Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-07-04
THE AMERICAN UNION.

The lbe,tlcs of Greece and the republlcanism
of Rome are themes with which writers Of mod
ern DAYS are familiar. But neither the liberties
of Greece nor the republicanism OF Rome, can
compare with our plan Of government The plan Is,
indeed. great, and, under the direction OF proper
authorities is destined to achieve national great
mesa and power. But even this government,
great as it ia, is not proof against the seductive
charms Of popular illusion and the spirit Of party.
Indeed there is power in the spirit OF party.
which we cannot resist, long as we entertain It,.
And sectional parties must, permitted to grow
end IN the dissolution OF our Union.
The name 81 George Washington kindles in
every American bosom thousand patriotic
thoughts, and national so,iatIons. The servI-
ces Of tins great man have endcared him TO the
American people. His eagle eye watched over
the interest Of the inian, colonists, and his ggan
tic arm, nerved with the courage of the forest
king wrought on, tina, great structure Of Ameri-
can Independence, which is perpetuated in the
American Union. He is indeed the parent Of
our country, and his greatest legacy is his Fare
well Address In ,ba, address, the true charac-
Ter of Washington is faithfully drawn. |. is re-
pete with the solicitude of patriotism written
plainly and clearly, and this, too, a, the moment
when he was about to leave the cares Of public
life and return 10 the retirement OF his own broad
Potomac, But were we asked to point on! those
f. ,ures IN the address which constitute its orna
ments, we should select its good sense and sound
discretion These qualities are sufficient to give
it weigh, and influence. We present the follow
ing extract as one which has ever commanded
the appreciation Of the American people
40 the efc,ry and pernonrncy Of your union nov.
eminent for the VIII ls is ind spensabe. No alliances
however street, between The paris, can be an adj qnate
substitute. They must inevitably experience the inirac.
tons nd ntrrrp pns VIII oh all alliances in all lines
have experienced. Sens bic Of this molnen"us truth.
yom have improved upon your first essay, by the adoption
Of constitution of government better calculated Than
your fmei. for an intimate unon, and io the eicacious
management II yonr common concerns. This govern
men the offspring of your own choice nhlnfuenced and
unaved adopted upon fall oves gation and mature de-
hera in completely free IN lis principles, IN the dis
rbnti If It's powers uniting security with energy and
containing within ilselfa provision for it own amend
me has Just lain IT, your nhdence and your sup
port Respect its auth nty. nplancs with its laws,
arl in lis are duties enI hned by tho
fundamental maxim. Of true liberty The basis Of our
political systems is the right Of tn" people To make and
alter their constitutions Of government. Blu the copsii
luton, which at any time exits I'LL changed by m ex
prit aud authentic of the who" people. is sacredy
obligatory up all The very idea of the power and the
reh Of the pupe to establish government, prcsupp
thu DUTY Of every individual to obey the established gov
crnmeni"
Here the Father of his Country speaks with
confidence of the Constitution. He regards it as
pond Of Union fully sufficient to accomplish
the greatest good for the entire country. Expe-
Renee has demonstrated the truth OF his theories
and it is demonstrative of the fact, that General
Washington seldom thought wrong upon practi-
cal questions The magnitude OF question was
no difficulty with him, for the powers of his in
tellcct were vast. Shall, then, the Constitution
be thrown aside and changes be made TO remedy
evils which can be reached by the enactments of
Congress- and evils too, be it remembered, exist
ing al the time of the recommendation : The
Constitution of tho United States, as commended
by General Washington, is the same which is to-
day in force And il is this instrument, which
binds the several States into one compact, and
un,tcs them under one government. Of it's pow
CT to effect this result, General Washington wrote
IN the most nattering terms Such an expression
OF opinion from such man, is entitled to the
highest consideration. General Washington was
man of fine discernment, and was slow in the
formation of his opinions. He was destitute OF
impulse. Cold, calculating and deliberate, he
proceeded calmly to the investigation Of the ques-
tons presented fol his consideration. Endowed
with superior powers of observation, he detected
error quickly. Possessing all of these powers
the consequence was, that his conclusions were
accurate and based upon truth. Therefore. the
opinions OF this great man are entitled to respect
not only respect, but intelligent men are moi
ashamed to adopt them as authority.
What then. is the brief amount Of the extract
made : Simply this Gen. Washington was con
WINGED of the essentially Of combining the sew,
eral States under one government, and regarded
the Constitution as fully essential TO the answer.
ing of all the purposes of this government. The
question now is, is this opinion worth anything
or nothing' 1t is certainly entitled to weight
and if we examine the source from which il
+, comes, to the weight of authority. We, there.
fore, present il to our readers upon the natal day
of their independence that they may pause a
i, least TO reflect upon the question of dsunion
n The admonition of Washington the counsel O
Washington. are not 10 be disregarded, withou
subj ecting men To the charges Of extreme egotisn
and of foohardness.
, But it is said the times have changed. Ant
how changed9 The slavery question, as we I'M
dersand 1t, is giving the aspect of dsunion TO on
i, national affairs. Now the slavery question bic
fair at one time to prevent the organization of thu
i Union. General Washington was reviewing tn,
condition OF the nation, and in consequence o
!, existing difficulties these admoni,ions wer,
I, !. thrown out II is true that the relative position
), of our country towards other, nations has chang
70 ed, but internal condition and relations ar,
- unaltered in principle We say principle, 70
\ they are altered in degree. To illustrate tn,
Al position which we assume. There has been ad
vancement but no change in nature. Thus, tn,
poet in youth shows but slight signs of masina
II tion but in mature years it is exhibited so as t
,E "a.