Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-07-29
VERMONT wATCHMAN & STATE JOURNAL, JULY 20, 1s47.

pace with the general and progressive advance
of free institutions throughout the world. Upon
this now happily prevailing spirit of the age, the
bright example of the American Revoution-a
revolution unstainpd with n single crime. and
whose noble aim it was 10 install Liberty and In
dependence side by side with Law and Order,
ana TO render them inscparabe-has exerted, and
It we remain true to the principles and memory
oil our ancestors, must long continue to exert, a
powerful and controlling influence
" America has yet a great part to play in adj
vanclng the destinies Of the human family. Po-
cts and philanthropiss in the old world-good
and great men-have INDUCED fond and enthu-
s:aslc ancipations connected with our Western
Continent, as the destined and favored abode of
Peace, Liberty and the Arts Some of them,
looking with feeling too Respondent upon the
elder hemisphere, as already in state of decrep-
itude and decay and doomed to inevitable retro
gradaton, have held up America as the only re-
naming asylum on earth for civil and religious
freedom. An able and eloquent prelate, the
Bishop OF St. Asaph, whose name Americans
must ever recall with the profoundest generation
ana gratitude, as one of the earliest and most
powerful Champions OF American rights, declared
IN IVA that he looked upon North America as
tle only great nursery Of .reemen then left on
the face of the EARTH We may now, owing
mainly to the effects produced by the noble and
exemplary conduct of our ancestors entertain
more cheering hopes for the rest of our race. A.
merIca, instead OF being refuge only for free
dom, when it shall have been hunted from the
other quarters of the globe, has had the higher
privilege, by the moral influence of her example,
OF keeping ~ give, and re-invigoratng it in the
OLD as well as the new world. The young blood
OF American liberty has thus been transfused in
TO some OF the aged systems of European poity,
ana by more healthful and generous circud-
tlon, restored them, in degree, to youth, actvi-
ty, and strength.
." But let it ever be borne in mind that the ST.
lent yet potent ministry Of a good example, In
inc intercourse Of nations, is thing entirely
distinct from the arrogant and intermeddng
spirit OF propagandism. We have no mission to
interfere with The institutions of other countries.
hey are as free TO choose the forms of political
organization they may consider suited to their
circumstances, as we are to pursue our happl-
ness IN the modes we Judge best for ourselves.
we may, without irreverence or presumption, |
trust) suppose that we were placed by Omnpo-
tent Goodness on this magnificent continent of
ours, surrounded by the features of grander
naturo-b brighter skies, nobler rivers, lofter
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 is a low and dscredited ambition. 1t
is career which others have run before us,
from Macedona's madman to the Swede.' But
to extend the moral empire OF Law, of Peace, of
Liberty, OF Religion, and exhibiting to the world
the example of people and Government under
the habitual guidance of these vital principles
of higher civilization, is an ambition worthy of
the age and worthy of America. In pursuing
this career, we shall consult our truest glory and
our truest happiness. The other Powers of the
earth will rise up and call us blessed; and the
nations Of the old world, when they see the orb
of day sink in our western ocean, will feel that
II is only to repair his golden flood and warm
them with redoubled ray.'"