Democratic banner., 1845-07-12

hand OF rankin TO snatch lie mum
der from the aTmorv o; heaven. 1t
was experiment that gave this hemis.
phere 10 the world. 1t was EXPER-
lMENT that gave this continent
FREEDOM.
Let us not be afraid. then, to try
experiments, merely because they
ale new, ncr lavish upon aged error
the %veneratIon due only to TRUTH
Let Us not be al, aid to follow reason,
however far she may GIverge from
the beaten pa'h Of opinion. All NE
inventions which embellish life, all
the discoveries which enlarge the
field Of human happiness, are but va
rious results of the bold experimental
exercise Of that distinguished attn
butte Of man. Ii was the exercise OF
reason that taught our sires those
simple elements of freedom on which
they founded their stnpendous struc-
turc of empire. The result is now
before mankind. not in the embryo
loIm OF doubtful experiment; not as
the mere theory of visionary states
men or the mad project Of hot Drained
rebels: 1t is before them in the beau
tiiul maturity of established fact, at
tested 10y sixtv-tWo years OF national
experience. and witnessed through
ont It's progress by an admirlng world!
Where does the sun, IN all his CON-
pass. shed his beams on a country,
%freer, better, happier than thIs!-
Where does he behold more d!tlused
prosperity, more active industry.
more social harmony, o abiding
faith, hope and charity? Where are
the foundations Of private right more
stable. or the limits of public order
more inviolatelv observed? Where
does labor 90 TO his toll with an alert
er step. or an erecter brow, eIiulgent
with the heart reflected light OF con
sclous independence? Where does
agriculture drive his team aield with
a more cteery spirit. IN the certain
assurance that the harvest Is his own?
Where does commerce launch more
boldly her bark upon the deep. aware
that she has to strive hut with the
tyranny oil the elements, and not
with the more appalling tyranny OF
mani
True 1t is. that a passing cloud has
occasionally fecked the serene bright
ness If our horison. and cast 4 mo
meutarv shadow on the earth; and
there are a sort of boiling political
sooILs1vers. who, with malignant a.
~Iacritv of evil augury. magnify each
transient speck INTO II fearful harbin-
ger of dsSolaung tempest. But an
empue rock founded as our own; on
the admautine basis Of truth and unI-
versal equality Knocks the vain pIedIc-
lions. and All ASPIRATIONS. OF those
who either fear or wish ITS faii.-
What though the eager passions of
men have sometimes broken through
the restraints of order. and heady
'umuIt, with a preciPitate hand. has
seized the sword and scales OF JUS
tee? Did not the voice of reason
instantly hush the ]clamorous shout
of riot. and hasty anger abashed at
his own Incorporate act, restore the
ravished emhlems. and bow with
Difference before the recovered dig
nifty of the laws?
But how pitiiul-how worse than
piliful. the wretched aim Of those,
who gIoat over these rare and tran
scient cbuIilions of tumultuous age.
as supplying an argument against the
adequacy and benign effects OF dem
ocratic government! Have these
revilers Of the principles of liberty
read the lessons taught by the hlsto-
nv Of the past; or have they cons'd-
cred the l~orceful aimonitioHs with
winch the present state Of the other
tempires Of the world is fraught? II
the mid spirit Of equal laws. which
derive their sanction Immediately
from these whom they affect. cannot
wholly subdue the stormy passions
of man, will they explain what better
form Of political institutions has &C
complished that result.
Methinks they turn. aud with
ready gesture point TO that monarchy
from which this young republic
sprung. ] cast tHy eyes towards her
with no unflial glance. reverence
the mother of my county, and the
great exemplar OF the world in arts.
in arms, in science, literature and
song. | reverence her for the prIn-
ciples Of civil liberty which she has
scattered, "Iike flower seeds by the
fair winds sown," over the whole
surface of the globe. | reverence