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

bpp and devasIa,ed Greece and in her turn Sparta was
compelled 10 bend before the power OF Ihebes And let
Il eyer he remembered especially let the truth sink deep
into ali American minds, that il the WANT OF UNION
among The several States which finally gave the mastery
ri ali Greece 10 Philip of Macedon.
And there has also been Roman liberty, a proud |
ambitious domneeIng spirit protesting free and popular
principles, IN Rome itself, but, in the best days OF
the republic ready to carry slavery and chains into her
Provinces and through every country over which her ca
giles could be borne Who heard of liberty in Spain
Gau or Germany, or Britain in the days Of Rome There
provinces not instructed in the principles OF free popu.
lar government after another. declined also and
when Rome herself fell, in the end all fell together
have said gentlemen that inheritance is inheri-
lance OF American liberty. That liberty is charaeters
tic, peculiar, and altogether Nothing like II
existed in former times, nor known in the most en-
lightened States OF antiquity while with US its princi-
pies have become interviewer into the minds OF ndivd-
ua men, connected with daily opinions and our daily
habits; unl It isl ! may SO say, an element OF social
well of political life and the consequence is, that
TO whatever region American citizen carries himself
he takes with him, fully developed in his own under
standing and experience, our American principles and
opinions and becomes ready at once in cooperation
with Others 10 apply them TO the formation OF new gov
ernments Of this a most wonderful instance may be
seen in the history OF the State OF California.
On former occasion, have ventured TO remark that
sit is very difficult to establish free conservative gov
eminent for the equal advancement OF all the interests OF
society. What has Germany done, learned Germany,
fuller of ancient lore than all the world besides What
has Italy done What have they done who dwell on the
spot where Cicero lved' They have not the power OF
possesses. Yes, | say that those persons who have
gone from our town meetings to dig gold in California
fit TO make republican government, than any
body Of men in Germany or Italy; because they have
learned this great lesson, that there 10 security
without law and that under the circumstances in which
they are placed, where there is no military authority 70
cut their lhroats there is sovereign will but the will
of the maort, that, therefore, they remain, they must
submit that will" And this believe TO be strictly
true.
Now, feIow.czens if your patience will hold out,
will venture, before proceeding to the more appropriate
and particular duties OF the day. TO state, in few words,
what take these American political principles in sub
to be- They consist think, in the first place,
in the establishment OF popular governments the basis
Of representations for is plain that pure democracy,
like that which existed OF the States OF Greece,
in which every individual had direct in the enact
ment of all laws, cannot possibly exist in country OF
wide extent This representation is to be made as equal
as circumstances will allow Now, this principle OF pop
ular representation, prevailing either in all the branches
of governments in OF them has existed in these
States almost from the days of the settlement at James.
town and Plymouth, borrowed doubt, from the ex
ample of the popular branch OF the British legislature
The representation OF the people in the British House OF
Commons was, indeed, originally very unequal add is
yet not equal Indeed, il may be doubted whether the
appearance of knights and burgesses assembling on the
summons OF the Crown was not intended al first as an
assistance and support to the royal perogaive in mat
of and taxation, rather than mode OF
ascealnng popular opinion. Nevertheless, representa-
ton had popular origin, and savored more and more
OF the character OF tina. origin acquired, by slow de-
grees greater and greater strength in the actual govern
men OF the country In fact, the constitution oil the
House Of Commons form of representation, how
| ever unequal numbers were counted, and maiortes
prevailed and when ancestors, acting upon this
AMPLE introduced equality OF representation, the
idea assumed rational and distinct shape At any
rate this manner OF exercising popular power was ia
mar TO our fathers when they settled this continent
They adopted IT, and generation has risen up after gen,
Grafton, all acknowledging IT. and becoming acquainted
with its practice and It's forms.
And the next fundamental principle in system is,
that the will OF the majority fairly expressed through the
OF representation shall have the force Of law and
thrones,
arsocaces, privileged castles or classes there be
no other foundation for law TO stand u.on.
And the necessary result OF is the third element
is that the law is the supreme rule for the government
OF all The great sentiment Of Alceus so beautifully
presented to us by Sir William Jones. is absolutely in
dispensabe to the construction and maintenance OF
political systems
What constitutes State
Not high rais'd bat,ements or abord mound,
Thick wall or moated gate
Not cities proud, with spires and tuue. crown'di
Not bays and broad srm'd ports,
| Where laughing at the storm, rich navies ride
No War ismd and spsaFsa eour, .0m, to nrs.
| No-meu high minded nES,
With powers as far above dull brutes endued,
A, beast. exec cold rock. and bramble, rude
Men who their duties know,
But know their rights and, knowing, dare maintain
Prevent the long aini'd blow
And crush the yrsnt while they rend the chanr
And SOVEREIGN LAW, that States collected will,
Ger thrones and globes elate,
| Sits empress, GROWING good, REFRESHING ILL.,"
And, finally, another important part OF the great
fabric OF American Liberty is, that there shall be written
constitutions, founded On the immediate authority OF
the people themselves, and regulating and restraining
all the powers conferred upon government, whether
| legislative, executive, or judiciary
This, fellow citizens, ] suppose to be Just summary
OF our American principles and | have on this oc.
| casion sought 10 express them in the plainest and
in the ewes words The summary may not be entire
ly exact but hope IL may be sufficiently so TO make
manifest 10 the rising generation among ourselves
and to those elsewhere who may choose TO inquire
into the nature OF our political institutions, the gen
eal theory upon which they founded. And now
proceed TO add that the strong and deep. settled con.
victIoHs OF all intelligent persons amongst is that
IN order 10 support a useful and wise government
upon these popular principles the general education OF
the people, and the wide diffusion OF pure morality and
true religion, are indispensable. Individual virtue is
part of public virtue. II Is difficult TO conceive how
there remain morality in the government when it
shall 10 exist among the people how the ag
gregae OF the political Institutions all the organs OF
which consist only OF men, should be wise and bench.
cent and competent 10 inspire confidence, II the oppo-
site qualities belong TO The individuals who copsti-
tule those organs, and make up that aggregate. And
now, fellow citizens, | take Ieav. Of this part OF
iecialing you and myself that eyes have seen the
light OF this blessed morning, and that our ears have
heard the shouts with which joyous thousands welcome
its reform and joining with yol in the hope that every
voving year shall these reolclngs 10 the end oil
time proceed 10 address shortly upon the paTticu
lar occasion OF our assembling here today
Fellow citizens, by the act OF Congress OF 30h Sep
tember 1850 provision made for the extension OF the
Capitol according such plan might be approved by
the President o. The United STATES and the necessary
sums he expended under his direction by such archI