American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-21
WASHINGTON
AMERICAN STATESMEN.

tages, ana has been favored with many blessings
denied to other nations but in nothing has she
been more fortunate than in the striking ability,
strong patriotism and honesty of her legisla-
tors and rulers.
Whatever may be the natural advantages of
country, as to climate, soil, or situation, they
are all comparatively useless, unless Its gov
eminent be good, and well and justly admins
tered Legislation is the very tountain-head OF
all nations prosperity: If 1t be impure or
weak, all the various streams that flow from it
are corrupted, and the machinery of govern
ment is at a stand but if it be clear and strong,
it imparts freshness and vigor to the whole body
polite. 1t is, then, essentially important that
those who are to make the laws, and those
whose duty it is to see that they are properly
executed, should be fully qualified for their re-
sponsible stations, not only in intellect, but in
justice and morality. And what do we find on
looking back the past history of our happy
country? Beginning with Washington-who
was, perhaps, when considered in every rela-
ton, the greatest of mankind-we see long
line of illustrious men, each Of whom was an
honor to humanity, and who, as body, form
the noblest assemblage of statesmen and patriots
that has ever adorned the world. Adams, JEFF
ferson, Madison and Monroe are names which
will live us long as wisdom and love of country
are respected by mankind. Perfect disinter-
estedness cannot reasonably be looked for in
any man but, if actions are a true index to
perfect self-forgetfulness, and devoted them
selves wholly to the cause of human liberty.
Patrick Henry-who, in his great anxiety
that the liberty our country had gained with SO
much difficulty should not be finally lost, found
faults even in our excellent observation-disclosures
that notwithstanding the many beautiful fea-
lures others discovered in our Government, it
had, as he expressed it, "an awful squirting
toward monarchy;" and that, unless we could
always secure an honest and patriotic Presi-
dent, our liberties would always be in danger
from his ambition. In the latter part of his
life, he confessed that he had been mistaken;
but, even if his opinion had been correct hap
PLY for our country, we have not yet had an
opportunity of trying whether our Constitution
could bear the attacks of an aspiring and un-
scrupulous demagogue. Our Presidents here
tofore have been ambitious but for the suprem
acy of the laws; and our legislators-wi some
exceptions, it is true-desrous only to see our
nation happy and prosperous, knowing that
nothing on earth could secure to them greater
glory than the faithful discharge of every duty
which they owed to their native land.
The manner in which our leading men attain
to such eminence tends to produce this result;
from which we can deduce an unanswerable ar
gument in favor of our republican form Of gov
eminent Knowing that they are responsible to
the people for all they do-that their acts are
to undergo the scrutiny of an intelligent multi
tude-they are more careful in their conduct
They know that if they are recreant to their
trust they shall receive the contempt and hatred
of all honest men but that, if they do their
duty to the best of their ability, they shall be
rewarded by the applause and confidence of their
countrymen. And how precious is that ap-
prevail 1t is not extorted from an ignorant,
gaping multitude by magnificent show and
parade, nor compelled by overwhelming power
but it is the voluntary tribute paid by sensible,
trusting men to their loved benefactors. OF this |
we have lately had striking instance in the
splendid reception given to the illustrious Henry
Clay at New Orleans; unsought, but not un-
expected nor undesired-for the noble old man
is proud of the appreciation of his contrymen,
and has received it 50 often that it is never un-
expected
But have we no more such men in our Union
as Clay, and Glass; and Walker, and the host of
other worthless who have so distinguished them
selves for their talents and patriotism Can it
be that Nature has surpassed herself in these
men, and that "we shall never look upon their
like again2" We do not think it impossible for
men like them to rise again among We do
not think it either impossible or improbable that
America shall one day see their superiors. AS
death cuts off in infancy thousands who, had they
lived, might have commanded "the applause of
listening senates," or walked to ecstacy the
living lyre," so do want and ignorance, the
death of the mind, prevent thousands from con-
ferring immortal honor upon themselves and the
world. Let this no longer continue to be so.
Let no one be found in our widespread republic
who can ascribe to want Of means and opportu-
nifty his ignorance or crimes; but let EDUcA-
TIoN, which is as necessary to our political ex-
istence as the air we breathe is to our physical,
be also as free as air, to give all an opportu-
nifty Of indicating the nobility of man.
A WAY-SIDE VIEW OF CALIFORNIA.
A gentleman employed in the construction of
the Chagres and Panama Railroad writes thus
to friend in this city:
al would fain portray the scenes have wit
messed among the California emigrants who
were returning. Such horror, such misery,
such Indebtedness, beggar description. Suffice
it to say, that is the land where the worm of