Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-05-30

nations over WHlCH IL eAtcHuS itS ptotCS-
sion, is our constitution. 1t does not
make different States one people. except
SO far as the interests ale one. 1t gives
peace; it gives reciprocal free trade: and
where are the States whose interests are
not one in those respects? Nor are we
among those who think dangers to our
constitution and Union will spring out
of an extension of territory aud multi
pIication of States. Would man, If he
could. pull down the canopy OF heaven
which secures him life and all its enjoy
ments? AS little would he desire to
cast of the dominion of those principles
which our constitution embodies, when
he has once realized the blessings they
shower upon his race. Fanatics will &C.
casionalIy arise, who would, as 1t were'
in their bigotry and fury, tear the sun
f, ON the armament because he shines
on the pagan and the infdcl ION the mas
ter and his slave; but those tempests,
partial and local in their character, will
ever be unavaiing to shake the noble
structure in which the best interests OF
our race find shelter, and their best
hopes encouragement.
To the angel of our ublic we there
fore say, onward! onaCard! Plant our
standard and extend our constitution
wherever our language. laws, and Gus
toms extend on the North American
continent. From the Atlantic to the
Pacifc-from the isthmus OF Darlen to
the frozen sea of the north-as the Eng
Iish race, with their intermixtures, pre-
vaiI,-let the ar-spangled banner wave
not as the beacon of the desolatlng war,
but as the sign of peace on earth, and
good will to men, To compare our
peaceful acquisitions of territory to the
conquest of ancient warriors is unjust.
They left behind them ruined cities; des-
plated fields, and depopuIated countries.
In our conquerins footsteps, cities spring
up as if by magic, cultivated fields ex-
tend around US almost as rapidly as the
shadows of the clouds pass over them,
and innumerable swarms of people, full
of life and hope, penetrate the forest and
overspread the prairies, whose weapons
OF war are the axe and the plough. Nor
shall the ruins Of any Babylon ar Palmy
ra, Palenque or Uxmal, smoke and
bleach in the track of murderous war
within the compass Of our domnions,
however extended, until our constitution
has been perverted from its original pur-
purposes, and the best hopes of mankind
sacrificed to the designs of avarice or am
bition. which make deluded man their
instruments and their victims.
But there is a subject which with eve
~ true democrat, ought to be considered
far more important than the extension of
our territory. 1t is the preservation Of
HE constitution itself and the predomi-
nance of democratic principles an the ad-
ministration Of our government. What
avails an increase of territory, if we can
not govern what we have on principles
which we consider essential to the pres
ervation of liberty and the advancement
of man? 1t while reaching after other
territories, we are stripped of all that
is precious in our government at home
all that would make your annexation
a blessing to them or to ourselves, we
shall lose the substance while grasping
at the shadow? 1t is not under the do
minion of a national bark that we wish
to bring the people of Texas. There is
no philanthropy in the movement which
would make them virtually the subjects
Of an empire, the products of whose sun.
ny fields are to be forever taxed to sun
port an aristocracy in the north, whether
moneyed or titled. IT, through latitudi-
nous construction or direct usurpation,
our States are to become, virtually, a
consolidated empire. within which a
congress or monarch is to regulate all
their local concerns, we do not desire
any other portion of the human family to
share with US in such a calamity. Rath-
err, if such principles are to prevail in
the administration, would we see Texas
remain separate and independent, that
there may be an asylum for US or our
children to fly to, when usurpation and
oppression have extinguished all hope in
Nhe land of the free and the home of the
brave
If the time shall ever come, when the
corruptons of national bank shall de-
prave whole country, as thoroughly as
they have done great city, once cele
brated for its order and morality-when
riot with its fire brand. shall rave through
the land, and murder strike down its
victims with IMMUNITY in open day
when libraries of sacred knowledge shall
velywhere become bonfire for bigot
mobs- when, from the bIackened and
crumbing walls of burnt churches,
THE LORD SEETH' shall be the on
ly voice of consolation to houseless and
starving thousands who came to our
shores to find protection for life, liberty,
property, and religious worship;-when
that disastrous day shall come-if come
it must-we devoutly pray that there
may be one spot left on this earth and
this continent, even if it be the region of
the 'loae STAR where hope may again
kindIe her fires, and liberty erect her