Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-27

blood, and the summit of Bunker Hill was the great al
tar OF sacrifice. The solem appeal to arms rlade
on the 10Th Of Apr the entire population of the coun.
try had ratified the call and s chosen to the field
and on the day celebrate three quarters of century
ago, twas proved by the seadness and courage of the
citizen soldiers of America IN open battle, that the
cause of the country safe. twelvemonth was
yet elapse before the final declaration was made; bu
the independence of the United States was as eecualJ
asserted on the 18th Of june l775 as on the 4h OF Ju
ly, 1776 1t no certain on the Sd of Septem-
Der, 1888 when the deflnltive treaty OF peace was
signed and sealed at Paris, by Adams Franklin, and
Jay than it was was when Warren sealed 1t with his
blood eight years before.
It would require volume to set forth all the conse-
quences America and the world which have resulted
from the establishment of our Independence which have
already resulted from that event. and who shall pre-
to break the seals of the volume of the future 2!
This momenous step gave at once position in the
family OF nations 1t raised the colonial quarrel into
controversy of States, to be carried before the great
tribunal Of the public opinion OF the world. The sharp
encounter of wits with provincial governors is over; the
X. al discussion OF parliamentary right has gone BY
No more black letter volumes to be anxously turned;
more musty parchmeDts to be enrolled. The letter
killeth but the spirit gveth life The question at issue
to be decided by open public war, in the face OF
mankind with the law OF nations to prescribe the rules
OF the contest-that mighty CODE which nature enacts.
and reason expounds, and God sanctions which binds
great empires, and protects the humblest individual;
which rules the rulers the world and alone of all the
rulers extends its jurisdiction the sea;
which chases the pirate and the marauder to the far
thest bounds ofthe ocean, which in good cause march
with twelve legons of angels to the rescue of the
weak and hangs up the unrighteous conqueor at the
head Of his hosts, the gibbet OF public execraion,
before the civilized world.
With this great tribunal before which republics and
kings are ofequal WORTH the Congress OF Phiadephi
lodged its appeal of Independence A pause Of ON
nous expectation succeeds in the great political world
of Europe The leading governments, vigilant for the
balance Of power, which had been disturbed by the
transfer of the American colonies OF Francei to Eng
land, await anxiously the indications OF firm basis of
resistance the part of the revolted States The dig
nifty and wisdom OF the American Congress- the forth
tude of the army the spirit Of the people, and as
bodying and representing ALL the ranscendent charac
ter OF Washington, furnished the needed assurance OF
the solidy OF the and the world s soon aston
hed by the spectacle OF the Oldest monarchy OF Europe
in alliance with the family OF infant States The
fleets and armies of France, led by the flower of her
young men--and foremost by our own Lafayette
are enlisted in the mighty struggle. The North OF
Europe takes her naughty stand on the armed neutral
y; and even Spain, mistress herself of colonial en-
pre in America twice large as that OF Great Britain,
driven by the irresistible force Of circumstances to
take part in the contest and to teach lesson OF rev.
olution her dependencies, destined in more
generation to be learned and put to practice from Cali
tornia to Cape Horn.
Ill The assertion of independence, practically by
engaging in open with the parent country, and
avowedy by the great declaration Of 776 left the colo
MES without government either as individuals or as
contederacy The third great step IN the revolution
accordingly the establishment of republican gov
in the history OF the world was an event OF SO much
importance brought about with such entire absence
of all the usual appliances of policy or force. There
was in truth 10 the way OF Organizing the new govern
ty existed the colonies had been governed from the
first by assemblies chosen by the people. There were
privileged orders 10 be subverted and little remain
ed be done but extend the principle OF election to
the chief executive officer who had heretofore been
appointed by the crown. However important the
luton in other respects-and certainly no change In
human affairs more important ever took pace-there
convulsion in society, no revolution in those N
situations which make up the aggregate OF social and
political existence. The schools, the town meetings
the militia, the churches were all organized on the
principles OF practical repuolca9lsm ana contributed
most materially as has been Justly stated by President
John Adams to the great result Still more ethcaciOu
than institutions, the Same simple manners, the SAINT
frugal habts-the same home virtues. which existed IL
IT'S, remained unchanged in 1888 and the same un
terrified spirit OF liberty which stood the ordeal of tn
war, had existed from the settlement of the country.
These circumstances will account Tor the ease witt
which, all things considered, the new republican gov
ernmens were established, and which is one OF tn,
ost striking novelties in the march Of revolution
When follow the train OF events in Europe, from thu
year 1889 to the present day, we are ready to thnl
that the task Of reconstituting State on liberal prnci
pes,-l might say on any principles,-ls the mos
arduous and hopeless which be undertaken by man
We there behold great aud enlightened people,
among the most refined of modern States,-boastns
among her sons large number OF the leading minds
|
reforming the government,-subvertng this year thu
Constitution Of the last passing from monarchy to re-
publicanism, from the widest anarchy to the sernes
military desposm scourged and betrayed successivell
by each new dictator, tribune and demagogue, ant
plunging with fatal reckessness, from experiment II
experiment of bloodshed and ruin.
In the establishment OF the American Republics, OF
the other hand, witness the grave and quiet actor
of the wisdom and patriotism OF the country. 1t did
enter into the magnations OF the men of our heroic
age that constitutions OF governments were to be settled
on the blazing crest OF barrcade, or promulgated
from the mouth OF cannons spoutng grape shot in the
crowded streets of capital Without conflict, scarce
y with the ordinary heats OF debate within the closed
doors OF Congress OF prudent men, solemn declara
ton announces the independence OF the Colonies
After year passed under their ancient charters
with temporary organization oil the executive power
to meet the chasm created by the withdrawal OF tn
royal authority regular constitutions OF republican gov
ernments are successfully formed in the different States
which have not only subsisted without material mod
ihcaton, to the present time, but have served as
models for the Constitution OF the General Govern
ment, and tor seventeen eighteen new States which
have been successfully added TO the Contederacy Ii
the characteristic expression OF one who had a
right speak upon the subject for he called
to reduce his theory to prac!ioe uhe elder President
recounng the steps by which new government might
be established, that " in this way, single month is
sufficient, without CONFUSION or anmosity, TO accom-
plsh total revolution"
OF France and Frenchmen | wish never to speak but
with respect and tenderness. For revolutionary servi
ces them debt of gratitude not soon TO be
paid. Among the human agencies by which our liber
ties were established the French alliance holds no
second place. Lafayette held second place in the
heart of Washington. But so often as | take up a
volume OF the history Of their the works,
for instance, Of Theirs or Lamartine, works by no
means intended TO paint in dark coors the deeds
of that day. rise from the perusal with overwhe mi
sadness After sckenng over the horrors Of that dread
fal perlodSthe butchery, do not say OF kings and
queens,-but of gray haired men,-of women--of
priests the atrocities OF the human tigers who preyed
on the life blood of France, and dared to invoke the
sacred OF republican liberty the of their
denominations, fam turn for relief to the pages OF
our revolutionary history to gather renewed hope
for constitutional freedom from the writings Of Madison,
Hamilton and Jay new lessons of true patriotism from
the story OF Warren OF Putnam, and PRESCOTT new faith
in humanity from the spotess career of w ashngton.-
make the transition with feelings like those which one
experiences, when, after wandering for hours through
the dark, dripping, passages OF dismal mine,
-deatened with the cank of enginery and the roar Of
subterranean waters,-oppressed with the grave-like
heavness and chill of the air, choked with sulphurous
vapors and cropping your way in continual danger of an
explosion which will bury you beneath mountain mass