The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-05-26

Enulish nFecedents and authorizes, ~ all
matters Of opinion. Our history and our po-
hticai experience ae so brief, that, IN the
multitude of new cases which are perpetually
ay;,,ng ne are often at loss for domestic
oa,,;IeIs. and find il cheaper TO cite an En-
rIish djctum than TO investigate a question
Noon moro independent grounds. Not Only
arc our parliamentary law, our legislative ac-
ton. our judicial proceedings. to great
tent Gashioued after those OF the mother coun-
try. bat The fundamental principles oil our
y1yernneut, our theory of the political rights
Of maD, are often distorted i'll order that they
,aay he accommodated 10 rules and dehnI-
lions drawn from English constitutional law.
Even the most sacred Of political rights, the
ri ,ht Of petition, have heard both attack
Ell and defended upon this floor, by very
su Iiciel, democrats, entirely upon frccedents
drawn from thu practice Of the British Par
lament. Our community OF origin, language
ami law, exposes the younger nations TO Tue
constant danger Of beng oversllalowed by
the authority Of the elder. 1t is great evil
10 a young and growing peope, as well us 10
"A youthful aud aspiring spirit, 10 nave us Gu
ergies cramped, andits originality smo'hered
by a seryile spirit of Conformity 10 any one
model however excellent; and ii Is quite inie
for rs 10 learn, that there are other sources
of instruction Than the couDscls and example
Of our ancient mother.
Sir. I make these remarks IN no narrow
feeling of jealous hostility TO England still
Tess al this crisis, when some are soaking 10
raj C birw nd of popular mdIgnd I'm a
spinst that country, upon which they may
themselves loat to power, would JOIN IN any
vulgar Recommendations CT a people from whom
we have borrowed so much. We owe TO
England much of our political principles,
many of the foundations of our civil and re-
lieious liberties, many Of the most valuable
features of our jurisprudence. Something, IN
deed, we have repaid. England, in common
with all Europe, has profited by our expo
ri.ncc. The grasp of fcudal oppression has
b.eu relaxed, The atrocious severity of the
criminal law has been nritigaied, Judicial pro-
ceelngs have been simplfed. the subject
b IS been admitted to larger participation in
fhe concerns Of government, monopoies are
b.comins obsolete, and The respon slbIll'Ies oil
rulers arc felt to be more stringent. 10 the
cr.di. of many of Ihase considerations we may
E lily lay claim; while in ciei &c. iand its APP
pIiraiion 10 the arts, we have sustained no dis
graceful rivalry with our TRANSATLANTIC breIh-
eFSu. Dut no UtUtTOuS nidu NNbA
of gratitude cancelled till it is thrice repaid,
al1 we have therefore yet much 10 do, before
W. can say that America is DO longer the
debtor of England. Let us, then, seize THIS
one oDporturiry " bich son Of her own has
o fcred us, and build with il a pharos, whose
i3ht shall serve as well tn guide the mariner
i'll the distJnl horizon. as TO illuminate him
Who casts anchor at its foot.
But what are VIC offered Instead Of the adj
VI ,,ascs which VIC might hope TO reap from
sarh library as | have described We ale
pcoaiised experiments anl lectures, !ahoTa-
tory aud an audience hall. SIR, laboratory
is 4 charnel house, chemical decomposition
be- .ius with death, and experiments are but
The dry bones of science. 1t is the thought
rul meditation alone Of mind ira Q and disci- |
plincd in far other halls, that can cloilie these
with !lssh, and bio 81. and sinews, and breathe |
iuto them the breath of human life. Without |
a library. which alone can give such training |
al | such discipline both To teachers and 10 |
pnpis, all these arc but masked pageant, |
AL the demonstrators in a harlequin. This |
Is not question of idle speculation. it is one
that experience has answered There are no
foci which are gathering and rejecting so
mach Ii ht npon the arcanl of natural science
as the schools of Paris aai of Germany, and
all scholars are agreed that the great libraries
vi those scminarics, and The meulaI discipline
cquirctl by the use o: them, are. If not the
sole means, at least necessary conditions, of
th";r surprising excellence.
But we are told that these experimental
researches will guide us 10 the most impor
tamt Of Acknowledge. that namely, Of COM
mon things Sir, what arc common things!
Is n1thilg common hut these material frames
Of ours; nothing but the garments We wear,
the habltaiious that shelter, ard The food that
1oIriThes Us no'hing, but tile air we breathe,
IL. fowls Of heaven, the beasts Of The field,
he herbs, The trees, and The rocks around us
Is nnihinc common but the alttering sands
beneath orr feel, and the siitiering stars on
y !,ich we gaze! Sir, these are JUDGED COM
m9n, and well it is to understand their uses,
All =, far as our dim vision can pierce, even
heir natures also. But afc there not things
even more common, nearer TO our nmosi
selves harder Indeed, but more profitable 10
Dc Understood objects not limited by the
three dimensions, not Ponterablc, not cOgni-
1a'.ic By any of the senses, and yet subjects
Of precise definition. of logical argument, Of
interest, ana of overwhelming
mpor,anccl Sir, the soul 81 man is Il very
common thing; his relations to his Maker
al TO his fellows, The laws Of his moral and
intellectual being, his past history an his
probable future destiny, the principles of gov
er1neni and the laws of political economy all
Ia .sc are common things. lie comiHonest in
laed of all things. and shall we make no pro-
vision for instruction in these
Put. sir. the knowledge of hat ale called
The physical scieuces is OF iar less importance,
evcn in reference to the very objects which
ny ere supposed especially 10 promote, n
s generally believed. There WAS an age |
should say ages brilliant au.I glorious ages Of
of statesmen, of patriots. OF
heroes, aud Of artists. and Of ailizanS too;
when. as YET, the science Of chemistry, aad
and metallprcy had neither name
var boins when experimental research was
unknown, ani The raw material of The arts
vas prepared for subsequent manipulation in
10 laboratory but the hd.icn workshop Of
la;nre when the proiouulcs' philosophers
we're content with resolving all materi;l things
MO the four elements. aud men knew moth
NJ of that subtle analysis ANA those strange ,
lowers, whereby the elemem:s themselves are