The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-08

gator that in whatsoever he shall sail his ship he is
protected by the and stripes OF his country All this
has been done without he shedding OF drop of blood
for treason rebellion all THIS, while systems OF pop
uar have regularly been supported in the
State governments and ia the general government all
this while laws national and State, OF such character
have been passed. and have been SO wisely administered
that may stand up here to-day and declare as now do
declare in the face of all the Intelligent OF the age mat
for the period which has elapsed from the day that ash
ngton laid the foundation OF this Capitol TO the present
time. there has been no country upon earth IN weh ne.
liberty and property have been more amply and steadily
secured freely enjoyed than IN these United Slass
OF America. Who is there that Will deny TINS! Who
there prepared with greater or better example VINO
there that stand upon the foundation OF facts ae
lodged proved, and assert that these, our epub
institutions have not answered the true ends OF gov
eminent beyond all precedent n human HISTORY con
There is yet another view There are sll higher con-
sideratons Man is intellectual being destined to I'm.
mortality: There is a spirit in him, and the breath o.
the Almighty hath given HIM understanding. Then
only is he tending towards his destiny while he
seeks for knowledge virtuefor the will OF his Maker,
and for just conceptions of his own duty Oh all lmpor
questions therefore, let this the most important oil
all be first asked and first answered: in THAT country oil
the habtable globe OF great extent and large population
the of knowledge the most generally dfased
and enjoyed among the peope' This question admits OF
one and only one, 1t is here it is here in these
United States; is among the descendants OF those who
settled at Jamestown-ot those who were pilgrims on the
shore of Plymouth and OF those other races OF men
who in subsequent times have become Joined this great
American family Let fact, incapable Of doubt or
dispute satisfy every mind on this point The popua-
lion of The United States is 2s.ooOooo. Now take the
map OF the continent of Europe and spread out before
you Take your scale and your divdes, and lay of in
area any shape you please, Triangle square, cir
Gle. paraleogram, or trapezod, and Of an extent that
shall contain $50 100000 OF people, and there will be
found within the United States more persons who ha-
bualIy read and write than can be embraced within the
lines of your demarcaon .
But there is something even than this: Man
is not only an intellectual, but he is also religious
| being and his religious feelings and habits require
cultivation. Let the religious element IN mans nature
be neglected let him be influenced by no higher
motives than low self interest, and subjected TO no
stronger restraint than the limits of civil authority and
he becomes the creature Of selfish passions or blind ia
nacism The spectacle OF a nation, powerful and en-,
ghened, but without Christian faith, has been presented
almost within our own day warning beacon for the
nations On the other hand the cultivation OF the religious
sentiment represses Righteousness nctes to general be-
nevolence and the practical acknowledgment OF the bro.
herhood OF mannspes respect for law and order, and
gives strength the whole social fabric, at the same time
conducts the human soul upward to me author OF s
being Now, think it may be stated with TRUTH that IN
no country, proportion TO its population are there 80
many benevolent establishments connected with religious
instruction. Bible, missionary, and tract societies, sup
ported by public and private contributions as In our own
There also institutions for the education OF the bind
the deaf and dumb OF idiots, for the reception OF orphan
and destitute children for moral REFORM designed for chill
dren and females respectively; institutions for the ref
ornaon OF criminals, not to speak OF those numerous
establishments in almost every county and town IN the
United States for the reception of the aged, infm, and
destitute poor many OF whom have fled to our shores to
escape the poverty and wre,chedness of their condition
home. In the United States there is church establish
ment ecclesiastical authority founded by government
Public worship is maintained either by vol untay associ
atoms and contributions, by trusts and donations OF
charitable origin Now, think it safe to say that
greater portion of the people Of the United States attend
public worship decently clad, well behaved. and we'll
seated, than OF any other country OF the civilized world
Edfces OF religion everywhere. Their aggre
gate cost would amount to immense sum Of money.
They in the general kept in good repair and conss-
Grated the purposes OF public worship In these edIhces
the people regularly assemble the sabbath day. which
sacredy set apart for rest by all classes from secular
employment and for religious meditation and worship to
listen to the reading Of the Holy Scriptures and dscourses
from pious ministers of the several denominations This
attention TO the wants OF the intellect and OF the SOUL as
manifested by the voluntary support OF schools and col
leges of churches and benevolent institutions, is OF
the remarkable characteristics OF the American peo
pie, not less strkngy exhibited in the than in the
Older settlements OF the country On the spot where the
first trees OF the forest feed the log cabins OF
the pioneers, to be rising together the church
ami the school house So has it been from Me begin
{ ming, and God grant that thus il may continue.
/ "On other shores above their Wondering towns
In .ulen pomp the tail cathedral ffowns.
i Simple and irai, our lowly temples throw
II Their slender shadows on the paths below.
Scarce steal the winds that sweep his woodland track,
4 The arch's perfume from the settlers are,
II Ere, like vision OF The morning air,
lbs 'lss.famsd ''eePle mark the house Of prayer
; Yet faiths pure hymn, beneath its shelder rude,
! Breaches out as sweetly 10 the tangled wood,
As where the rays through blazing orels pour
VI On marble shaft and tasselsted floor"
Who does not admit that this unparalleled growth Of
prosperity and renown is the result under Providence OF
The Union OF these States under general constitution
which guarantees 10 each STATE republican form OF
eminent, and to every the enjoyment OF life liberty,
and The pursuit Of happiness, free from civil tyranny
ecclesiastical domination' To bring home this idea 10
the present OCCASION who does feel that when Pres
dent Washington laid his hand the foundation Of the
hrst Capitol building, he performed great work OF per-
petualion OF the Union and the constitution Who does
not feel that this seat OF the general government health
fu in its situation, central in it's position, TO the
mountains from whence gush springs OF wonderful vir
tue, teeming with Natures richest products and yet not
far from the bays and the great esoaries Of the
easily accessible and generally agreeable in climate and
association, does give strength 10 the Union OF the
States that this city, bearing immortal name,
with it's broad streets and avenues, its public squares
and magnificent ed6ces OF the general government,
erected Tor the purpose OF carrying on within them
the important business oil the several departments, for
the reception OF wonderful and curious inventions,
the preservation OF the records OF American learning and
genius of extensive collections OF the products of Nature
parts OF the word-adorned with numerous churches and
schools where all the children OF the city, without dis.
tnction provided with the means OF obtaining good
educaton-where there academies and colleges, pro-
essonal schools and public brariss-sbould continue TO
receive, has heretofore received, the fostering
OF Congress, and should be regarded the permanent
seat OF the national government Here, too, citizen OF
the great republic OF leers-a republic which knows not
the metes and bounds of political geograpbyhas inlca
ted prophetically his conviction that America is to
else wide and powerful influence in the intellectual
world, and therefore has founded in this city,
handing position in the field OF science and literature and
has placed under the guardianship OF the government,
institution for the increase and diffusion OF knowledge
among men" With each succeeding yeas ipteres,
-. III -