American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-12-17
From the Philadelphia Inquirer
OUR COUNTRY AND OUR DUTY.


OUR COUNTRY AND OUR DUTY.
THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE.
IN Eloquent Extract,
"The importance the United States in European
estimation and inquiry, has grown beyond measure"
Robert Walsh
A thringly eloquent article on the prospec-
tive glory of the United States, appeared in a
recent number of the n. Orleans Commercial
Times. We copy it below. Tho American
must be dull, cold and inscnsible, who will be
able to read it without thrill of pride and
pleasure. The progress of this country is the
modern wonder among nations Our march
in population, in resources, and in all the great
elements of national wealth, has been beyond
the widest dreams of the most sanguine foun
ders of the Republic. This, too, while in our
infancy, our mere childhood, as compared with
the other nations of the earth. While, how
ever, giving utte.ance TO language of this kind
while exulting at our progress and our pros
poets, let us not forget our duties-our duties
as men, as Republicans, as Americans, and as
Christians Let us aim not only at national
greatness, but at national virtue. Let us make
our Republic model in all that is commenda-
BILE, civilized, enlightened and moral, as we'll
as in the resources of agriculture, commerce,
mechanics and manufactures. Many believe,
and Justly, that the example of the U. States
is potent for good or for evil throughout the
European world; that as we rise in the scale of
humanity, as we progress in right, in ustice,
in the true elements of national greatness-so
will our conduct be held up as worthy of emu
latlon, SO will the principles of liberty acquire
strength and ascendency, and SO will the toll
ing millions in other climes aspire to and strug-
gle for condition Of things similar to OURS
With this view, our responsibilities will at
once be seen and appreciated. We live not
for ourselves alone and for the present, but for
all mankind and for the future. Let US become
vicious, profigate and corrupt, and the Repub-
lie will soon totter and fall. Let US trample
upon Justice, violate law, mock at morals and
rdiculo religion, and a crisis will speedily ar
rive in our history, calculated to overwhelm
us in ruin, and to render US jest, warning,
and a by-word TO the nations. We have glo-
rous country-we have noble institutions, we
are emnently blessed and favored by ProVid-
ence But while rejoicing in these, let us not
become vaa-glorous aud selEsufficient,- let
us not forget the overriding power Of Provi-
dence-let us at one and the same time, mani
fest ust appreciation of our privileges, and a
grateful sense of acknowledged to the Eter-
nal Source. This can best be done by fidelity
to truth and to virtue, by conscientious dis
charge of duty, by disposition to assist suffer-
ing humanity at every fitting opportunity, by
determination on the part OF the humbIest as
well as the highest of the communlty,so TO live
and to act, as to render the name Ut an Anne
rican, passport among the good and the wise
throughout every region of the earth We re-
peat, the true glory Of a nation, the lasting,
the deathless glory, consists as much III the
lofty toue gifts integrity, the exalted character
of its morals, the tenacious adherence OF Its
people to right and TO Justice, as in the iorcc
of its physical power, the strength oil It's war
like armaments, or the vastness OF its internal
resources. So much by way of prelude to the
glowing paragraphs of our contemporary OF
the south.
"Tha prospective glory of the United State.
isa subject which overwhelms the Imagination
No citizen Of ancient or modern times ever hac
such country to contemplate as those Of the
United States. So vast, so fruitful, possessing
every climate, from the cold Of the North tc
the balmv airs Of the tropics; every plant, from
the great pine of the ArstooR, to the delicate
iesanine of the Rio del Norte. Within oul
boundaries are the foundations Of untold
wealth. our mountains are filled with the rich.
es Of every mine, our vaillies invite the hand
of cultivation, aud smile as none other, on the
labors ofthe husbandman. Inc troubled wave:
of the Atlantic and the stlller waters vi Tho
Pacific lave our coasts; our ships whiten tho
ocean, and the loved flag that waves over them
is the harbnger of liberty, and the protection
of the powerful and brave. In examining on
geogra phcal limits, we find within them, the
extent of ancient and modern empires sun lei
IN wilderness, yet by the enterprise oil our cl
tizens, The additions of new States almost real
ize the prophecy OF nation being born IN ;
day. The ultimate history OF our countr,
seems too vast for human conception. Th'
experiment of millions of men living under
republican government, and left to the fruitiol
ofthe unfettered body and free mind, joine'
together in advancing the interests OF human
tv. and accomplishing the highest perfection
our nature is capable Of who can conceive tn
result?
The United States have frontier line G
over 10 900 miles, a sea coast of nearly 400
miles, a lake coast of 1000 miles. One OF II
rivers is twice as long as the Danube, the larges
river in Europe The Ohio is 600 miles longe
than the Rhine, and the noble river OF the tiud
son has navigation in the "Empre Stale" on
hundred and t,Uenty miles longer than the lhame
Within Louisiana are bayous and creeks, tina
are almost unknown, that would shame by con-
parison the Tiber or Seine. The State OF WI
ginia alone is one-third larger than Englant
The State of Ohio contains 1000 square mile
more than Scotland. The harbor OF N for
receives the vessels that navigate rivers, cana
and lakes, to the extent Of 5000 miles, the OH
lance from America to Europe From the ca
pital of Maine to the "Crescent City" is ~
miles further than from London TO Constant
nople, a route that would cross England, lie