Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-26

| We are often accustomed To boast of the rapid
progress which our country has made in power
and prosperity since the moment of It's national
independence. Its advance has been indeed
traordinary, may almost say, unprecedented
in the history of the world. There men yet
living, who helped to plant the seed of empire
| upon our western soil. and who now sitting
beneath the shade of its tall and majestic tree.
Other nations have gaZcd in mute wonder al our
career. The inian, Republic which they once
dcrided, has sprung into magniicen, power. and
its manifest destiny" is ovcrshadowing CONT
nent.
| We wish the same tribute could with IStice be
paid to our improvement IN the stern and simple
virtues for which the founders of our Republic
were distinguished. In these. however, our pro-
grcss has been blackboard, at rate ~ raP,i as our
advancement in arts and enterprise. With grow
| ing wealth and prosperity, we have lost the sim
piicity, single -hcarcducss and integrity, which
gave dignity to our low estate, and commanded
the ycncraiion oi the world.
In nothing is the melancholy change which has
taken place in country more remarkable than
III the character OF It's public men. The fathers
of the Republic, and the statesmen of our early
history, never seemed 10 think of Themselves in
tl3 plans which they conceived FOR the general
! welfare With them the cause, the country pre-
dominated over ali selfish considerations. We
now loul upon the character of George Wash
inston. AS almost partoking of the supernatural
difficult Is it to conceive in this day al such rare
disntcrc>t,,luoSs. The moicSty which shtunk
from thu praise which illu'trious merit had justly
earned tho uniform sacrifice of self the real and
unaffected preference of private station To pull
! lie hnnor> these ure qualities of which we read in
history. Int witness so rarely in the present degr
nerate a-C that we are almost tempted ~ cons
| der th,m fabulous. Yet, illuSisious were these
| traits. they were uol cuutile, even To Washing
| ton bat were the prevailing characteristics Of the
prrsonagrs of the Revolutionary era. They had
been CG!rnis's They had been deprived of the
dearest privileges of man They had purchased
their Independence at n cost winch taught them
| To appreciate H. value. They realized the magn
| tude OF the trust committed To their hands. They
thought only of the Republic, ia, last hope of
man. the vessel ireighted with the Gesiipi@s OF the
human race which they hal just launched upon
| stormy and unknown Could they hut sue
cecd in tins experiment of mans capacity for self
government. could they bit give pcrmancncy 10
'S'
been spilled IN vain, then there was yet hope for
| the elevation and freedom Of mankind, then the
thirteen stars. Just struggling above tie horizon,
would be but the herads of other glorious lights,
| OF system after system. kindred TO their own, ri
sing from tina deep darkness Of desPoIiSm, and
causing the whole armament to glow with the
brightness and beauty of their magnificent array
This was the grand result which absorbed the
minds of American statesmen. L pom such sub
| lime field of contemplation and effort, puny
thought of self was permitted to intrudc.
They were the anointcd Apostles of Freedom,
each of whom willing to serve in the lowest
place, TO endure every species OF humiliation and
hardship, or to wear with JOY the fiery crown of
marty rdom, so that the great and glorious cause
to which their abors aud their lives were devoted,
might be conducted 10 triumphant and glorious
result.
Contrast these men, these giants in heart "a
! well as intellect, with the shrunken abOrtons OF
the present age. Contrast even the private citi-
lens of the Revolutionary era with the officials of
| these degenerate times, and the difference is
great rs between the mighty monarch Of the sens,
and the she'll fish which some CONFUSION Of the
elements has Left upon the mountain.top. Who
thinks now Of the Republic Who cares now
for the general good Find US the statesman in
power vino is able to conceive a wise and noble
measure and that his country has the benefit,
cares not that hs name should be- identified with
its originalion, aud will shew you a man who
will he pronounced green almost by reclamation,
and be considered little better than an innocent by
his contemporaries in public life. Yet, OF just
such grceHiSss, tho instances were not in the
fresh spring time OF Government Just such
Innocence was the characteristic Of our people.
bcfor, the serpent Of ambition entered our Rspub.
iIcan garden, and poisoned the hearts Of It's in
mates.
Would that the child-like simplicity Of our car
iy history might return. Would that the univcr.
sal madness for office, might give way to a for
gctlulne,s Of SELF and pure aud dsintcreslcd
love Of country. II is a vain hope II can ne
YER be fulfilled. Nations like men, seem to lose
their guiIclcssness with advancing years, aud.
when departed, the integrity, the unsoiled
purity of their youth, can never be restored.