The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-10-23
BANE AND ANTIDoTE.


England goes abroad "in search Of monsters to
destroy" which MIR. Adams, in 1921, alleged the
United States did do and commended her ior not
doiog She seeks 10 become the dietatress oil The
world" which Mr.. Adams affirmed the uhied
States never had attempted TO become, and which he
lauded them for not attempting. But that We have
the benefit Of all MIR. Adams's cisdom on this sub
jecl, we will introduce an extract curative extract,
from his Grafton on the 4th of July 1921, at the city
OF Washington
"And nov, friends and countymen, If the
wise and learned philosophers OF the elder
world, the fist observers of mutation and aber-
ration, the DISCOVERIES Of uaddneinK ether and
Invisible planets, the inventors of Congreve
rockets and Shnspne shells should find their hearts
disposed 10 inquire, what has America done Tor The
benef, Of mankind Lei our answer be this; Anne
rics with the voice that spoke her elf into en-
isteuce a patton, proclaimed to mankind the mex
,nguishabie rights Of human nature and the on'y
Ia fui foundations Of Government America IN the
assembly oi nations since her admission among them,
has invariably, though often rui,lessy, held forth to
them the hand Of honest friendship, Of equal Tree
dom, OF generous reciprocity. She has uniformly
spoken among them, though often TO needless, and
often 10 disdanfu ears, the language oil tqua' bet-
ty, Of equal justice, and Of equal rights. She has,
IN the l. pse Of nearly half century, without SIN
gle exception respected the Independence Of other
nations VIII lie asserting and main aiming her own
She has abs tanned from interference IN the concerns
Of Others when the conflict has been for prin-
ciples TO which she clings, as the last vital drop
that visits the heart. She has seen that, proba-
bly, for centuries TO come, all the contests OF that
Aceldama, the European world, will be contests
OF in,eterate power, and emerging right. Wherever
The standard Of freedom and independence has been
shall be uniured there will her heart her benedc-
tons, aud her prayers be. But she goes not abroad
-. - ~ h.. 20 th. mall
wisher to the freedom and independence OF all. She
is the champion and vindicator only Of her own
She will recommend the general cause by The coun-
ienaBce OF her voice and the benigDant influence Of
her example. She well knows that by once ensling
under other banners than her own, were they even
the banners Of foreign Independence, she would IN
volve herself hey ond the power Of extricaton, in all
The wars oil interest and intrigue, OF individual ava
rice, envy, and AMBITION which assume the colors
and usurp the standard OF freedom. The iundamen-
tai maxims Of her policy would lnsensiby change
from liberty to force. he lrontlet upon her brow
would longer beam with the inetfable spendJr OF
freedom and independence, but in its stead would
soon be substituted imperial dadem flashing in
false and furnished lusre the muIky radiance OF do
mnon and power She m ght become the diCta-
tfess Of the world. She would be no longer the ru-
Ter Of her own spirit"
In what have the United Stalss materially changed
their foreign policy become less the asserters and
supporters Of general freedom since the date Of this
Grafton than before Have they abrogated the right
of trial by jury, freedom of religious worship free
dom of speech and the press, as guaranteed by the
Constitution Certainly not. These remain. Have
they changed the form Of government to a monar-
ehy Have they substituted hereditary Senate for
an elective, in imitation of the land of the Walsing-
hams and the Burleighs" The press is free, even to
RIGHTEOUSNESS. A man may profess whatsoever reli-
gion he peases. Every man in religion may be full
ly persuaded in his own nd and act accordingly,
keeping clear Of overt offences against laws made for
the preservation of society. Every congregation may
choose their pastor ruler, were il Maho-
medan. And every man may use what ability Ia
peech or writing he has, and what surplus money he
has, even if he has not surplus he may use it to
persuade his neghbor to embrace his own views in
religion as more scriptural, more RATIONAL more
comfortable to the Koran or the Bedah. SO in
politics. 1t is, generally, and should be al
ways, the conflict OF mind with mind in
our country, studying to difTuse the principles
which the individual deems most conducive to hi.
views Of morals, religion, and politics And may
not hope that the meioraton of the condition Of
men far it can be expected in this mortal state
will be matured by these means with divine blessing
and by patient and gradual process universal free
dom be at length evolved To destroy the guaran-
tees of the Constitution effect this, to destroy
the very means which are requisite to the end.
"Our institutions are based on the principle tina,
shall have IN discussion the privileges as
truth, holding men responsible for only such part OF
their conduct as constitutes crime against social
order; yet it would be absurd to suppose that as
people have Loaf sight of the fact, that the promu
cation of erroneous opinions may he far more inju
rous than some gross acts of wiz kedness. We urge
the requirements of true knowledge upon all to pre-
pare 10 meet error we adopt the principle that we
should fortify our own minds, and kindly lend our
aid 10 strengthen those of others"