Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-04-24
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE spEcrAron.l
WAsHIEGroN. April 4, 1850.

WASHINGTON, APRIL q, 1850.
Who can listen the great men of nation without
feeling the conviction that there are "gants in these day
have had my young Imagination fired and my admiration
wrought to amazement, as the gants Of old" have been
studied in the classic pages Of Greece and Rome in the
golden and maraIages of ancient sages and heroes Here
in my manhood, with the ardor of ysnh sobered by the
stern experience of half century, all those early and deep
impressions, those vivid pictures of my morning day,
into the shade as listen to the eoquence of our Sena-
TORS and contemplate the deeds Of our heroes History,
doubt not, will the distance of thousand years. verify
this opinion to the youthful students of those classic pages,
which shall embalm the glowing minds and heroic deeds of
the great men ofour country and of our day.
Whence arises this development of mind. Philosophy
can give the answer-ary observer is competent
10 give the The mind is free think and there.
fore lhinks-fee to give expression its thoughts and
therefore, thinking strongly, i, speaks eloqueny Great
fields OF enterprise are en open 10 ALL and they are en-
tered upon most by thOse who have souls attempt great
things. Nobility comes not by inheritance, but by deeds
that ennobe Industry is of itself capital enterprise is CAPT
tall integrity Of character is capital and all these there
fore foundation for credit The puny intellect and the
mean soul can enforce here claim by inheritance to the
homage Of Independent minds. The laws Of the human
mind are left to operate unmpeded by human enaclmens.
Every man. therefore, finds his proper level and is estma
led by his intrinsic value
Freedom of debate unity Of action, sustained by
the only reliable moral power union of heart True, there
may be conflicts ofopnon Universities of sentiment person
al differences strenuous opposition Of parlies attending
free press and free discussion but these conflicts in popular
assemblies, serve purify the political elements, and DIFF
fuse heal,hfu Influences The public mind is enlightened
and every citizen brings his personal contribution support
the State where every of public policy thus be-
comes the subject Of minute discussion.
All power resides in The people, and where they are
it will be retained so that despot
usurp it. JOHN QUIscY ADAMS opposed the reduc-
ton of numbers in the popular branch Of The national legs
laure, because he believed popular agtaons less danger
Gus our liberties than the concentration Of power in the
hands OF few Perhaps he right Ours is the cheap
government earth, although pay the expense Of
long speeches. long sessions of National and State Leg
slaures, and Of large popular representation Ours one
Of The most efficient governments although the most popu-
lar in its form. Every citizen speaks and writes and pub
fishes his opinions freely and measures, under all
circumstances. Every thought Of every man is laid open
When conclusions reached have then the mind of
the nation. When action comes it is the action Of the ma
tiunal heart Our citizens form armies in Every
citizen is soldier for domestic security in pence We have
standing army composed of The nation itself, bent the
preservation Of peace hume and abroad IT, from any
cessiy, comes any shape all ready 60 forth
volunteers to Conquer peace" How dffercn, such
force from any army of hireng soldiers victims of
scption, who the will Of tyrant, though often Oppose
ed in their feelings the in which they draw
their swords Such people must be nvncbIe 50 long
as they are true TO themselves