The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-06-22

nifty cruelty and crime was long the governing
passion IN Sp nish wars, and Spanish settlements III
America. Even Columbus himself did not wholly
escape the Influence OF this base motive In ms
early voyages we find him passing iron island To
island, nquiring everywhere for gold III God had
opened the new world to the knowledge of the old,
only 10 crafty passion equally senseess and sordid
and TO offer up millions of an unotending race oil
TO the destruction OF the sword, sharpened both
by cruelty and rapacty And yet Columbus was lar
above his age and country. Enthusiastic, indeed,
but sober, religious and magnanlmous; born 10 great
things and capable of high sentiments as his noble
discourse before Ferdinand and Isabella, as well as
the whole history OF his life shows. Probably he
| sacrificed much 10 the known sentiments OF Others
and addressed TO his followers motives likely to IN
huence them. AT the time IT is evident that he
himself looked upon the world which he discovered
world Of wealth, all ready 10 be seized and en-
! joyed.
The conquerors and the European settlers of Span
lsh America were mainly military commanders and
common soldiers. The monarchy OF Spain was not
transferred TO this hemisphere but it acted in it, as 1t
| acted at home through Its ordinary means, and It's
true representative, military force. The robbery and
destruction OF the native race was the achievement
o! standing armies, In the right Of the king and by
his authority fighting III his name, for the aggrandZe-
n.en OF ms power, and the extension OF has preoga-
| tves with military ideas under arbitrary maxlms, a
portion of that dreadful fundamentally 10y which
perfect despotism governs people AS there was no
bery in spain, how could liberty be transmitted to
| Spanish colonies
The colonsis Of English America were Of the peo-
! pie, and people already free. They were oil the
middle, industrious, and already prosperous class, the
| inhabitants Of commercial and manufacturing cities,
among whom liberty first revived and respred after
sleep Of thousand years, in the bosom of the dark
ages Spain descended on the world in the arm
ed and terrible image of her monarchy and her sol
dizzy; England approached it in the winning and
popular garb OF personal rights, public protection and
civil freedom England transplanted liberty TO Anne
RIGA Spain transplanted power. England, through
the agency OF private companies, and the efforts OF
individuals colonized this part of North America by
industrious individuals, making their way in the
wilderness defending themselves against the savages,
recognizing their right to the SOIL and with general
honest purpo of introducing knowledge well as
Christianity among them. Spain stopped on South
America, like falcon on its prey. Every thing was
gone. Territories were acquired by fire and sword.
Cities destroyed by fire and sword. Hundreds
of thousand, of human beings fell by fire and sword
| Even conversion to Christianity attempted by
fire and sword.
Behold, them fellow liens, the difference result
| ing from the operation of the two principles Here,
to-day on the summi OF Bunker Hill and at he foot
of the monument, behold the difference! would,
that the fifty thousand voices pre-, ent could proclaim
1t with shout which uld be heard over the globe.
Our inheritance was of liberty, secured and regulated
by law and enlightened by religion and know ledge;
that OF South America Of power, stern, unreent-
ing, 'yrannical, military power. And look TO the
results, on the general and aagrega,e happiness othe
gons conquered by Corez and Pizarro, and the
tras'ed results here. suppose tle territory of The
United States may amount 10 one eighth or one tenth
of that colonzcd by Spain This continent, and set
IN all hat vast region there are but between and
| two millions of European color and European blood
while in the United States there fourteen mill
who re- DICE In their desc from tbs people OF the
more northern part of Europe.
But we follow the difference, in the original prin
cipe of coonz aiioD and in It's character and Objects
still fur her We must look to moral and intes iual
| results we must consider consequ noes, not only
they show themselves ia The greater less muliipca
II IN OF men OF The supply of their physical wants.
but in their civillzatoD improvement and happiness
| We must inquire what progress has been made in he
true sce of liberty, and in the knowledge of the
great principles of seli-governmenl.
would not willingly say any thing on this occa-
sion discourteous 10 The governments, founded
on the demolition of the power of the Spanish
| archy. They yet on their tria and hope for
favorable result. But TRUTH sacred truth and fidelity
to the cause of civil liberty, compe to say that
| hitherto they have discovered quite too much of
the spirit of tha monarchy, tom which they
! separated themselves. Quite too frequent resort Is
made to military force and quite too much of the
substance OF the people consumed, In MAINTAINING
armies not for defence against foreign aggression
only but for enforcing obedience to domestic author
ity. Standing armies are the opp essive instruments
for governing the people in The bands Of hereditary
/ and arbitrary monarchs military republic, gov
eminent founded mock elections, and supported
only by the sword, is nent indeed but retro
II adc aud dis stTous mcvem en from the nonnrchlcal
/ systems. Ii men would enjoy the blessings of Re-
publican government, they must govern themselves by
| reason 10y mutual counsel and coEsull alton, bv
sense and feeling of general interest, and by the
uesc nee OF the minority in the will of he majority,
properly expressed and above all, the military
| be Kept according TO the language of bill of
rights in slrlct subordlnaton to the civil authority.
Wherever this lesson l. not both learned and yr ctis
ed there can be no political freedom. Absurd, pre-
posterous is ia scott and satire on fee forms Of
constr uonai Liberty, FIR constitutions and frames of
govern ent 10 be prescribed by military leaders and
the right OF suffrage TO be exercised at the point of the
sword,
! Making all allowance for situation and climate it
cannot be doubted by intelligent minds, that the diff
! ference existing between North and South Anne
RIGA justly attributable in great degree, to pot-
cal Institutions. And how broad that difference is
Suppose assembly, in of the valleys, or on the
de Of one Of the mountains of the southern half of
the hemisphere, TO be held, this day, in the neghbor
hood of large city what would be the pre-
sented Yonder is volcano flaming and smoking
but shedding light, moral or intellectual. At its
foot IS the mIne yielding perhaps, sometimes large
gains capital but in which labor is destined to eter
nal and unrequted toll, and ewsrded only by perjury
and beggary The city is filled with armed men not
free people, armed and coming forth voluntarily to
rejoice in public lestiity, bit hielng troops sup
ported by forced loans, excessive mpostiuhs com
merce, taxes wrung from a half fed, and a half
clothed population. For tie great there palaces
CnNtitu WIN ioi biS poOi tbeTe are NOVELS Oh
the mcanost sort. There is an ecclesiastical hierar
chy enjos ing the wealth Of princes but terc no
means of education TO the people. DO public inn
/ proyemeDts favor intercourse between place and
place. SO far from this. that the traveller cannot
pass from town to town, without danger, every mile,
OF robbery and assassination. would not ercharge
exaggerate this picture but its principal sketches
| all too true.
| And how does IT contrast with the actu-
ally before us' Look round upon these fields they
verdant and beautiful, well cultivated and this
moment loaded with tie riches Of the early harvest
The hands which till them are free owners of the
soil, enjoying equal rights, and protected by law from
oppression and tyranny Look to the thousand yes.
sells in our sight filling the harbor, or covering the
| neghborng They are the instruments of pro-
htabIe commerce, carried on by who know that