The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-11
Opinion OF Reveriy Johnson-On Anne rlca
Happiness.

", D
GENTLEMEN :-Oflical engagements, which am
not at liberty TO neglect, deprive me of the plea
of accepting your invitation 10 the celebration
our friends propose OF the coming anniversary of
our national independence.
There IL no portion OF my countrymen should
more rejoice TO meet upon such an occasion, than
the citizens of Delaware, and al their own home.
From the period of the first struggle OF our ances-
tors for cdom, to the present hour relations,
political and social, have been almost as intimate
as if We were citizens Of the same State-scarcey
a battlefield of the revolution which was not
mostened by our common blood, and did not glo-
rlously Illustrate our common vaor; and In all sue
ceeding years, the ties OF association have been
growing stronger and stronger, amidst occasional
common perils, and almost always, common pros
perity The pure fire OF patriotism, which warmed
the hearts OF our ancestors, still aDimates their des
pendants, and will, / trust and doubt not, in all
coming TING, be the cherished possession Of those
who are 10 follow us.
That such people shall proudly cling to the in
situations which secure us personal and political IL
berry, rs but the consequence of their descent.
That they shall be solcious, under their auspices,
still further to extend and perfect the blessings they
are calculated 10 bestow, Is but natural of these,
the internal Improvement OF the country, TO
cure prctecion TO the property and ives OF our citi-
zens, and the encouragement OF our domestic indus
try by wise and enlightened system Of legislation,
and lis safety, from runous conflict with the
pauper labor OF other nations, have ever been
the favoTite objects OF our States. With n coun-
try, new limited only by the great oceans which
WISH anu VIII loIlns VI
general and LEGAL, admirably adapted to secure
aud yeTpe tuate freedom and impart individual hap
piness, rfan the world has ever before witnessed--
with every variety of climate and coil, and mineral
wealih-licaven would seem To ~. mi 1t out az our
especial GUY 70 estAn..sn a system of American pc
hey wncn snail at the same time secure US from
foreign couyulsions, and protect our people IN a
full and hbe,al compensation Tor all the fruits OF
their domestic industry. Our forms OF govern
ment, ing on Intelligence, can never BE- NAM
tanned II the people generally have not a com1e-
tency. The ahjcct poverty of the masses IN the
old world-the gross and degrading ignorance, its
unavoidable consequences IN which they In
goved, never exist with Us, and our Institutions
stand.
II should be our object-ihe very necessity of our
political condition demands ito secure to our la
Dor not only adequate buta liberal compensation.
The laLoIer with US, IN every branch OF human IN
hustry, should be made TO receive more, much
more, Than bare suiliciency to support life. lie
10 educate his children, and secure himself, in his
old age, from want. lie should be independent in
mind as well as in body-one of the sovereigns of
the land: the only sovereign nature recognizes. lie
ia entitled, when true To himself, 10 the comforts OF
life, and the benefits of education aud these,
through the ballot box, he should take care 10 Sc
cure for himself, and hand down TO his children.
Bring the schoolmaster into every cottage, and
keep poverty out Of II, and no Imagination can
figure the happiness, individual and general, and
the national power, great as all are, which our
people and country are TO witness and ENJOY here
after. Very respectfully, your obcdient servant.
RryERpY JOHNSON.
To Hon JOHN WALEa, and others.