Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-14

in Forth of July orators. The success of what is
calledhe American Revolution has led other ma
tionsEo initiate the example, and their efforts have
not ben altogether promotive Of the cause of lber
ty. In France there was genuine revolution.
Evey thing was overturned whatever existed was
of necessity supposed to be ball. and therefore to be
obliayated. Destruction, not reform, was the OBJ
iect id view. The reconstruction of government
was MT deemed practicable until all existing insti-
tutom were levelled to the ground, and France pre-
senteda dread expanse OF desolation. We need
not dwell upon horrors to whrh period was put
by the only remedy, military despotism. The
revolution was not consummaed until 1880; and,
in the seventeenth year of the reign of the Citizen
King, though enjoying domestic quetude, much
national prosperity, and great political equality,
W.. .hA real share of the people in the govern
ment! Let siffgle fact answer- Tho standing
army is considerably more than twice as numerous
as the body of electors, and the King has Offices
enough in his gift to bestow one upon every voter
or his nominee France, with thirty-live millions
has not quite half as many voters as the State of
New York
The Spanish colonies on this continent revolted,
seducec by our example, and achieved their indie
pendence after struggle longer, bloodier, and more
arduous than our own. Here again was a real
revolutlon--an upurnlng and unsettlng OF men s
opinions on all subjects. The really good institu-
tons they possessed were abolished, because they
did not siuare with the visionary theories of JERE-
MY BENmAM, whose works were appealed to as
oracles o political wisdom. Constitutions of theo-
retic perfection admirably illustrative of the nceties
of political science and fitted for every thing but to
last, were the product of each year. The expert
ment has leen fully tried of imposing constitution
upon people without reference to their genius,
wants, anG capabilities and what has been the re-
suit I? Letthe condition of Mexico and the anar-
chy whichreigns in most of the soi-disaft South
American Republics furnish the answer.
The American colonists labored under no griev-
anees. THY "SnuB6d tyranny IN the tainted
breeze" anil resisted the first appearance Of en-
croachment upon their rights. Their resistance
was based upon principle, and they braved the pow
er of the moher country, weak and unsupported as
they were, rdher than run the risk of being ensav-
ed. In peunary point of view, the tax of three
pence pound on tea was nothing; but taxation
without representation they considered as of the es-
sence of tyranny, and to be resisted at all hazards.
1t is this absence of oppression-of practical grev-
ances-which as much as the character of the race,
accounts for tie absence of all excess in the pro-
gress of the contest. Had our people been pressed
to the earth by the feudal tyranny under which the
French so longgroaned, perhaps our emancipation
would have been sgnalized by those excuses which,
perpetrated by there SO outrage our sensibilitles
The war commenced for the vindicaton Of an abb
stract principle, and to avert what were deemed i'm
pending evils. Ard this, We think, constitutes the
peculiar glorybf the struggle. Other people, stung
to madness by tyranny, have taken up arms to re-
dress their wrongs and 'avenge themselves upon
their oppresstrs. History siull of such examples,
but affords nc precedent for war undertaken for
the maintenance of cherished political axiom.
Those who represent our forelathers as breaking
the bonds ofsavery, besides classifying history, de-
prive the rerolution of its most distinguishing and
glorious characteristic.
1t is curious to see how little change the revolu-
ton wrought in many of the States. Take Vir-
ginia, for Instance. The constitution, framed after
she had declared her independence, added another
chamber u the Legislature, and provided for the
election, by both houses, of Governor, and cur
failing of lis prerogatives, and made provision for
the exercise of the appointing power; and these
were abort all the innovations made by an instru-
ment under which she flourished until 1880. The
institutions of the colony became those of the
State and many man, except for the war, would
not haw known, from aught that he experienced,
that revolution had taken place. Rhode Island
changed nothing until within the last five years.
The freeborn patriots of the Revolution achieved
their independence and this is but small share OF
their merit. Other colonies nave thrown OIL the
yoke of the mother country. But our ancestors
kney how to profit by their independence, and this
is their exclusive boast. OF what avail would it
have been to the colonies had they not been united
under one Federal Government The Convention
of 1887 consummated the Revolution and rendered
it blessing to mankind. No one suspect US
of a want OF patriotic sensibility in contemplating
the heroic era of our country; but our enthusiasm
more kindles, our mind is more filled when we APP
proach the Convention which framed the Federal
Constitution. We believe the world never yet saw,
and perhaps never will again see, body of men so
enlightened so pure, and so patriotic assembled for
all object so grand and far reaching. For the first
time in the history of man a written Constitution
was to be prepared, not for small city or petty
territory, but vast country with its grand div-
sions, differing in products, interests, manners, and
customs. This constitution was TO be one OF dele
gated powers from thirteen independent States, re-
uctant to part with any portion of their sovereign
ty and suspicious OF each other. A Government
was to be formed which, whilst it secured respect
abroad should be felt in the least possible degree at
home and which, though Immediately intended for
thirteen States, was to be capable of adaptation to
an indefinite number. When we remember the
conflicting views and interests which actuated the
members on their first assemblng-the unreasona-
BILE jealousies of the smaller members of the Con-
federacy-the licentious spirit which prevailed in
some quarters-the Responding tone OF many as to
the capacity of man for selfgovernment-the alb
surd schemes, as should now call them, which