American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-27

| Ill SOlllG SdCIGu anu HlfCI%S hC1S
! TO pet order of government; but its numerous
Fancs, accessible to all, rich or poor are scat
tered in every section, and filled with the vo-
tares of truth and freedom. We may safely
challenge history for parallel instance, where
the advantages for entering the arena of life
have been more equally and universally pos
sessed, or where greater amount of intellect
is in constant and powerful action. Under the
simplicity of our political theory distinction
has ceased to be the prerogative of rank, and
the old maxim, that "mind is the standard of
man" has acquired Il somewhat practical mean
ing. The title deeds of American nobility are
conferred in heaven. Whatever pleasure there
is in presiding over a Republic, at once the
treest and mghtiest the sun has ever shone up
on: whatever greatness, i'll directing the move
mcnts OF people, who, iii point OF virtue, re-
sources, civilization, and prospective grandeur,
| look up to no superlors, and in moulding
| their minds by the strong influences of philoso-
ply, eloguence and letters, this is the birth
right of the humblest youth. And if alike,
under the unequal institutions OF modern Eu-
rope, and in the stormy republics of antiquity,
it has excited the ardor, and formed the life
work OF genius to prosecute the sciences, to be
the master-builders of their country's literature
and glory, and to stand foremost among her
sons, assuredly nothing can hinder the aspiring
intellect of this nation, destined to fill the bold
est page of the worlds history, from unfold
ing, in perennial freshness its spendoI and
beauty. Why may not greater statesmen than
Perces administer the affairs of this nation!--
And why may not the eloquence and erudtlon
Of Cicero be rivalled in our Republican Senatcs?
The records of heroic days are not more full of
examples of human excellence, exciting to EN-
ulaton, than the history of these States since
their Independence.
Hancock, Washington, Marshall, Hamilton,
and Jefferson, are in the unclouded sky Of I'M
mortality, and the reverence paid to their me-
mores proves the public estimation of true
greatness With, therefore, an open field of
honorable emulation, where every aspiration
has full play, and every well-drected effort
meets its Just reward, we might reasonably ca
pect the lottiest intellectual achievements; and
if such have not been wholly realized, it plainly
cannot be attributed to the directly pernicous
effects of our political system. Should the
simplicity OF our laws directly cease,-should
our plain President be decked with the gilded
trappings of king,-our Senate be invested
with hereditary privileges, some tarored reli-
glous sect be selected TO become the sleek reci-
| pents of immense revenues,-a standing army
collected to quel any, the least murmur or In
subordination: and, to finish the regalia, insup-
| portable taxes be imposed upon the people to
defray the expense of these engines OF tyranny,
doubtless our national character would feel the
change; but would closer reasoning, holder inn
agnation, or greater elasticity of sentiment
! pervade our literature? or should we be better
qualified for deep and continued research!
| Every apparent anomaly In the. character OF
our national mind admits most rational solu-
ton, and it is remarkable, that the neglect of
| literature, i'll this country, may be traced to
causes which will either be removed by time,
or, of a necessity, correct themselves. Nearly
the whole secular intellect of the nation has
been employed hitherto in laying firmly the
foundations of our political and moral institu-
tons; in building the compact and noble edi6ce
of our Constitutional liberty, which is as proud
monument of wisdom and comprehensyeness
of thought, as any sixty years OF European his
tory can present. 1t has required an immense
amount of mental power to put strongly toge-
ther the frame-wo rk of our vast and original
system of government and society,-to settle
upon solid basis the whole fabric, and to give
it, at the outset, that character which abroad
should command respect, and at home be the
best pledge of its future integrity and long con-
| tinuance.
! In politics and jurisprudence, American in
telect appears to great advantage. Although
law had been reduced to Il science before the
commencement of our national existence, and
the honor of the great result, as consequence,
attaches itself to European names, there are
and have been jursts among US who are not
surpassed, in strength of intellect and legal ac-
qurements, by any other OF their age. Mar
shall, Kent and Story might have dignifed the
! ~ IIoIl yrbaro tbnir Iani-
sions are every day quoted. As models of CO.
pous style, Of classical accomplishments and
| finished eloquence, we are proud of Writ and
Everett; while in respect of logical power, COM
bned with profound and comprehensive analy-
sis, Hamilton, Dexter and Webster commence
a list that is unexcelled; and in the field OF fl
nance and political eoquence, we boast the
names of Clay and Calhoun. The American
Senator cannot, perhaps, be singled out, who
! blends the character of philosopher, statesman,
orator, critic and scholar, in the unequalled
brilliancy of the Irish consultations and it may
be claimed, with some plauslbility, that, as a
statesman, Burke is unequalled. Still, in COM
parson of philosophical knowledge, OF history,
of human nature, and the organization of So
ciety; of keen foresight, springing from full
comprehension Of the complex and widely ex-
tending tendencies of legislation, of ability in
diplomacy, and of practical wisdom; of the elo-
quence of close, far-reaching and momentous
debate, we are willing to bring the van of our
public men into the test of leaders of the Brit
sh Parliament.
1t is obvious to the slightest reflection, that
the peculiar motives under our system of go
vernment to intellectual exertioD extend equal
y to all enterprises in which mind can engage,
and that if immortal works Of science stand not
out at frequent intervals, among us, like "pro
montories on the coasts of time," it argues nd
mbecility of effort, but concurrence of cir
cumstantial causes, necessary in the beginning
of an empire opening its unfading leaves, with
auspices like ours. In fact, we have had no
time to devote to the abstract studies, to phlo-
sophical reasonings, and elegant learning.
The physical aspect of our country has en-