liberty against
the intolerable encroachments of the
hrone, degenerated into rebellion. were
then sullled by the guilt Of risicide. and
deter mined in the unconstitutional as
sumption OF despotlc power of the peo-
pie and the Parliament who bad raised
bum, 1t may be said, after the manner Of
the old Ronans--on their shields, and
proclaimed him 'dictator.' Let it be
granted that the lawless violences and
plumber which he directed. or abetted,
or sanctioned, against the personal rights
and the property of the roRaists, Tie
Parliament itself, and The political con-
federacles in the towns and cities, we're
as Incompatible with his soemn!y-pro.
tessed regard for popular liberty, as Ills
gross butioonery and private conyersa-
ton comprised his still more sacred
pledges to the earnestness. sincerity, aad
zeal of his religious convictions. But,
alter all, we mnst make large allowan-
ces Tor the confused notions of moral
right and wrongs. of Social obligation. po-
litlcal allegiance, civil responsibility,
and religious duty which had been gen.
Grated III mems minds by the wild, va
rious, and vlslon-lke excitement Of that
strange period King James the First
lad bequeathed to his successor an in
heritance Of external peace. But tie fu-
rlous elements Of civil comniOtion were
In intense action beneath the surface Of
this specious patrimony.
The long suppressed principles Of an
antagonstic strife for existence and
power between the high-fiying areten-
tons of the Crowns, and the stubborn
purpose OF the people to retrieve, ex-
tent, and guaranty their ancient liber-
ties, burst out into that fierce 'convulsion
which presently destroyed the monarchy
and the sovereign. In the slowly subsi-
ding conflict of these principles, easily
and often again awakened into destruc-
tive collision, Cromwell had to deal
with menacing condition of things, and
with hostile opponents that were only to
be grappled with by vigor almost be-
You'd the law, and tonstancy almost
equally Inaccessible 70 the suggestions
OF human Pity and human weakness
Yet where, among successful leaders a.
galnst the forces of ancient dvnaSties
and opinions, thrones and monarchs, III
/ sti tutlons and establishments, shall we
find parallel to CROMWELL. The
Kings death. be It remembered, was
neither his exclusive -act, nor could he.
alone have arrested a fate already deter
mined on by those whose strength and
will Cromwell could not yet pretend to
oppose. If he gave way to the british
lntoEetsnce Of his Parliament IN sane
ti0inng the ctueliTes exercised against
the mailman Nayior, and others, he is to
be, to great extent, excused by the pu-
ritanical Digotry OF his time, and the con-
curing prejudIces of the entire people.
But neither his political vengeance nhouirF
his religious ianaticism INDUCED in these
horrible excuses Of bloodshed and tor
ture which disgraced the memory Of So
many among the best Of OUR kings, WHO
were also wise legislators and inyincible
captains
We pause for moment TO remind
the readr that Oliver Cromwell raised
the true grandeur of his country at horne,
and its political influence abfogd, to d
pitch il had previously attained only un.:
der Elizabeth, in less than ten years. III
place of the distrust which British d.
| plomacy had incurred abroad under the
|tiisorganization produced by Charles
policy in all his affairs, Cromwell made
the proud minister OF France Il suiter FOR
his friendship and favor He humblei
!tle preteEsions both Of France and Spain
by tue pronp vigor and decision ofhis
Resolutions, and the lnatchIess energy
with which he was ever prepared TO give
action and effect TO them. His saeacity
lpro,ligiousI.c enlarged the Einits Of our
Ecosalnefce; and while lie depressed and
sisnaIy punished The arrogance of Spain,
he cultivated relations cE trade which
laid the foundations of the lasting and
advantageous connection that has ever
since subsisted between this country and
Portugal. He did not sal. however. to
subject Don Pantaleon Sa, the brother
OF the Portuguese Ambassador, for an a.
truclous murder committed here, 10 tie
same extreme and ignominious penalty
which would have visited the commits
sion OF similar offence BY lie meanest
English subject. La the Old World and
the New he diffused the terror, and vim
HdicAted the authority ofthe British fac.
When he had to choose between The al.
lance Of France aud Spala. he wisely
preferred the latter. Holland he COM
PEELED to relnquish her vauffed suprem-
acy u the seas; and the same Blake who
defeated Van rromp, aud ransacked the
settlements Q. Spain in South America,
animated by the intrepid courage aud a.
bility Of his master, reduced the power
full State OF Algiers toatject submission.
after it had deied for ages all the other
powers Of Europe
The great Charles V, about hundred
Years before, had failed in like attempt.
a