Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-06-30


was long the governing passion tn Spanish wars and
Spanish settlements in America.
Even Columbus himself did not wholly escape the
influence of this base motive. In his early voyages
we find him passing from island inquiringevery where
for gold as if God had opened the new world to the
knowledge of the old, only to crafty passion equal.
y senselcss and sordid and to offer up millions of
an unoifendlng race of men to the destruction OF the
sword, sfarpened both by cruelty and rapacity. And
yet Columbus was far above his age and country
Enthusiastic, indeed, but SOBER religious and magma
nmous; born to great things, and capable of high
sentiments, as his noble discourses before Ferdinand
and Isabella, as well as the whole history of his life
shows. Probably he sacrificed much to the known
sentiments of others, and addressed to his followers
motives likely to influence them. At the same time
it is evident that he himself looked upon the world
which he discovered world Of wealth, all ready to
be seized and enjoyed
The conquerors and the European settlers Of Span
ish America were mainly military commanders and
common soldiers. The monarchy of Spain was not
transferred 10 this hemisphere but it acted it, as it
acted at home, through its ordinary means and its
true representative, military force. The robbery and
destruction OF the native race the achievement OF
standing almies in the right Of the king and by his
authority; fighting in his name, for the aggrandze-
ment of his power, and the extension of his peroga-
tives; with military ideas, under arbitrary maxms a
portion of that dreadful in>trumentality by which a
perfect despotsm governs people. AS there was no
liberty in Spain, how could liberty be transmitted to
the Spanish colones7
The colonists of English America were of the peo.
middle industrious, and already prosperous class the
inhabitants of commercial and manufacturing cities,
among whom liberty first revived aud respired, after
sleep of thousand years in the bosom Of the dark
ages.
Spain descended on the new world in the armed and
terrible image of her monarchy and her soldery =
England approached it in the winning and popular
garb Of personal rights, public protection and civil
freedom. England transplanted liberty to America
Spain transpanted power. England, through the
agency of private companies and the efforts of ndi.
vdua Is, colonzed this part of North America, by in
dustrious individuals, making their way in the
wilderness, defending themselves against the savages
recognizing their right TO the SOIL and with general
honest purpose of introducing knowledge as well as
Christianity among Them Spain STOPPED on South
America like falcon on its prey. Every thing was
gonee Territories were acquired, by fire and sword
Cities were destroyed by fire and sword. Hundreds
of thousands of human beings fell by fire and sword
Even conversion to Christianity was ATTEMPTED by
fire and sword.
Behold, them w.citizens, the difference result.
ing from the operation Of the two principles Here
to- day. on the summit of Bunker Hill and al the foot
, of the monument, behold the difference l would
that the fifty thousand voices present could proclaim
it, with shout which should be heard over the globe
Our inheritance was of liberty secured and regulated
by law, and enlightened by religion and knowledge
that OF south America was of power, stern, unreent
ing yrannical, military power And look to the re.
suits on the general and aggregate happiness of the
human race. And behold the results, in all the re.
eions conquered by Corez and Pizarro, and the con-
United States may amount 10 one-eight or one tenth
of that colonzed by Spain this continent and YET
IN all that vast region there are but between one OF
two millions of European color and European blood
while in the United States there are fourteen mil
lions who rejoice in their descent from the people Of
the more northern part Of Europe.
But we follow the difference in the original princi.
pie OF colonization, and in its character and objects
still further We must look to moral and intellectual
results; must consider consequences not only as
they show themselves in the greater or less mupli.
,pp ,,,nf,,, th,. IL.
but IN Their CIVILIZATION, improvement, and happiness
We must enquire what progress has been made in the
true science of liberty, and in the knowledge of the
great principles of self government
would not willingly say anything on this occasion
dscoureous TO the new governments founded on the
demolition Of the power of the Spanish monarchy
They are yet on their trial and hope for favorable
result. But truth, sacred truth, and a fidelity to the
cause ofciy liberty. compes me to say that hitherto
they have discovered quite too much OF the spirit OF
that monarchy from which they separated them
selves. Quite too frequent resort is make to military
force; and quite too much of the substance of the
people consumed IN maintaining armies, not for de-
fence against foreign aggression only but for enforc
, ing obedience to domestic authority. Standing ar.
mics are the oppressive instruments for governing the
people in the hands Of hereditary and arbitrary mon.
archs. A military republic, government founded
on mock elections, and supported only by the sword
; Is movement indeed, but retregrade and disas
| .rous movement from the monarchia systems.
II men would enjoy the blessings of republican
government, they must govern themselves by reason
by mutual counsel and consultation by sense and
feeling OF general interest and by the acquiescence OF
the minority in the will of the majority properly ex-
pressed and above all, the military must be kept ac.
cordng to the language of our bill of rights in strict
} subordinaon to the civil authority. Wherever this
lesson is not both learned and praclsed there can be
, no po'llcal&reedom. Absurd, preposerous is it-a
scott and satire on free forms of constitutional ber
y for constitutions and frames of government to be
prescribed by military leaders, and the rph of suf
, irage to be exercised at the point of the sword.
Making all allowance for situation and climate il
cannot be doubted by intelligent minds that the diff.
ference now existing between North and South Amer
ca Is justly attributable in great degree to poltca
J institutions And how broad that difference is J.
Suppose an assembly IN of the Valleys or on the
side of one of the mountains of the southern half o.
the hemisphere, to be held, this day. in the neighbor
: hood Of large tyi-what would he the scene pre-
scented? fonder Is volcano, flaming and smoking
but shedding no light moral or Intellectual At lis
foot is the NINE, yielding, perhaps, sometimes large
gains to capital, but in which labor is destined to eer
nal and unrequited toll and rewarded only by penury
and besgary The city is filled with armed men i
5 to rejoice IN public festivy but hreling troops
; supported by forced loans, excessive imposons or
G commerce or taxes wrung from half-fed and half
clothed population. For the great there are palaces
covered with gold for the poor there are novels o
the meanest sort. There is an ecclesiastical hierarch,
enjoying the wealth OF princess; but there are no
means of education TO the people. Do public i'm
provements favor intercourse between place anc
placed So far from this, that the traveller canno
pass from town to town without danger, every mile
OF robbery and assassination. l would not over
charge or exaggerate this picture; but its prncpa
e sketches are all too true.
And how does it contrast with the scene now nc
tually before US? Look around upon these fields =
they are vedant and beautiful well cultivated and
this moment loaded with the riches of the early har
, vest The hands which ill them are free owners 0
the soil, enjoying equal rights and protected by law
from oppression and tyranny. Look to the thonsanc
vessels in sight, filing the habor or covering thu
neighboring They the instruments of a prof
:, table commerce, carried on by men who know tina
the profits of their hardy enterprise when they max,
them, are their own; and this commerce is encour
aged and regulated by wise laws and defended when
need be- by the vaor and patriotism of the country
Look TO that fair city, the abode of SO much diset
veal ill., so much general happiness and comfort; Sc
much personal independence, and so much genera
G knowledge. She fears no forced contributions M
siege or sacking from military leaders or rival fac
: tons. The hundred temples in which her citizens
Y worship God, are in no danger of sacrIepe Tn,
regular administration of the laws encounters no 90
S stacc. The long professions Of children and youth
which you this day issuing by thousands from tn
free schools prove the and anxiety with which
popular government provides for the education ant
morals Of the people. Every where there is order !
every Where there security ,haxo H. L. a,