Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-08

Occasion interest and importance which cannot easily be
overestimated.
can make but the merest slIuson to the mighty move
mens which have recently taken place the continent Of
Europewhere events which would have given character
age have been crowded within the changes Of
Interesting, intensely interesting these have been
to all who have witnessed hem they have been tenod
interesting to Americans. We in them the influence Of
institutions. We behold in them the results of our
example. We recognise them the spontaneous ger
mnaon and growth of seeds which have been waited
the ocean, for half century past, from original Lib
sry Tree
The distinguished writer of the declaration which made this
day memorable, full Of apprehenson to the influence
of the Old World upon the New. He wished
OCCASION that Of FIRE might roll between America
and Europe 10 cut of and those serpent destinations
and seducons which corrupt, if strange
right our infant freedom in its cradle.
Doubtless these idle fears the time Doubtless
there dangers still which might almost have us
fled such wish But it plain that the of political
influence thus far have deepest and strongest in the OPP
posite direction. The influence Of the oord upon the
old is the great moral Of the events Of the day.
Mr. Jeesons ocean Of fire" has indeed, been almost
realized Atremendous engney has covered the with
smoke and fame. The fiery dragon has ceased be fabe
The inspired description Of Leyiahan is fulfilled the letter
"out Of his mouth burning lamps and sparks Of fire leap
out Out of his noss goeth SMOKE out Of seethng
pot caldron. His breath kindle,h GOALS and flame
goeh out of his mouth. He maketh the deep boil like
pot he makeh the sea like pot Of ointment"
But the Saint George Of modern civilization and science
instead of staying the dragon has subdued him the yoke
and broken him into the service Of mankind The ocean
fire has only facilitated the intercourse which invoked to
destroy. And the result is before the world.
New modes Of communication, regular and rapid in
techanges of information and opinion eer and more frequent
comparisons Of principles, Of institutions and of conditions
have length brought the political systems Of the two CONT
into conflict and PROSTATE thrones and Keeling empires
this day bear witness TO the shock
Yes, fellow citizens, f may be allowed the figure the
great upward and downward trains on the track Of human
freedom have last into collision It is too early as
yet for any pronounce upon the precise
Of the encounter But at glance what engines
have been shattered and what engineers have been dashed
from their We see, too, that the great American
built locomotive Liberty" still holds on its course unim
peded and unmpaired gathering strength goes deve
opng energies meet exgences and bearing along
its imperial train Of twenty millions of people with speed
which knows parallel
Nor fail that every where beginning to
examine the model Of this mighty engine and that not few
machinery The great doctrines of Revolution that
" all men created equal that they endowed by their
Creator with certain inalenabe rights that among these
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that
these rights Governments instituted among men, deriv
ing their just powers from the consent of the governed that
whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of
these ends it i. the right of the people alter or to abolish
it aDS to institute Government laying its foundation
on sud- principles and organizing its powers in such form
as to THIN shall most likely effect their safety and
happnessV these fundamental maxims Of the rights of
proclaimed emphatcay this day in Paris as they
seventh Two years ago this day in Philadelphia
And not lin Paris alone The whole civilized world re-
sounds with American opinions and American principles
Every Wallets vocal with them. Every mountain hath found
tongue for them
- Sonitum toto Germania COLO
Audit, ct insolitis tremuerunt mobus Alpes.
Every where the people heard calling their rulers
and holding them just responsibility. Every where
the cry is raised for the elective franchise the trial by Jury,
the freedom Of the press written constitutions representative
systems republican forms.
10 fortunately the rulers themselves have
escaped seasona symptoms the pervadng
for freedom and have noby anticipated the demands of their
subjects To the sovereign Ponf of the Roman States
particular belongs the honor Of having led the way the great
Of the day. and American will withhold from
him cordial tribute Of respect and admiration for
he has done designed for the regeneration of Italy, Clio
rous indeed the page Of history viii be the Of Plus
TX if the rise of another Rome shall be traced his and
liberal policy Yet not less truly glorious, IL his
thory should date its decline his noble refusal lend his
spostoical sanction TO q Of conquest.
For Italy, however and for France and for the whole Eu-
ropean world alike, great work still remains. rational,
practical enduring liberty cannot be acquired 10 paroxysm,
be established by proclamation is not
history proves that 1t is not
"The hasty product Of a day,
But the well-rpened fruit Of wise delay"
The redress Of few crying grievances the reform of few
glazing abuses the banishment Of minister, the burning Of
throns the overthrow Of dynasty, these but scan pre-
padons for the mighty undertaking upon which they have
entered. New systems be constructed forms
be established Governments be instituted organized
and administered upon principles which shall reconcile the
seeming conflict between liberty and law and every
one the enjoyment OF regulated constitutional freedom
And il is this moment, felow-c,izens when this
labor about be commenced when the files Of the Old
World searched in vain for precedents and the eesde
Of the Obi World looked to In for pioneers and when
all eyes strained find the men, to find the man. who
sufficient for these things il is at such that
assembled this pinnacle Of the American Republic might
almos, say by Divine impulse and recon,o hold up
aesh the admiration and imitation Of mankind the cha
| racter and erampIe of C,eorge Waabinofop