Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-21

elcss Of HE c and upon most deeply inter-
esng to his character and eelass he makes ssrapaloes
observance Of tho ancient and fundamental lss Of the
isad tho touehstone Of civic duty end political trust
We have already In memorable occurrence of his
life. reverence he professsd foe Magma Cara
the lac Of the lend and tho obligatory rule Of his conduct
Nowhsrs in the records Of eoqasnee philosophy to
be found n,eler conception noby expressed. Of the
majesty and usnsesndsat fsncons Of Law. he risha
mistress of human conduct than in the great speech Of
Pym. ciosns tho impeachment Of the Earl Of Stafford.
f you take away the law" hs says, "s things will
HIMSELF which, in the depved condition Of human nature.
must needs produce many great cnomiues Lust will be-
come law. and envy viii become law. consciousness
and ambition will become lave and what dictses and de-
sision. such laws will produce, may easily be discovered
in the late government cf Ireland"
lie proceeds then to speak Of Law "he boundary and
easarc between prerogave the side and liberty
On tbs other and pon out the equal danger in departing
on either hand from it, hst psrogavs will be turned into
tyranny liberty grow into anarchy" Hut the whole
speech s worthy be studied rich repository pro-
found reflections and masims applied tho practical adj
mn,strstion Of Affairs. y
IL was from this school Of political wisdom that the great
men, who laid the foundations Of fabric Of Tree
government drew their instruction in the principles Of o
erty. This the pure and copious fountain which
they all drank IL impossible read any Of those noble
State pspers, put forth In defence Of American rights the
era OF our glorious contest for which
by their dignity hruness and WISDOM Lord Chsihsm de-
elared placed the young people d" America and their egs
ative bodies level with the Of the world
without perccivng how deeply they were imbaed with
the spirit and principles which animated lismpden and his
colleagues in their great srugge fur British freedom.
But there other considera which equally recon-
mend the history Of tina, ever memorable period to
ui meditation aud study. The age Of Hampdcn the
age OF private. well rs public virtue. We told by
writer distinguished for his searching philosophical
vcstgstons OF the past, that il age
Tor steady and scrupulous conscientousness in private
life than any perhaps, that has before has follow
eds Under tho control Of this high Of national
rails. the which the middle numerous classes
OF society octed, in the busy and troubled drama the
times the result Of sober and honest convcton-not
the suggestion OF needless impulse Of passon or Of per-
sona interest.
The age Of Hsmpden, too. age Of extraordinary
development and Of the spread OF know
ledge Never before had the national literature shone forth
with such sudden and amszing spendor. Bacon Raleigh
Milton lighted it up with the blaze OF their immoril
genius. The English language ITSELF employed
instrument grand Parliamentary debates and appeals
the nation the mighest questions which agtae the
minds OF men, became instinct with the spirit OF lib
erty and throwing of the pedsny and agon OF the schools
before discovered The general improvement OF the
popular mind kept with the advance Of literature and
science and the body Of the Commons OF England
trained 10 the comprehension and enlightened deci
sion OF the momcntous Issues then for the first time sub
United to their arbramen,. The wise and patriots of
that day knew and felt the vital connection between popu
lar liberty and popular Intelligence and the hazards which
must ever attend their unnatural separation.
Let us not DO unmindfu Ut their instructions. Let
US be profoundly thankful, that by the vrtuous struggles
Of our glorious ancestos in the peaceabe
joyment Of the blessings Of free government without hav
ing seek ihem they did, thro' the bloody Of
civil strife War; whether foreign domestic OF for what
cause undertaken Is the ssddest ordeal hro which
human pass and but rarely repsys its results
(however successfully tho havoc, essniues and crimes
which mark its dresry footsteps gracious Providence
has before happier and nober destiny. "Pease
hath her victories less renowned than war; To these
lofty and enduring umphs let address ourselves uea
surn2 in hearts the lesson mpressvey taught by the
inspired genius whose words have just cited, himself
Republican, who had uaversed the OF the mighty
conflict for British freedom and who had learned by fear
full experience, TO distinguish liberty from iO!se. In
the degeneacy Of that great conflict when the principles
which Hampden had impressed upon lost sight Of