The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-09
Concluded jrsn first Pdgsl

Il is hardly necessary for me to say that
agree with President Wayland most cordially in
the precedir 2 sentiments.
/ have already said, that il has been wisely
left to each political community TO decide for
itself what form of gOvernment--or, in other
words, rAat dsgTse Of bOndsge-is best adapted
10 its peculiar circumstances. In the exercise
of this discretion it may act unwisely. That,
however, is exclusively its own business No
other community has a right to interfere. nor
can itinterfere without the reproach Of ofhcious-
mesa, and the disgrace Of being Justly regarded
as busy body in other meR's matters. Let it
be remembered, too. that no government can
serve a valuable purpose, or even long exist, I'M
less its subjects are held in a degree Of bondage
suited to their intellectual and moral condition.
Where the great mass ignorant and vicious,
human ingenuity has never been able to discov-
er any method, by which il is possible TO evade
the necessity Of holding them, IL not In dOmes-
tic, at least, in political bondage.
From the foregoing reflections, young gentle
men, you will readily perceive, that our upPar-
alleled blessings Of civil and religious liberty,
result not so much from the form of our free
institutions, as from the intelligence and virtue,
which are their indispensable support For a
people like ours, human wisdom, perhaps, never
devised a better constitution than that, which
by the blessing Of Heaven, unites our great con-
federacy Of free, sovereign, and independent
States. Constitutions, however, possess no tai
ismanic influence. And it is utterly vain to rely
upon them for the perpetuity Of our freedom,
farther than they are sustained by the general
intelligence and virtue Of our citizens. Would
you, then, perpetuate 10 the end Of time our giO
rioas, blood bought libertyf Remember, that il
can only be done by the general extension Of in
telligence TO understand, and virtue to sustain
our constitution and laws. The worst enemy
Of our country, therefore, Is the man who, either
In his own person, treats the constitution
and laws with practical disrespect, or encourages
others so TO DO. This deep, and had almost
said, objectionable guilt, Is shared alike by the
mesnest criminal, that has been guilty Of petit
larceny ormurder, and the most no norable Judge,
Juror, witness, or lawyer, who Intentionally aids
that criminal In escaping the penalty, which he
has Justly incurred. The invariable tendency
Of all such conduct 10 to undermine the temple
| Of freedom, and bury our most valued institu-
tons in ruin. To act thus under the influence
Of misguided, though benevolent feeling, Is bad
enough. But when the motive is avarice-
whether In the form Of a bride, or professional
fee-such conduct is superlatively base.
| Iregard it as a fearful omen, that the moral
turpituGe of such conduct is not better appreci-
ated, and more intensely abhorred. Another
omen of most fearful portens in late years is the
4
ascertaned, that no certain reliance for protec-
ton can be placed in the legal tribunals Of our
country, and our liberties are at an end. No
form Of government is esteemed among men
except for the protection which il affords, or is
expected to afford, to those under its influence.
II, therefore, men have lost all reasonable hope
of being protected by nominal republic, they
will gladly exchange il for any form Of govern
ment, though nominally despotism, that may
afford them reasonable hope Of protection
He, then, is traitor to civil liberty though such
may not be his design, who aids the guilty to
escape punishment, or in any way interrupts
the equal course Of justice between man and
man, or gives countenance to the Introduction
| Of mob law into organised society
/ One other sentiment, young gentlemen, would
| I desire at present to impress upon your minds,
80 deeply, il possible. that ii might never be ef-
faced. To be even capable Of enjoying liberty,
IL 10 indispensable that you practice virtue
| This momentous truth is a necessary inference
from what has gone before.
/ A moments reflection will make this appa-
rent.
We have already seen that liberty to act a.
we please, is a blessing only In so far, as we
please to act right; but that beyond this limit
bondage Is blessing, and freedom an unmiti-
/ gated calamity. We have also seen, that bond
age 10 q curse for sin, though benevolently de-
isigned to operate a. a blessing to the sinner