The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-06-03
ELOQUENT Extract,

The following extract is taken from
the eloquent speech Of Senator Hanne-
gan, Of Indiana, upon the resolutions
Of congratulation to the French people.
vssln the history Of man. there has oc.
CURED no more signal event than the
recent French revolution. Ii is mark.
ed all over at every step, from first to
last, from the highest to tie rhumblest
action. by moral grandeur that finds
its only prototype'in the conduct ofour
own heaven guided ancestors. When
revolis occur in nkingdoms when man,
Iashed TO phrensy byIall the woes Of OPP
preston, rises but to strike single
bio~,7 and fall from the ignominious
scaffold to the unconnted grave--when
the chains ofoppression are thus rivet.l
ted tighter and tighter,--when human.
iiy and liberty have been laid toge ther
in a common grave--then inonarchs
have, often exchanged congratulations.
Az this hour, when emancipated
Francc-emancipated without il crime,
without a s,ain-extends her new born
hand, and from her cradle lifts hersml-
ing frent, gazing at us, shall we pause
-4coldly'pause--and give back the look
withrmarblc features!,or shall we, re-
turn the smile, and with our heartfelt
saIutations, cheer her to the richer than
goidenharvest? If there. was anything
in these resolutions contrary to. the u,
sages Of nations--any principle at war
with the proprieties of international
communication, should feel bound,
from this high place, to hesitate and
weigh every contingent result. But !
am unable to discover the rule or the
reason against a national salutation
from the matron government of repub-
lican France. 1t is in the name our
people that we send the greeting. II
iy In obedience to the high behest of
the everactive, the hundred-eyed ge-
nus ot our institutions. We send to a,
redrganizsd government = recognized,
by all the foreign officials Of France, so
far as | can learn. Our own minister
led the way. / trembled when The
FIRST news came lest he should hang
back waiting for an example,. But ! am
happy 10 think he haA discharged his du.
~; he went foremost; and it he had
not batter for him, far better, that he
should neveragain put his foot upon
his native land. .eifoaa Wll;o s!Gg4T as!I
-bWhy shaliwepot asrepresentatives
Of our country and her institutions, sa-
iute those who are struggling to imitate
as.a Monarch can salute monarch, Q.
ven upon the birth of an infant heir to |
despotism. Shall we falier
Ia a salutation to the presence ofration-
AlfEbertys know the doubt, the fear,
ful doubt, that exists in many of the |
greatest mindsA-even in asome of the
most honored fathers that surround me;
Sihd fknow, too, from conversationson |
all sides, as well as / can learn, that
donbts can, only be expressed by the |
word solieitxde--lhe deep, deep solici,
Jude with which maternal love watch,
ssfthe first steps of the idolized boy.--i
Will he stumble will he fallse The fine
lurned limbs, the flashing eye, forbid
he thought, He will walk, and walk
10 noble and vigorous manhood This
feeling inspires some misgivings not in
purity ofintention which discloses this
great struggle, but IN the detail which |
sto seal the result. Her national as,
lemhly ia perhaps too numerous--one
ifth Of the number would have repre-,
rented AL shs departments. all the inter-
W q We French people, and avoided