Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-13
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
ANNIVERSARY REFLECTIONS.

loHoWlng aTtcts copleu from the new I Ork Jour-
nal of Commerce, issued on the morning of the
late National Anniversary.
The events of single year are often sufficient
TO effect change in the whole structure and frame
work of human society,". The discovery of an art,
the application of principle, the construction of
machine, have, each in turn, revolutlonized the
world while, in many an instance, single act of
despolic injustice has kndled fire in which thrones
and dynasties have been consumed together Dur
ing the year that has just expired the foundations
of the Old World have been shaken, and days have
threatened with destruction the massive edfces
that have stood for ages The political earthquake
which caused the commotion has in measure sub.
sided !; but we have yet TO learn whether the calm
that prevails is the permanent reactionary result of
immature agitation, or mere temporary truce for
the recovery of those exhausted energies, whose
full force is to be felt in future convuIson more
violent than any preceding one. -..s
From careful review of the events that have
transpred abroad, since the dethronement of Louis
Philippe, we mil ght derive many useful lessons, ap-
plicable as well TO our own circumstances and con-
dition, as to those of the people among whom they
occurred, We might begin with the elevation of
Napoleon to the Presidential chair of France and
by endeavoTing to gain insg into the views and
purposes of the various factions to whose combined
efforts he owed his election by examining the po.
icy of his Government; by tracing out its success
sive developments, foreign and domestic; we
might be enabled TO reach some not unreasonable
conclusion, respecting the nature oi those nsti,u
TONS professedly modelled after our own, but which
thus far have failed to produce the gratifying re-
suits that accrue to US from our constitution, our
government and our laws. We might extend our
observations TO the seat of papa power, and reflect
.l
there obtaining its causes the agencies that ope
rate for its continuance, the Intellectual efforts of
mics to re-establish more than the mere semblance
of papal domination. We might embrace in our
survey the unfortunate struggle for independence in
Hungary struggle in which the great principle
of universal liberty yielded to the weight of Aus.
tran despotism, backed up, as il was by the armies
of Russia, ever the alert to suppress the first
feeble effort of freedom. We might pursue our in
quries still further, bringing before our minds, on
the other hand, whatever advances have been made
in the cause of constitutional freedom, either by |
concession to popular demands, or by the enact
ment Of just and equal laws And although in con-
tinental Europe, we should find few instances Of
lberaty on the part of those in power the general
administration of affairs in Great Britain would i'm
press us favorably.
Such survey we have thus briefly suggested,
would be interesting at any time, and full of nstruc-
ton in reference to the nature and ultimate destiny
OF man. But 10 us, on an occasion like this there
are other and more suitable subjects of thought
The annual recurrence OF jubilee generally OBJ
served among day of national rejoicing affords
suitable opportunity for reflection upon the social
condition of our own people, and for inquiries re-
specting the probable continuance and permanency
OF our national institutions. Inquiries of this ma
ture are peculiarly appropriate at present. in view
Of the reckless spirit of dsorganizaton that seems
to be rife in midst that, within the last few
months, has even pushed its way into our halls of
national legislation. We would not imply that
such spirit extends to the great mass of the peo
pie in either section of the country. On the con-
trary, we believe it to be confined to few ultra
factionists, whose influence is by no means COM
mensurate with their purposes but who, at the
same time are capable of efecting amount of
mischief winch more rational men will find it diff
fcult to repair. 1t is melancholy fact that error
always spreads with greater rapidty than truth.
The love Of novelty and excitement often induces
hasty and inconsderale action. Incited by false
hopes Of acquisition, by unfounded apprehensions of
loss, by spirit of wanton aggression, or by the
equally culpable desire to retaliate are prone
10 engage in undertakings whose nature they have
not fully considered, and whose irremedlable
sequences they at length compelled to depore.
seem to be verging the motives enumerated above
may have no influence; that the great questions
submitted TO our consideration may be calmly and
dispassiona,ely discussed and that the decision in
reference to them may be worthy the successors of
those who established the constitution on the basis
of compromise, is undoubtedly the wish of every
patriotic heart. 1t were idle, however, TO remain
satisfied with the mere phantom of wish or a
hope. Those who have at heart the prosperity of
their country must exert themselves to stay the
progress Of such unfortunate ideas and must spare
no effort in the suppression of such dangerous doc
trines. They must express themselves strongy in
derogaton of the course pursued on both sides, by
the radical urasts who would stir up dissension
They must continually hold up to view the neces-
si,y Of an adherence TO the compromises on which
the Union was established, and on which alone it
can be sustained. They must understand that
there is no more reason for dissension now than
there has been heretofore and that, as crisis has
4 been avoided in the past so it may be averted in
the future; not by menaces and threats whose on
ly effect is to rritate and infame, but by concat-
ing appeals 10 mutual interest and common pa
\ trlotism.
Putting aside this question of slavery, on
which all the excited feeling of parties is based
scarcely single storm-coud Of any magnitude is
10 be seen in political horizon and the condi-
ton OF affairs within our own borders, whether
viewed In the ligh, of present prosperity, in
dicative OF great and glorious destiny in the fu-
ture, is alike favorable and gratifying. The field
OF enterprise and labor recently opened to us in the
remote regions bordering the Pacific is already
occupied by large population. entirely sunerior i'm