Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-17
OUR LATE PROCLAMATION TO THE MExIcANs.


parison OF the French and American Revolutions
We have perused this Discourse with great plea
sure and should be very glad to place il entire be-
fore readers, but that its length precludes
doing so, at present at least By running out con-
trast between the French and American Revolu-
tons, Mr. RIvEs has sought to recall our country
men to the sober and conservative tone which so
eminently distinguished our Revolutionary fathers,
and in the close of the Discourse he has combined,
with an appeal the just pride of the country some
lessons so Immediately applicable to the present
times, and especially to the late Proclamation put
forth by the orders of the Executive in Mexico,
that we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of ex-
tracing the beautiful passage.
EXTRACT.
'We have thus surveyed, in rapid review the great
political revolutions of the last century. The have
constantly obedient the voice Of historical warning and
instruction. dealing wisely and justly with the past giving
sudden and violent shock to existing interests and instu
ions making its advances cautiously and gradually pub
lie opinion prepared to receive and sustain them, and
finally founding an suspicious reign of liberty and order on the
broad and solid basis of justice moderaon and compromise
The other, animated by the vain and pesumpuous spirit of
philosophy, substituted bold and visionary speculatons
for the sober lessons of history and experience waged
upon the past with headong and ndiscrmnae fury eveed
all opposing interests Of whatever kind, in its desolatng
and, after twenty-five years of convusve struggles,
marked by hood and crime fell back, weaed by
anarchy and despotm, into the from which had
escaped In these agang of the age that has passed.
Twas reserved for the youthful people of America the
ample of sobrety moderation, and wisdom to her elder sis
tiers Of the old world The examplewas unhappy, then
But not 10 nd baroa
has since reaped the benefit of in a second revolution
Quoted with far of temperance and humanity adapted
the genius and traditions of her people, and maintaining
pace with the general and progressive advance of free
institutions throughout the world. Upon this happily
prevailing spirit of the age the bright example of the Ame
Revoution-a revolution unstaned with single crime
and whose noble aim il to install Liberty and Independ
side by side with Law and Order and render them
ever inseparable-has exered and if remain the
principles and memory of ancestors long
to exert, powerful and controlling influence.
America has yet great part to play in advancing the
destines of the human family Poets and phanthropss
the old wodgood and great men-have INDUCED fond and
enthusiastic antcpaons connected with Western CONT
nen the destined and favored abode of Peace Liberty
and the Arts. Some Of hem looking with feeling de-
sPondent upon the elder hemisphere already of
decreptude and decay and doomed inevitable rerograda
ton have held up America the only remaining asylum
earth for civil and religious freedom An able and eloquent
prelate, the Bishop of st. Asaph, whose Americans
must recall with the poioundest veneraion and graft
tude of the earliest and powerful champions of
American rights declared in l774 that he looked upon
North America the only great nursery Of eemen then left
the face of the earth We may now owing mainly to the
effects produced by the noble and exemplary conduct our
ancestors entertain cheering hopes the of our
America, instead of being refuge only for freedom
when shall have been hunted from the other quarters of the
globe has had the higher privilege by the moral influence
her example, OF keeping alive and renvgorang it in the
old well the world. The young blood of American
liberty has thus been ransscd some of the aged svs
TENS Of European poy, and by heahul and gene-
circulation, restored them in degree YOUTH activity
and strength.
Bullet it be borne in mind that the silent vet potent
ministry Of good example, in the intercourse of nations is
thing entirely distinct from the arrogant and inermeddng
spirit Of propagandism. We have no mission to interfere
with the institutions of other countries They are as free to
choose the forms Of political organization they may consider
suited to their circumstances pursue our happ
ness in the modes judge best for ourselves We may
without ireverence presumption, us suppose that we
werepaced by omnpoen Goodness on this magnificent con-
tnent of ours surrounded by the features Of grander ma
ture-brghte skies, nobler rivers loiticr mountains
In sight Of mortal and immortal powers,
As on boundless theatre, to run
The great career of justice.
To extend the limits of empire by violence and conquest
low and discredted ambition It is career which others
have before US, from Macedonia's mailman to the
Swede But to extend the moral empire Of Law of Peace
of Liberty, of Religion, and exhibiting the world the exam
pie Of People and Government under the habua guidance
of these vital principles Of higher civilization an ambition
worthy Of the and worthy of America. In pursuing this
career, we shall consult ruest glory and hap
pness The other Powers Of the earth will rise up and call
US blessed and the nations of the old world when they
the orb of day sink in ocean, will feel that
it is only ito repair his golden food and them with re-
doubled ray"
Gen. TAYLOR is reported to have said that he
never wanted to run for President, because his op-
ponents would presently say of him, as they did of
Gen. HARRISON that be was neuer within ten miles