Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-30


II does good occasionally to the past trace
successive events in bygone tines and learn from theme
how disaster has been avoided and prosperity sains Their
is much in history that often be recalled to III
memory of the citizen. II is full Of Instruction and rea
agh will guide through every peril Of the future
But brief period has elapsed in the age Of nations sine
Jamestown and Plymouth Rock witnessed the landing Of
strange upon the North American continent Trial
and prosecutions in the Old World sent thsm forth from tb
bosom of the society which they had been reared and tina
God in whose sacred they suffered came with them
They found land fertile, indeed beyond all they had
known OF eity, bot in which hardship and danger wen
the landmarks of existence. No walled town reared il,
spires gladden. the sight; the anvil and the hammer had
esounded along those gloomy shores the
had broken the SOIL rich with the mould Of centsxes
Whatever could cheer and encourages whatever could soften
the asperties of lie, give 10 labor charmal were want
ing. Wholly unconscious of founding an empire thew
thought only of asylum where Gods worship should be
unresyined and Gods creatures uneefed Before their
perssveng industry the forests melted away cultivated fields
grew and aoushed where late the panther made his lair
Hocks and herds suayed unmolesed where the wild Indian
had held bis orgies and doomed hspsoners the sake all
the of civilized life took root and ourishcd edu
cation spread its blessings through the land /:
"And Genius came, and all the tunefu race
Struck their glad Tyres and owned their resinsplace"
The struggle with England which soon followed taught
the colonies the necessity Of union and accordingly feeble
and imperfect confederation effected which served to
hold them together willis the presence of foreign enemy
menaced life and liberty. But tho this external
pressure removed its weakness and mbecily became
compHed
with their obligations pay off the revolutionary debt and
New Jersey expressly refused New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Maryland passed navigation hws treating
the citizens Of other States Aliens Connecticut taxed inn
ports from other States Georgia carried and made
treaties with the Indians Massachusetts, raised and kept up
armies without the consent of Congress in many Of the
States deprecated paper made tender payment Of
debts nstament laws were passed and the courts Of justice
closed John Adams in his inaugural message thus describes
the state Of things which existed under the Confederation
Negligence Of its regulations inattenton to its recon-
mendations if disobedence authority only in
individuals but in States soon appeared with their men
choly languor eaousis and rival
ries OF States decline OF navigation and dis
enlargement Of necessary manufactures fall in
value OF lands and their produce contempt of public and
private faith loss of consideration and credit with foreign
nations and at length in dseontents, anmosites combna
uons partial conventions and insurrection threatening
great national calamity
With this experience of the confusion and anarchy which
existed prior to the adoption Of present constitution,
should be careful how risk similar scenes
should remember that at this day all the evils enumerated
would be aggravated hundredo, and that could only
hope for peace when faction had crushed by the hand Of
q military despot.
There is another portion Of the history Of that period which
must not be overlooked This is the first that dis
membement has found jealous advocates and supporters
Then there busly engaged in scattering
poison through the land, in tanning the fires ofseconal ea
lousy and advocating the erection Conedera
figuring sectional theatre, because the sections would
require stronger Governments by their hostile conflicts lead
to monarchcal consolidation"
The good sense Of the nation rumphed and present
constitution the result Under that constitution have
been moving with giant strides in the march empire
From thirteen feeble distracted and divided colonies nation
has arisen which all Europe in could oveun. Our
commerce has penetrated into every cme aad every is
whtened with its sails In all the achievements of and
all the arts of peace the North American Republic stands pre-
eminent without equal and without rival The citizen
enjoys amount Of individual liberty unknown toany other
land The honos and emoIumens Of every Office open
share to-day may be President tomorrow. 80
weary OF this happy state to desire the destruction Of the
constitution which has secured it. That the Government
will sometimes work unequaly, pre.ends dispute
That there are and must be occasional grievances under it.
not to be Denied No human institution perfect but the
rapid advancement of State wealth and power
triumphant proof that we have been called upon
dure any serious evil Forty years ago Alabama
most unbroken wilderness contains population Of at
least seveny6ve thousand voters and those
Of the whole thirteen original States at the date Of indie
pendence At this very moment you enjoy amount Of
prosperity surpassed and any change must be for the
Then listen not those who would urge you
in the mad work of agitation like the serpent in the
garden of Eden they have Sin and Death for their followers
and have come to destroy the bloom Of Paradise
hope is mpety to say that the foundations of this
Republic laid by God himself Washington, Franklin
Jefferson, Madison, and thousand other sages and patriots
the revolution, built the glorious fabric It has stood
the test Of time and trial. The winds have come, and the
rain has beat upon it but not stone is shaken, not rae
displaced Beneath its shelter every civil rght-every pv
lege Of regonhas been protected and scared For what
then, asked to tear down with hands
edHce which the tempest poeress harm What deadly
malaria has penetrated its walls What evil spirit has taken
his abode among the good geni of the place What OPP
preston is felt What tyranny has cast its mldew
happiness! None; Of these things have upon
u.s. Within and without prosperity is scattering around
her gifts Peace yours Plenty has spread her ample board
and contentment to her SIDE At time like this
you prepared to exchange the blessings you enjoy fol ban
quet Of blood Are you in love with murder that you
a1v Ava
wasted fields and smoking ruins pleasant your sight that
you willing expose your dwellings destruction
rather than not burn your neghbo Is there music
the sheks Of women the desparng cries Of help
less orphans you cannot give affirmative answer to
these questions then stand by the Unions cling the work Of
Washington and Madison do not exchange it for rckey
built by and untred artisans trust rather
the of the past and guard with mises the rich
inheritance they have transmitted to you and to your children
have something say to the old supporters of An
drew Jackson whom see around me. You have passed
through such crisis before but the strong of the
patriot hero then guided the helm and the weather
ed in safety Not satisfied with having saved you then, he
sought to guard you against similar dangers through all u
time, and accordingly, when about retire the walks
OF private lie he le you legacy Of priceless value Let
ne now speaks you from the grave. He has been called
from us to home among the stars and allure you, by all
the love you bore him. by ell the gratitude which Is his DUE
by oil the condolences cannot help feeling in his wisdom
| and patriotism, to heed his warning
These cheering grateful and these multiple
ed hvors under Providence the adoption the
Federal Constitution. longer question whether this
great country remain happily united ourshng
der our present form Of government Experencehe