Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-02-18


made them superior 10 all local d'sadvan-
tagps and triumphant over all opposition
u placed their prosperity beyond the
reach ol power or fortune. So long as
the arm ol the settler could WELD an
axe, or his hand cast a vote so long as
the district school-house opened its doors
10 inpan the knowledge and the mental
culture, enabling him TO understand and
MAINTAIN his righis,or the village church
lifted its spire into the heavens 10 remind
him of lha, immortal element, which,
glowing in his breast, placed him on n
level with the highest Of his fellow men,
IL would be impossible TO enslave him, or
prevent his progress.
II the great advantage Of free insii-
iu,ions, when aided by suitable provisions
of education, that they give opportunity
Tor natural diversities To display them
selves No permanent castles hang
their dead weights on The community
Each individual, as he enters the scenes
"i active lie, instead Of being compelled
,o walk 10 the same path with his ances.
iors, chooses his own occupation, marks
on. a new course for himself, and by u
special continuation, adapts the volun-
iary conditions Of his existence to his
own peculiar tastes and faculties. This
impml-ivc projection Of each individual,
according 10 his peculiar nature, into the
engagements and struggles OF business
mud oi lfc ~ all its forms; the ll.origl
mating, and self stimulating earnpstness
of pursuit, taking effect upon whole
people, il well worthy Of the study of the
,h,lnsnph,c mind. We sometimes hear
u spoken of with a snecr. The deter
nincd assurance, and ingenious contr-
,unrrs, aud interchangeable perseverance
nv which New Englandrrs push their
fortunes in the world, in particular in
Stances, may Justly excite rldicule, con
t-mlh or aversion but regarded in
comprehensive and general aspect, as
y prrvading aud distinctive element of
parinnal character, the spirit OF enter
pri-" 'iSes into greatness, aud becomes
hu'y imposing. 1t secures perpetual and
houudrss pr"srrss. 1t dIiluscs prosperl-
". II rv"krs all latent power. IL 81
l"n,ly, aud b, most henIgnnnt process,
wins Tor n nniinn nnhler victories and "A
grchicr dominion than the mgh'icst ar
ni;cA could h I've achieved.
II was moi mere personal boast, but
the au'h"nilc aud genuine u,terancc OF
hi, uncnnqnr,nble and all conqucring
rpirn ol individual enterprise and energy,
uhcu short time since, a distinguished
merchant, himself "a iD"st signal illus,ra-
ton ~ hls history aud fortune, of the pow
or nf surl spirit TO command wealth
aud iullnenrr, IN an argument on the
protective policy of the country, speak
ing II the name Of the industry OF New
ENGLAND, said TO the national Legislators,
'alirr, reduce, destroy the tariff pass
wh,iryrr laws YOU may, adopt whatever
policy you choose, we wil make money.
Surely, the history OF the action Oi gov
crnn-nt upon the labor, business, and
capital of New England, through the
rn',r- pr,nd OF it's dependence on the
nSntwr- counrry, and may say, without!
involving myself in party passions, up to-
this very hour, bears one continued tri-
urpham testimony To the superiority OF
energy and inielligence,pe Peo-
pie, To all the powers that government
ran possibly exert. If when their in
dns,ry, bravery, hardihood, and skill, in
all the multiplied forms aud channels OF
foreign commerce, were reaping har-
vests oi wealth on every sea, you closed
their ports by embargo and war. they
nI hpir
arhievemrnt. Forests vanished before
rh"m I; new regions poured forth riches
Gnm ihcir fresh and uncXhausted bosoms;
and everywhere the sounds of the water
wheel, the trip.hammer, and the steam
engine were heard mingIing with the
voices nf nature aud of men. II, after
having compelled them To give this d.
rcctirn TO their capital and enterprise Z,
reversing the policy of your laws, you
attempt to crush the manufacturing and
mechanical interests of such people,
THEN ingenuity and energy, constituting
an inryhaustabe rrsource, because one
~ which all scverally contribute spon
ianrnnsiy, pcrpetualiy and to the whole
extent of their power, will probably be
nund ahle 10 elude the blow, aud make
II suh-rrve the very objects II was de-
signed to inlnre but if driven from their
mills and workshops, they viii again
spread the wings Of commerce, and de-
spite of your utmost ehors, place them
selves ahead OF all competitors on the
tide ri prosperity.
This principle Of individual intelli-
gcnce, ingenuity, and resolution pervnd-
mg the people of New England, Is GOV.
nrlng the land with its monuments and
trophies. In every form IN which skill
can combine with labor, IN mechanism,
in The infinite apple a,ions OF science and
processes of art, in patient researches
into nature, aud in all departments OF
mental activity in solitary adventure,
or in associated companies, religious,
moral, political, or financial directing
the resources Of mul,iludcs with the &c
ruracy and efficiency Of a single Intelll-
grncr and Wilt is working incalcula-
hle effects II turns bnrrenness into fer
tility, s'raightcns the winding and crook
ed paths, smooihs down every rugged