Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-21


In copying, last week, from the Lynchburg Vir-
gilman, powerful article on the American Revolu-
ton, the sort of government of which its success
achieved the downfall, and the effect of the Cons
tuition which sprung up from its ruins, we ancipa-
ted some difference of opinion not only from the
Virginian but also from estimate Of its merits.
That anticipation is realized in the following article
FROM THE ALEXANDRIA (vA) GAZETTE.
New VIEws-"G General Caleb Gushing, in his 4th of
July speech at Monterrey declares that the people Of the
United States a Of bondage that the
of the Revolution Of liberty and that, on the
contrary it was but struggle 20 deermine whether the TWO
great subdivisions of the British nhabitng Europe
and the other nhabng America, and both equally free
should continue constitute single empire, or whether
they should be reconstructed separately into two independent
empires"
We intended to have noticed this enunciaon at the time
il was first published and has since been called to mind
particularly by seeing the elaborate comments of the
Lynchbg Vrga in approval Of the views thus present.
ed and enagng upon the sentiments thus advanced The
Vginan energetic the subject than General
Gushing. tsays its :" blood has boiled at listening 'to
the outrage the truth Of history" &C. in the assertion that
"our people groaned under hackes which broken by
the Declaration of independence" 1t afirms that the
tuOOTcu grievances
ians that the of the Revolution commenced for
the vndcaion of abstract principle, and to avert what
were deemed impending evils" And, finally it
with the deliberately expressed opinion that Gin certain
sense, there revolution"
We suppose that for the sake of being g DIFF
feen from other people-a little wise in their day and
generation than the of manknd-such doctrines
promulgated by either Gen. Gushing the Lynchburg V
gilman. The aectaon of singuary might attach to the
Bgadier General, whose politics certainly has been
cratic as to particular wonder at any phase
which he may But sad and sensible friend Of
the Lynchburg Vgnan cannot be suspected Of talking for
talks sake We take leave, therefore, utterly
to deny his Positions and to contend that what the people
have thought generally the and effects the De-
claraon of Independence strictly and historically true, and
that the views have nothing sustain them and not
necessary the foundation for the superstructue which
has been reared upon them for the support of the theory
they designed to establish.
We affirm that the Colonies were, before the Revolution
in many particulars in of bondage the mother coun
try that the Revolution was to all ntents and purposes
of liberty that the shackes under which the inhabitants
of the Colonies goaned broken by the Declaration of
Independence that the Colonies abored under manifold and
ntoerabe grievances that the Revolution commenced for
the purpose Of redressng wrongs and securing rights prac
cal in their nature and for the indication of an abb
principles and finally, that in every there was
as consequence of the Declaration of Independence per-
feet and complete revolution.
We here oppose assertion assertion and place our opin
ions with confidence in the opposite scale that in which
have been thrown those of the author aud appove the
views.
For proof have need to travel far The Declaration
Of Independence itself sufficient vndcae the truth of his
tory and to show that fathers conendng against
tyranny that expressing them and for liberty which they
sought What means the list of grievances there enumera-
ted and which declared to be the which mpeed
them the separation What the catalogue of out
RACES committed upon the patience and the ghs the Colo
MES by the King Government of Great Britain What is
said have been the practical effect of the course Of policy
thus pursued Refer the document ITSELF They are oil
there plainly forth in characters SO clear and egbe that he
who may read.
We are not confounding freedom and independence We
speaking of them distinct and separate The
Declaration Of Independence announced the freedom Of the
Colonies well their independence Before the Revol
ton, the inhabitants of the Colonies had certain civil rights
nseparaby attached to AngloSaxon institutions and of which
they could not altogether have been deprived without uproo
ing social organization and disturbing the framework of
cey But in these particulars the disturbing hand Of
tyranny and felt The freedom of the citizen as
proof again appeal the Declaration of Independence
ITSELF
Why, if these views are to be taken as correct what
say the honesty of those who commenced and
fought out the Revolution And do we find in
what the British Ministers and their supporters alleged the
time Of the Revolution These last always said that the
ionists had real grievances and that they contendng
for mere abstraction. This Indignantly and Justly de-
MED In the face of Heaven and the world our fathers pro-
claimed that their quarrel just one, brought by de-
sire alone to their freedom and that the best and pro-
per way obtain that freedom to establish their indie
pendence.
We see have before remarked, no necessity for
representing that the cooss had practical grievances
complain of previous the Revolution in order to support any
theory which may be adopted to the reconstruction Of
here We only hope that the motives and
which led to the Revolution at this time of day be
distracted to suit the notions views of gentlemen who
sublimaed and anscendenta Gen. Gushing on all
matters not touching his peculiar interests. We might
say much the whole subject but refrain for the
present
The following letter, written by Gen. ScoTT to
the Hon. WILLARD FILLMORE, is published in the
New York papers:
HEADQUARTERS Army.
Mr. DEAR SR have received the two letters Zone from
the Rev. Mr. Angler and the other signed by Mr. Van Wvck