The republic., 1851-07-08


pendant on imported books. Even our Bibles and
Testaments were, for the most part, printed abroad
The book trade 10 now of the greatest branches
Of busuess, and many works of standard value and
Of high reputation In Europe as well as at home
have been produced by American authors IN every
department Of literary composition. while the
country has been expanding IN dimensions, In
numbers, and in wealth, the Government has ap-
piled wise forecast in the adoption 0f treasures
necessary, when the world shall no longer be at
peace, 70 maintain the national honor, whether by
appropriate displays Of vigor abroad, or by we'll
adapted means of defence at home. A navy, which
has 30 often illustrated our history by heroic
achievements, though restrained in peaceful times
in its operations to narrow limits possesses IN lts ad
mirable elements the means OF great and sudden
expansion, and ID justly looked upon by the nauon
as the right arm Of its power. An army, still
small r but less perfect in it's detail, which has on
many a field exhibited the military aptitodes and
prowess of the race and demonstrated the wisdom
which has presided over its organization and gov
ernmeht.
While the gradual end slow ehlargemen of these
respective military arms has been regulated by a
Jealous watchfulness the public TREASURE there
has, nevertheless, been freely given all that was
needed to perfect their quality; and each affords
the nucleus Of any enlargement that the public ex-
igencies may demand, from the millions of brave
hearts and strong arms upon the land ana water
The navy 10 the active and aggressive element OF
national defence and, let loose from our own sea
coast must display its power in the seas and chan
hels of the enemy; to do this, II need not be large
and ii never be larre enough 10 delenu Dy ll3
essence at home al our ports and harbors But
r. ,bs ahsep,.., of the navy what can the brave
hearts and strong arms OF the army and militia 90
against the enemy's line sol- battle H.-y WI,
ers, falling without notice upon our coas'f
will guard our cities from tribute, our merchant
vessels and our navy yards from coniiagrahon!
Here, again, we wise forecast In the system
Of defensive measures, which, especially since the
close Of the wawith Great Britain, has peeh S'e@o
lily followed by our Government.
While the perils from which our great estaDHsn-
ments had just escaped were yet fresh in remem-
brance, a system of Notifications whs begun, whlch
now, though not quite complete, fences IN our I'M
portant points with impassable strength. More
than four thousand catlnon may at any moment,
within strong and permanent works, arranged
with all the advantages and appliances that me
art afordsI be turned to the protection OF the sea
coast, and be served by the men whose hearths
they shelter. Happy for US that Il 70 so, since
these are means OF security that time alone can
supply and since the improvements OF maritime
warfare, by making distant expeditions easy and
speedy, have made them more probable and at
the same time more difficult to anticipate and pro-
vide against The cost of fortifying all the impor-
tant points our whole Atlantic and Gult OF Mex
leo frontier will not exceed the amount expended
on the fortifications of Paris.
In this connehion one most important facility in
the defence of the country is not 70 be overlooked
il is the almost instantaneous rapidity with which
the soldiers Of the army, and any number OF the
militia corps, may be brought to any point where
hostile attack may at any time be made or threat
ened
And this extension of territory, embraced with
in the United States; increase OF its population;
commerce and manufactures; development OF its
resources by canals and railroads, and rapdity of
iutercommuncatiun by innumerable steamboats,
and telegraphs, has been accomplished without
overthrow of or danger 10 the public Liberties by
any assumption of military power; and, indeed3
without any permanent increase of the army, ex-
cept for the purpose of frontier defence, and of af
fording slight guard to the pubicproperty; or OF
the navy, any further than 10 assure the navigator
that, in whatsoever he shall sail his ship he Is
protected by the stars and stripes of his country
All this has been done without the shedding of a
drop Of blood for rebellion. All this while
systems of popular representation have. regularly
been supported in the State governments and In the
General Government; all this while laws nation :
al and State, of such character have been passed,
and have been wisely administered, that may
stand up here TO day and declare, as now do de-
clare in the face OF all the intelligent of the age,
that for the period which has elapsed, from the day
that Washington laid the foundation OF this Capi
to TO the present time, there has been no coun-
try upon earth in which life, liberty, and pro-
perty have been more amply and steadily secured,
or more freely enjoyed, than in these United States
of America. VINO is there that will deny this
Who is there prepared with greater or a better
examplef Who is there that can stand upon the
foundation of facts acknowledged or proved, and
assert that these our republican institutons have
not answered the true ends of government beyond
all precedent in human history?
There is yet anotherview. There are still higher
considerations. Man s on intellectual being, des-
tined to immortality There is n spirit in him
and the breath ofthe Almighty hath given him un-
derstanding Then only is he tending towards
his destiny while he seeks for knowledge or
virtue, for the will of his Maker and for just con
ceptions Of his duty. OF all important ques-
tions therefore, let this, the important of ALL
be first askeu and first answered, in what country
Of the habitable globe, of great extent and large
population, are the means of knowledge the most
Il.
plef This question admits of one, and only
one, answer. 1t is here; it is here in these
United States; it is among the descendants oi
those who settled at Jamestown; of those who were
pilgrims on the shore of Plymouth; and of those
other races Of men who in subsequent times, have
become joined in this great American family. Let
one fact incapable of doubt dispute satisfy every
mind on this point. The population of the United
States is % 900 600. Now, take the map of the
continent of Europe and spread it out before you
Take your scale and your dividers, and lay of in
area, in any shape you please, triangle
square, circle paralclogram, or trapezoid, and OF
an extent that shall contain l50, 900 100 of people
and there will be found within the United States
more persons who do habitually read and write
than can be embraced within the Enes of your de-
marcation.
But there ia something more than this
Man is not only an intellectual, but he is also
ligious being, and his religious feelings and habits
require cultivation
Let the religious element in mans nature be
tives than low sef-interest, and subjected to nc
stronger restraint than the limits of civil authori
ty, and he becomes the creature Of selfish passonf
or blind fanaticsm.
The spectacle of nation powerful and enlight
ened but without christian faith, has been present
ed, almost within our own day, rs u warning bea
con for the nations.
On the other hand the cultivation Of the religious
sentiment rcpresses iccntioueness, incitcs to gen
eral benevolcnce, and the practical Rcknowledg
ment OF the brotherhood OF man, inspires respec
for law and order, and gives strength TO the whole
social fabric, Mt the time that il conducts thu
human soul upward to the Author Of its being.
Now, think it may be stated with truth, that II
no country, in proportion to it's population, ar'
there many benevolent establishments connected
with religious instruction--Bible, Missionary, anC
Tract Societies. supported by public and private
contrbutions-as in own. There also in
stitutions for the education of the blind, tho dca
and dumb, of idiots; for the reception Of or
phan and destitute children; for moral reform, de
signed for children and females, respectively; in
stitutions for the reformation of criminals, not It
! speak of those numerous establishments in almos
! every county and town in the United States, fc
the reception of the aged, nfrm, and destitute
| poor many of whom have fled TO shores to es
cape the poverty and wretchedness of their condi
| ton AT home,