Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-07-06

merica to Europe.
Her obligation Europe for science
and art, laws, literature and manners.
America acknowledges as she'ousht, with
respect and gratitude. And the people
of the United States, descendants Of the
English stock. grateful for the treasures
of knowledge derived from their En-
glish ancestors, acknowledge also, with
thanks and filial regard, that among
those ancestors, under the culture Of
Hampden and Sidney, and other assidu-
Gus friends. that seed of popular liberty
first terminated, which on our soil has
shot up to its full height, until its branch
es overshadow all the land.
But America has not failed to make
returns. Ii she has not cancelled the
obligation, or equalled t;by others of
like weight, she mas, at least, made res
pectable advances, and some approaches
toward equality. And she admits, that
standing in the midst of civilized ma
tions-there is high part which she is
expected to act, for the general advance
of human interests and human welfare.
American mines have filled the minis
Iof Europe with the precious metals. The
productions of the American soil and
climate have poured out their abundance
of luxuries for the tables OF the rich.
and of neces saries for the sustenance Of
the poor. Birds and animals of beauty
and value have been added to the Euro
pean stocks; and transplantations from
the transcendant and unequalled riches
of our forests have mingled themselves
profusely with the elms, aad ashes, and
druidal oaks of England.
America has made contributions far
more vast. Who CAN estimate the
amount OF the value of the augmentation
of the commerce of the world, that has
resulted from America Who can
imagine to himself what would be the
shock to the Eastern Continent, il the
Atlantic were no longer traversable. or
there were no longer American produc-
tions or American markets
But America exercises influences, or
holds out examples for the consideration
of the Old GRID, of much higher.
because they are of a moral and political
character.
America has furnished to Europe proof
,of the fact that popular institutions.
founded on equality and the principle OF
representation, are capable of maintain,
ing governinents-abie to secure the
rights of person,property, and reputation.
America has p, owed that it is practical
Bile to elevate the mass OF mankind
that portion which is called in Europe
the laboring Or lower classic raise
them to selfrespect, to make them CON-
petent to act part in the great right
and great duty Of self-government; and
this she has proved may be done by edu-
cation and the diffusion of knowledge.
She holds out an example, thousand
times more enchanting than ever was
presented before, to those nine-tenths of
the human race who are born without
hereditary fortune Or hereditary rank.
America has furnished to the world
the character of Washington! and, if
our American Institutions had done no.
thing else, that alone would have entitled
them to the respect of mankind.
Washington! FiIs! in war, first in
peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen!" Washington is all our
own! The enthusiastic veneratiun and
regard in which the people of the United
States hold him prove them to be worthy
of such countryman 4; while his repu
tation abroad reflects the highest honor
on his country and its institutions. |
would cheerfulIy put the question to-day
to the intelligence OF Europe and the
world. what character Of the century.
upon the whole, stands out in the relief
of history, most pure, most respectable;
most sublime; and | doubt not that, by
suffrage approaching to unanimity, the
answer would be Washington!
This structure, by its uprightness, its
solidity, its durability, is no unfit en-
bIem of his character. His public viz
tues and private principles were as firm
as the earth on which it stands; his per-
sonaI motives as pure as the serene
heaven IN which its summit is lost. But,
indeed, though fiji, it is an inadequate
emblem. Towering high above the col
umn which our hands have builded. be-
held, lot by the inhabitants of single
city or single state, ascends the coos.
sal grandeur of his character and his
life. In all the constituents of the one.
in. all the acts of the other--in all it's
titles to immortal love, admiration, and
renown-it is an American production.
1t is the embodiment and vindication Of
our transatlantic liberty. Born upon
our soil-of parents also born upon it
never for moment having had a sight OF
the old world-instructed, according to
the modes Of his time, only in the spare,
plain, but wholesome elementary know
ledge which our institutions provide for
the children of the peoples growing up
beneath and penetrated by the genuine
influences of American society-growing
up amid our expanding but not luxurious
civilization partaking in our great des-
tiny of labor, our long contest with un-
reclaimed nature and unciviliZed man
our agony of glory, the war of indepen-