Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-01-17

justice 10 this scene. Indeed, IL is lull Oh
moral grandeur; nothing can be more
more pathetic or more sublime.
Behold the Pilgrims, as they stood on thai
cold December day-stern men, gentle
women, and feeble chidren-all uniting
in singing hymn Of cheerful thanks
giving to the Good God, who had conduc-
ted them safely across the mighty deep
and permitted them to land upon that
sterile shore. See how their upturned
faces glow with pious confidence which,
the sharp winter winds cannot chill, nor
the gloomy forest shadows darken-
"Not as the conqueror comes,
They, the true hearted came;
Not with the roll OF the stirring drum,
Nor the trumpet, that sings of fame,
Nor as the flying come,
In silence and in fear
They shook the depths o(the desert 6 loom
With their hymns Of lofty cheer"
Noble and pious band! your holy confd-
ence was not in vain; your "hymns of lot-
ty cheer" find echo still in the hearts
oil grateful millions. Your descendants,
when pressed by adversely, when address.
ing themselves to som noble action, turn
to the "landng Of the Pilgrims" and
find heart for any fate strength for any
enterprise.
How simple, yet how instructive, are
he annals Of this little settlement. In
the cabin Of the May-hower they settled
a general form Of government, upon the
principles of pure democracy. In 1856
they published declaration OF rights,
and established a body of laws. The first
fundamental article was in these words
-'That no act, imposition, law or ordin-
ante be made or imposed upon US, at pres
ent or to come, but such as has been or
shall be enacted by the consent of the
body Of lreemen or associates, or their
representatives legally assembled" &c
Here we find advanced the whole prin.
coIe Of the Reyolution-the whole doc
trine Of our republican institutions. Our
fathers, hundred years before the Revo
LUTON, tested successfully, as far as they
were concerned, the principle of sell. 90
vernment, and solved the problem, wheth
i er law and order can co-exlst with liberty
!, But let us not forget that they were wis
! and good men VINO made the noble expt
riment, and that it may yet fall INTO GU
hands, unless we initiate their patriotism
and virtue.
There are some who find fault with tn
character Of the Pilgrims-who love nc
the simplicity Of their manners, nor tn
auserity of their lives. They were mer
and of course imperfect; but the wor
may well be challenged TO point out, i
the whole course Of history, men oil pure
purpose or drawer action-men who hav
exercised a more bene fetal influence up
on the deslines Of the human race, 0
eft behind them more enduring memoir
ais of their existence.
At all events it is not for the sons G
: New England to search for the faults q
, their ancestors. We gaze with proloun
veneration upon their awful shades; W
feel anoble pride in the country they colo
nized--in the Institutions they founded
j. in the example they bequeathed. W
+. exult in our birth place and in our lineage
. Who would not rather be of the pI
: grim stock than claim descent from tn
r proudest Norman that ever planted HI
robber blood in the halls Of the Saxon, c
= the bodest paladin that quatfed wine
' the table Of Charlemagne2 Well ma
=. we be proud Of our native land, and tor
. with fond affection to its rocky shore
; The spirit of the Pilgrims still pervades
o and directs its fortunes. Behold the thol
=. sand temples Of the Most High thatbn. 81
tin its happy valleys and crown lis swelilr
$ hills. See how their glittering splr'
h pierce the sky, and seem like SO many {;
y iestial conductors, ready TO avert u
:. lightning Of an angry Heaven. The P"
q ty Of the Pilgrim PatrIarchs is mol y
!, extinct, nor have the sons forgotten II
d God OF their fathers.
Behold yonder simple building ne'
:. the crossing Of the village roads! 1t
!. small and of rude construction, but stan'
a in pleasant and quiet spot A magrl
!, cent old elm spreads its broad arms abo'
;. and seems TO lean towards 1t, as stror
N man bends to shelter and protect a chill
IA A brook runs through the meadow nea
- and hard by there is an orchard-bu II
= trees have suffered much and bear +
ID fruit, except upon the most remote al
h Inaccessible branches. From within
Of walls comes a busy hum, such as you ma
70 hear in a disturbed bee hive. Now pee
ID through yonder widow and you will o s.
II a hundred children, with rosy cheeA
" mischieyous eyes and demure faces al e. q
=. gagged or pretending to be SO, IN lhelr !. y
a lie lessons. 1t sthe public school, -
g. free, the common school-ProVloeu :
If law open to all: claimed from inc con con
h munity as a right, not accepted as pour
r. ty. Here the children oil the rlcn an az
ID poor, high and low, meet upon Pe''s'