Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-01-20


Who would not sooner go TO the stake,
than have his Bible taken from him, and
be crushed by priestly dominion?
What is not the poor fugitive willing
to suffer, that he may enjoy, for mo-
ment, the precious boon? He will en-
dure more than thousand deaths if a
bare possibility of escape present itself.
I" Free is the mountain breeze,
Floating from airy height
Free are tho rushing seas
And free, heavens golden light
But ffeer than light or air,
Or the rolling sea,
Is the mind, beyod compare
COP MADE rREE!"
This high gift of heaven is yet ours
We stand before the world, free and
Independent people still each individu-
al an undisputed sovereign, and all, at
the same time, willing subjects. But
we are not beyond the reach of danger.
The blessing may not always, nay, may
mol long, be oars. We may have the
form of free institutions, and yet be
slaves
"May wear the name Of Freedom,
Gravon on heavier chans'--
than those our fathers would not wear.
1t may enhance our gratitude for
what is yet ours, to survey the perlls
which surround us.
We are in danger from our own in
ternal dissentions. The recklessness of
party domination is rocking our temple
of liberty to its foundations.
Unluckily the war-spirit has come over
US like the deadly sirocco, and party in.
trigue, and the genius of Southern op.
preston are fastening US on to the tyr.
ranny of a military despotism.
We are in danger of being deceived
by our apparent prosperity. Our pros.
poets as nation must not be estimated
by the evidence of our worldly prosper
ity. We ought to be sufficiently versed
in the history of nations, and the provi-
dences of God, not to suppose that the
glory and strength Of nation consist
in physical greatness alone. Sour
numbers may outstrip all calculation, our
products supply the wants of a starving
world, and our military achievements
may strike surrounding nations with
awe and yetwe may be verging rapid
ly to corruption and consequently to
ruin" Our safety demands that we
inquire for the cause OF our prosperity
and greatness.
What is it What will every candid
mind answer? EVANGELICAL TRUTH
The foundation of our civil and religious
liberty is laid on the principles of the
Bible. Our fathers who laid it, studied
and loved its doctrines, practised its
morality. "Here they derived their higl
sense of responsibility, reverence for law
and their sacred regard for private rights
and the public good"
These are the elements, which the,
wrought into the very fabric Of our in
stitutions, and which have thus far pre-
served us from destruction. Their per
vading influence is our only hope for tn
future. In the absence of these ele
ments men cannot govern themselves
They cannot remain free, because il
such state Of morals, they are not Fl
to govern themselves they are mol fl to b
free. " No republican forms of govern
ment, no wise laws, no nicely balance,
constitutions, can possibly secure free
dom TO those who are unfit for freedom
When the mass have discarded the in
stitutions of religion and the fear Of God
and have become corrupt in their prin
ciples and practice, their fierce DISPOSE
tions will bring them into violent coils
ion with each other, engendering blood
riots, tumults and Instructions ; the
party spirit will reign through the na,ior
filling the highest offices with unprinc
pied men. Then anarchy and civil wa
will steep the soil in blood and lastly
military despotism, with its rod of iror
will come to rule by force, those VIII
have made themselves unfit to be rule
by principle. The name of freedoI
may remain, but it will only be nam
freedom herself will be no more"
And how far are we from such stat
of things this very day? Is any one S
blind as not to see the obvious and rapi
tendencies towards such condition
How rapidly have our citizens bee
transformed by thousands, from tn
peaceful tilers of the soil, tradesme
and civilians, to soldiers clad in stee
and wading in blood How fast is III
public ear becoming accustomed 10 hea
and the public heart to endure, the hol
rid details of war and the evils whic
follow in its train; so that he who mo!
applauds and ministers to this sangulr
airy spirit has gained the surest passpo
to the popular suffrage"
Are we not departing from justic
and peace in our intercourse with si
ter republics Are we not threatene
with the scourge of passions to wbic
we have thought ourselves, from our pre-
LESSONS and position, not in the least g!
posed Is there no danger from IL
!, military ambition and thirst for conques
which has so suddenly and general
| been called forth? Are we in no daI
} ger that this love of national glory wi
become the ruling passion among us
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