The New York herald., 1850-02-22


cabinet, IN toto.
The BIRTHDAY OF WASHINGTON. The twenty
second Of February Is day that should be sacred
in the estimation of freemen throughout the world.
An era of liberty began 10 dawn at the epoch
when Washington was born, and the annual re-
turn Of the day ought to animate mankind with
patriotic reflections, and with wise resolutions for
the future At the present crisis Of our political
history, TO which we have been hurried by the
madness OF men, the necessity of revising our po-
ltical Judgments, and Of Strengthening ourselves,
to perpeuate, unimpaired, the legacy secured to us
by the father of this country presses upon with
ne ordinary earnestness. Factions have urged
men TO the edge Of precpice, from which they
must retreat or be lost. There is no safety IN
delay, and doubt only creates danger. We must
be for the Union, against 1t. No neutral ground
can be occupied. This is evident from the irreme-
diable position of the organs of Legislation.
Placed in a garden of social independence and
lawful freedom, TO dress and keep It," we are
forgetting the admontions OF the past, and in
dulging our appetites at the possible sacrifice of
our posterty. Our individual strength is not ex-
ered to avert the abrupt transitions leading to n-
stability, and We are in danger of ruin from the
naughty self-conscousness that is the prime cha
racterstIc Of the age. If the experience of the
past be lost upon us, we shall plunge headong to
the same abyss Of unsettled political existence that
marks the older countries Of the world.
Thus far, the success OF the first truly elective
and representative republic that the world has
known, exhibits our government to be beyond the
character Of an experiment. The spectacle Of a
people deriving power from themselves, and sus.
81 - r. u
virtue, attracts the observation and excites the ad
miratlon of the word. Ancient thrones and pow.
eru dy nastes fade, with all their spendor, before
it; while yrsnts are only seen men, and man
kind as equal in their political privileges.
Yet, with all the just pride that we may enter
tain, there is check to any exultation. The am
biton, passions, and factions which distract So
cleiy are around us. Dangers threaten us. The
sge, with the consciousness that marks its SPIRIT
is liable TO dertake tasks beyond its real strength
Veneration for the past is lost in the shouts and
selfgratulanons Of the present. and the classes Of
reformers outnumber the errors which they seek to
dispel. Standards are erected on every hillock,
and people flock TO them with impuslve ignorance,
regardless of the results Of ensting under them.
OF those who rear these standards-who, in the
vsnIiy Of intellect marshal forces for the purposes
OF faction and discord-who would be the arbiiers
OF all action-who behold nothing accomplished
that might not have been done better-factionlsts,
who, uLder the professions Of peace, Of gentleness,
ard of fnon-Tesistance, would establish dscord, con-
fusion and eisunion-phlanthropi factionlsts,
who question motives, stab character, divide
churches, attack the Sabbath, urge the overthrow
OF the clergy, and would delight in the flow of
blood and The madness Of civil strife-factionIsts,
who deem nothing hon est save their own honesty,
nothing moral save their own morality, nothing
legal save their own views of legality, nothing di-
vine except their own schemes, TO the perpeira-
ton of which all their time. all their talents are
devoted devoted, as they themselves represent,
for one great and happy result-a result which,
under their administration, never can be accom-
pished, or only SO by the sacrifice Of the lives of
thousands-what need be saidl Are not the evil
denoes Of their insane agitation staring US full in
the facet
At this crisis, then, we require the spirit Of
Washington to prevail In all our counsels. We
need that political virtue which is the science Of
nauonal happiness. We have duties to perform
towards society and our country-dues not limit
ed tor the benefit OF any porIioa Of our race.
These demands upon US are Of invaluable impor-
lance. They involve the highest, deepest, strong
est moral obligations. They cry out with no sec.
nonal voice. They are stupendous, as they relate
to the perpetua,on of the confederacy, and to the
social happiness of all who live under this govern
ment No narrow circle bounds them, but they
are of universal application; no party can hedge
the IN in, for they are due to the nation at large;
aud he only cen be good citizen, who yields
something Of his own preJudices and desires, for
the general benefit of his countymen. In this
feeling, then, let the anniversary Of the birth of
Washington have that moral influence which II is
so well calculated, duly respected, TO promote and
exert.