The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-07-05
What is 10 become Of our
Country.
by JUDGE STORY.

When we reflect on what has been and
what is, how is it possible rot to feel
profound sense of the responsibilities of
this republic to all future ages! What
vast motives press upon us for lofty eff.
lorts-what brilliant prospects invite our
enthusiasm-what solemn warnings at
once demand our vigilence and moderate
our confidence,
The old world has already revealed 10
us in its unsealed books, the beginning
and end of all marvellous struggles in the
cause Of liberty. Greece. lovely Greece,
the land of scholars and the nurse of
arms-where sister republics in fair pro-
cession, chanted the praise of liberty
where is she? For two thousand years
the oppressors have bound her TO the
earth. Her arts are no more. The last
sad relics of her temple are but the bar
racks of ruthless soldiery; the fragments
Of her columns and palaces are in the
dust, yet beautiful in ruin. She felt not
when the mighty were upon her. Her
sons were united at ThermopyIe and Mar
alhon, and the tide of her triumph rolled
back upon the Hellespont She fell by
by the hand other own people. The man
Of Macedonia did not the work of des-
truction. 1t was already done by her
! own corruptIons, banshments and dissen-
| tons.
Rome! republican Rome! whose eagles
glanced in the rising sun-where and
what is she2 The eternal city vet re.
mains, proud even in her desolations, no.
BILE in decline, venerable in the majesty
OF religion. and calm as in the composure
of death. The malaria has traversed in
the paths won by the destroyers. More
than eighteen centuries have monrned
over the loss of the empire. A mortal
disease was upon her before Caesar had
crossed the Rubicon, and Brutus did not
restore her health by the deep probings
of the Senate chamber. The Go,hs and
Vandals, and the swarms of the north,
completed only what was begun at home.
Romans betrayed Rome. The legions
were bought and sold, but the people paid
the tribute money.
And where are the republics OF modern
times that clustered around modern Italy!
Venice and Genoa exist but in name.
The Alps, indeed, look down upon the
brave and peaceful Swiss in their native
Businesses; but the guaranty of their free
dom is their weakness and not their
strength. The mountains are not easily
. retained. When the invader comes, he
moves like the avalanche, carrying des-
truclion in his path. The peasantry sink
before him. The country, too, is too
poor for plumber, and too rough for val
liable conquesls. Nature presents her
eternal barrier on every side to check
the wantonness Of ambiton.-And Swit>
zerand remains, with her simple institu,
tons military road to climates scarcely
worth permanent possession, and pro-
tected by the jealousy of her neighoors.
We stand the latest, and if we fall, pro-
badly the last example of sel>govern-
ment by the people. We have begun it
under circumstances of the most auspi-
cious nature. We are in the vigor of
youth. Our growth has neve: been check
ed by the oppression of tyranny. Our
constitution never has been en(eebled by
the vices or luxuries of the world.
Such as we are, we have been from the
beginning, simple, hardy, intelligent, &C
eustomed to self.government, and self
respect. The Atlantic rolls between us
and formidable foe. Within our own
territory, stretching through many de-
grees of latitude, we have the choice Of
many products and many means of indie
pendence. The Government is mild.
IThe press is free. Knowledge reaches,