The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-25
COM M UNIcATioNs s.
For the Union.
THE COURSE OF THINGS.

collectively, ordained by an ircvefsioie oecfce VI
Omnipotencef
Without attempting to decide question which,
a. 10 the FIRST the most acute reasoning has to this
dav left in doubt; we may say, as to the second,
that there is course Of things arising from the ope
ration Of true or false principles, which no human
power can arrest. search into the superiority
which some nations Of the earth, as well ancient as
modern, have had over others, may lead us to the
knowledge how this superiority was obtained, ana
Of the course Of things which such superiority must
induce.
& Liberty IL this cause; and there can be no other
Imean by this, the liberty Of the mind, IN the free
investigation of all matters in which man may con-
slider his eternal and temporal interests to be in
volved. That every human being possesses this
right inalienably need not be urged in the United
States, for il is possessed and practised throughout
our broad Union. It is founded in our very nature;
il is sanctioned by the revealed will Of God which,
declaring that all are answerable to the great ibu-
nal Of the last day for the use Of the talents with
which all are intrusted, has also enjoined upon
each the duty Of exercising and judging for him
self what the divine law may have prescribed.
1t is very striking to observe the superiority Of
the Greeks of the oden time, living under free and
republican governments, over the Asiatics, living
under absolute monarchics. The liberty they en-
joyed expanded the human mind TO such degree,
that their philosophy held possession of the schools
for more than fifteen centuries and scarcely 70 this
day has been entirely exploded. History and pset-
in architecture and sculpture, subsequent genera
tons Of all other nations have attained to their
perfection. The love of country was carried to
"a height which has served rs models of patriot
ism to nations for ages past while their transcend
ent bravery triumphed over the countless hosts Of
Persia, and settled colonies of their people the
coasts Of Asia. While and wherever civilized man
may exist on earth, the mind and examples of an
Gent Greece will command admiration and respect.
Chateaubriand, when treading the repositories Of
her dead, could not forbear enchanting, rank mon
archist as he was, sit was not without emotion
tramplcd on their noble dustn
Rome, a republic, presents another striking in
stance of superiority over cotemporaneousy exist
ing monarchies. The Roman, though inferior to
the Grecian mind, still expanded into wondrous at
tainments in liberty, arts, science, law; and so
rooted her institutions in countries enslaved by her
arms, that when the empire fell under the bar
barians Of the North, they remained the foun-
dafion on which society was reconstructed, and
again emerged into civilization, out of the darkness
ofthe middle ages. This great plunderer brought
the wealth Of all nations TO Rome; but, in bowling all
TO her sway, she gave her institutions, and
sured personal safety to all, and security for prop
erty except against her rapacions proconsus. Great
Britain is the Rome of our day.
So also among the free cities of the middle ages.
Their superiority In all that raises in the scale
of human existence over the monarchical govern
4 ments Of Europe, was strikingly displayed. But
spiritual despotism was there; and insulated as were
those cities, and torn to pieces by the feuds Of the
great families, like brilliant meeors, they disappear
ed from the admiring gaze of the philosopher and
the statesman.
But Great Britain is the object of deep consdera-
ton. Her institutions impressed, at an early period
with the spirit Of liberty still were not well
cured nor extensive those of Spain, until those
Of Spain were lost in the insurrecton of Padla.
Nor was the security Of the person of the English
man, at contemporary periods, equal to what il was
under the Mord-dom Of the Frank, the justiza of
the Spaniard. The celebrated ordonnance Of the
States Of France Of 1857 was in advance of English
legislation. Hallam in his chapter on the constitu-
tional history Of England" abors hard to Impress the
reader with the opinion that the Ango-Saxonr race
always more deeply imbued with the spirit Of
liberty, and more tenacious Of their rights, than the
other nations Of Europe. But what liberty could
there have been in England, when the great char
ter confirmed repeatedly The fact proves that
it was continually infrnged Or what could it
have BEEN while the Star-chamber exised'--or the
rights Of wardship and purveyance existed'--or
the king levied sllip-money by his own authority,
and the courts Of law confirmed in Nor, in fact,
was the subject fully secured in his person until
tllo Aabsas corpus passed. in the 18th year OF
the reign of Charles ii. 1t is invidious to attempt
to elevate one nation SO high over all others for 1t
would argue her right 10 sovereignty over all to
which her institutions are superior But is Of the
last importance TO ascertain the Of the loss OF
liberty by some of the nations of Europe, and the
Power may be acquired by the sword; but when
il has become intolernble the oppressed, il may
be lost also by the sword. But power over the
mind, when II extends to the eternal interests Of
man-supported by well.devsed system, upheld
by the Bate---s susceptible OF an extent and dura-
ton which no kingdom that has existed has ever
vet reached. The 7popes supply the example.
Rome, which had long bowed all nations by her
temporal power, was, in the course of time, to en-
slave them by her spiritual power; nor was Pagan
II t-.[ IL 3.
wealth, and in crimes that debased humanity for
centuries. The whole world groaned under spirit
ual bondage, which, destroying in man the liberty
of conscience, destroyed also his rights citizen
of the general commonwealth Liberty, in what
ever degree it had existed, fell before this sprituu
power, aided by the sword Of the state, which j,
had the art TO bring to its assistance. "The hun.
dred grievances" of the princes Of Germany, while
they declared 10 all the results of the spiritual tyrnn-
ny Of Rome, announced, also, that the time for re.
sising it was come. The press had been invented
and Luther had appeared.
This reformer, Uhe equal Of whom the world
scarcely ever produced,) by striking his blows al
spiritual tyranny, prepared man for better discern
ment of his civil rights, and endowed him with the
frmness necessary 10 secure them. An immense
excitement WINS created throughout Europe. A
brighter light had risen upon the horizon. Mind
was set free from its bondage Of ages. The press
diffused knowledge everywhere. Rome trembed to
her foundations. To show how il was, that, while
much wasat last secured in Germany by the peace Of
Westphalia, very little obtained in France, and
everything lost in Italy and SPAIN would transcend
the limits to which confined The subject
leads US towards England, where the struggle event
ualy resulted us happily for mankind as gloriousy
for herself
Wicklife, in England, had preceded Luther in
brave efforts against spiritual tyranny; so had
Waldus in France; but the human mind. was moi
then sufficiently advanced, nor were there means O
spreading knowledge extensively Still, the SEED
aown was not lost altogether; it had borne som,
fruit and the field was ready to receive more labor
ers England cut loose from the Pope, and cstab
lished her own church. But to her own church
too scrvile imitation Of Rome, England owes Lit
lie for emancipation from spiritual tyranny, an,
nothing for the security of civil liberty. But from
her own bosom sprung forth the Purtans. Taking
the Bible as their rule, this sect utterly dissats
fed with the church established by law, which
in its forms and ceremonies, and especially in ii
episcopal power, they viewed closely rescm
bling Romanisn,, and at variance with the beauti
=