New-York daily tribune., 1844-11-02
. IN, element. of Empire in America"

&. The elements OF Empire In America"
Such IS the title Of an Address delivered last
summer By WIZ. q. SEWARD, before the Literary
Societies of Union and OF Amherst College, and
published By C. Shepard, lsl Broadway 1t has
cood thoughts, bu. gives palpabe evidence Of the
manner in which, we presume, such Addresses
must icenerally have been composed this season
By those deeply engrossed in the great Political
struggle. In fact, its ideas very often border on
commonplace, though its style is uniformly good
We hope 10 one will regard this Address as
fair exhibition Of the writer's powers. His State
Papers are uniformly better.
Iti common fault OF essays OF this class ihaf
thor are imbued with too accommodating spirit
-eyince an absurd resolution TO say nothing mat
snv BODY can take exception to-as II all the
world,s malsdies were TO be cured by sugar
,,ums In this case, il the writer had but set
down the thoughts that passed through his m'no'
inst as they came, he would have PRODUCED
more valuable though less polished Address
He speaks to our people too much as II they
could hear nothing but f4ttery. We think bet
ter of them. We too are opdms.s, as he is !;
but VIC believe the punishment Of our errors ana
vices is amoag the means through which lofty
destiny for our country IS to be attained. We
make room for an extract on the interesting
theme of the perpetuity of the Union:
every attempt to divine our political future en-
| counters the enquiry, whether the BONDS OF the
JsolN are reliable, for there Is no strength where
inity is no and strength is essential element OF
| u,ply dO mi br |
Ii.ye il would BE- Contrary 10 all experience 10 be-
| iiave that all we cherish would he lost If these
venerared bonds should break. Mutual interests
would probably induce RECOMMENDATION, or al least
such an harmonious alliance IN some other form as
would save the precious OF popular liberty
and repre sentative Democracy. But ,curty lies
NOT in that unknown way; nor does wisdom coun-
sci us 10 explore il with purposes ni mere curl
ositv. Lei The first who treals it have the plea
we'll as the hopes which must spring from cOmpul'
| sion.
"Tbe founders OF the Constitution had no strong
confidence in its stability. They reasoned only
from the demonstrabe perils OF separation. Be,
side these we have experience OF the ssety and
| benehcence OF the UNION.
The colonies were planted singly, not without
| rivalry and some Of them in hostility. Each chose
what was deemed fortunate site for capital, ard
marked what then thought distant and lasting
boundaries for commerce and for colonial authority.
Dreaming of no mutual alliance, they Jealous
! of mutual ercroachment. They scarcely cultiva-
ted raternal sympethies, but rendered hal allegi-
ance 70 FIVE different sovercigus whose protection
| was regarded as both Indispensable and perpetual.
The final reduction Of all but two Of the plantations
to British authority not 10 have suggested an
alliance between the British Colonies. The first
revelation OF that destiny occurred about 1850, in
Franklin's project OF Il confederation against the
French who then held the ST. Lawrence and the
Mississippi and confidently threatened subJIga-
fio nj thp Plantations.
of war; in Europe rather than here avered that dan
ger and the embryo alliance called into being
by the newly awakened and irrepressible passion
for sovereignty. lll-adap,ed TO the purposes oil
war, the Confederation proved totally inadequate
for the conduct OF government IN peace. The ALL
ance wanted chiefly the elements Of central auhor-
" and commercial communion. These were nc
quired in the more 'perect union established by
the Lew Constitution. But still the experiment
was new. The Constitution was not adopted until
after fearful conflict parties, whose contests con-
tinued conyulsing the country thirty years after
wards, and whose passions and pro cjudices, derived
through three generations, remain al0ng the active
polite Al forces in own period Habits OF au!ho
| .itv yet 10 be formed by the Government and
habits OF submission and reverence by the Staies
and BY the People. Commerce, inland and foreign,
which was to be the enduring motive power, was
Vet uncreated No wonder, then, that the States
men of That age distrused the perfection Of their
wonderful work, and instead OF relying confidently
for its duration on It's practical success, appealed 10
the ma gnanimity OF the People in its behalf with
soemniry and earnestness which betrayed deep and
aImos, inconsoable dependency. An effect of
these impassioned appeals is still apparent in the
very vague and yet pervadng apprehensions with
which ihe Union is contemplated by the People.
have hardly ever found an American who had un-
shaken faith in its preservation, though have never
met who did not regard it the Ark of Nation
al Safety.
"Yet the question OF the continuance Of the Union
Is TO be determined, not by popuaIbeiel butby the
tests OF time and demonslrabIe probability. The
Constitution has endured period not inconsdcra-
BILE, ten Jewish weeks Of years, u twenty seventh
part OF the Christian Chronology an eighty fourth
part Of the period of Mans residence on this Globe
the scene OF SO many crimes, and sorrows, and
hopes, necessary instructions for the novciate of
Immortality. No other form of Government tried
among men ever worked SO long, so well. None
! ever underwent SO little change 30 long period.
Every Continental State in Europe has within
seventy years undergone at least one complete or
partial revolution; and many have suffered several
organic changes. Even tho British Constitution
has exhibited more variation in regard not only to
the bonds of Union between th- Members Of the En-
pre-, but also TO the ustment OF its moral forces.
Since, then, the American Constitution alone is
permanent while every other submits to change,
why IS It's stability always dis.rustedl And yet ull
| other Governments are regarded as perpetual Be-
side the popular apprehensious which have been
mentioned, the interests OF men deeply involved
in iae result The excellence Of the Constitution
is generally conceded ard is universally felt. Those
| who uphold existing eristocracies and despotisns,
fear the Influences Of our Republic. Desponding
men dare not hope that Constitution so equal and
80 benefcenr, yet new, different from what the
world has ever before enjoyed, will endure.
"Certainly, evils originally feared have been
safely passed, and no new danger has been disclo-
sed"
CITY AIRS.