The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-07-21
Letter from J. ]. Speed ESQ.

ht tue W my reStlNdI III HlIduel pHld, On
the 4th of July, was the following from,
Joseph J. Speed, Esq.
BALTIMORE, June 80, 1S+o.
Csn.lcnlea---I have been honorcd with
Your invitation as q Committee Of the
Wing citizens Of Philadelp hia 10 attend
their great anniversary festival on the
Alta Of July, and while / thank you for
this courtesy, and express my sorrow
that previous engagements for that day
will prevent my being with you, de-
sire to express my unfelgned and hearty
acquescence IN the sentiment of your
letter. 1t is most tue that it Is upon
wing principles the national prosperity
rests. Upon none other can it be finally
seated. 1t is also very true, that there
has been no period in our history when
it was more important to fall back and
repose upon those principles; 10 re-an-
hounce and promulgate them, to avow
md re-avow our unwavering devotion
70 them, our immoveable confidence in
them, and to inculcate their lessons upon
all around us by all honorable means.
and the most assiduous industry. The
Republic is committed to our charge,
gentlemen, at a most critical juncture Of
its history. We are just out of war, of
conquest. The recent treaties of peace
have secured 10 us vast expansions Of ter
I'toly, multltudes of population, speak
ing foreign tongues, indeed, States and
Nations, wholly uninstructed in the prin
ciples Of our laws, are taken into our
eonfederacy. With these, have come
new passions; new sympathies with all
their own ancient hereditary preeren-
ces and antipathios, religious and politi-
cal. A constitutional frame Of Govern
ment adopted by the American peoplr,
for themselves, when their numbers were
only three millions, their national inter
ests but few and we'll ascertained-an
which has been, carefully, but not with
out difficulty, amended and adapted to
their own natural growth, is now sudden
!yto be splung over new nations, and
whole races of people, that regad us
with neither s. lnpathy nor affection, are
70 be reconcled and made obedent to
that which they do not understand or
admire, and won over 10 new notions of
government that they regard with set
tied repugnance. The Transmission of
the fervor OF our revolution through the
generations oiour own people, from faith
or to son, and under parental instruc-
tions, has been an easy task; and the spr
it that led Washington TO his achiev,
ments btrns with as pure a flame in the
American breast now as it did the dav
1n GipIlaI PIT
tion oihis lessons, precious and excellent
us they are. upon men who have, here
tofore, regarded them with aversion,
may prove rugged task. The Romans
when they conquered a State, removed
its soldiers to Italy; and garrison-d the
aew country with battaions from the
Imperial army Peru, in the course of
her mighty conquests.. was accustomed
to pluck up the whole population of
subdued State, and plant it near the CAPT
tai, supplying its place by those who
were accustomed to her laws and of
known allegiance. The more ancient
nations laid waste new country wit h |
fire and sword, and reduced it to state
OF helpless submission. England makes
no attempt at annexation. She erects
her conquests INTO colonies; and puts
them Immediately underline government
Of her great armies. All these courses
are repugnant to the genius of our own
people; and we must rely for the govern
ment of the subjngated country upon the
moral power of our institutions. And
IN this new and difficult emergency, the
elements OF strength in our Constitution
should be chung to and preserved. And
these elements and features of strength
and protection, are the principles of the
Wing party; and they should be- upheld
and announced as national principles,
that are not to te departed from. 1t is
true, there is force and power in the
onward movement OF this country that
has enabled it, thus for to stem the cur
yent OF bad administration, and to push
aside the weak schemes of selfish poiti
clans; but the vigor cannot always last
1t cannot always surmount these impede
ments. The government, to sustain it.
self in the long career ofsuccess that man
kind expect from it, must be administer
ed upon just principles.-In these will
be found its strength, its duration. and
all the difli!siye benefcence and bles-
sing that will flow from its operations. -
l suppose l may affirm that the first oil
those principles Is perfect union, and
4his, your plan Of celebration Is most hap
PLY designed TO promote.
l take pride, gentlemen, IN saying
that our two States Of Maryland and
Pennsylvania, present the rest of the
eonfederacy with an example ofthat per
feet union. One are our interests one
our national principles; holding no III ira
tenents, our solictudes are for the wei
fare OF the whole country. Our afec-