Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-07-26


ture We were almost wholly dependant on
imported books Even our bibles and testa-
ments were for the most part printed abroad
The book trade is now one of the greatest
branches Of business, and works of standard
value, and of high reputation in Europe as
well as at homo, have been produced by
American authors in every department of
science and literature
While the nation has been expanding in di-
mensions, in numbers, and in wealth, the gov
ernment has applied wise forecast in the
adoption of necessary measures, when the
world shall be no longer at peace, TO maintain
the national honor, whether by the appropri-
ate displays of vigor abroad, or by well adopt
ed means Of def~nce at home. A navy
which has SO often illustrated our history by
heroic achievements, though restrained in
peaceful times, possesses in its admirable ele-
ments the means of great and sudden expEn-
sion, and is Justly looked upon by the nation
as the right arm of its power-an army still
smaller, but not less perfect in its details,
which has, on many field, exhibited the mil
itary aptitudes and prowess of the race, and
demonstrated the wisdom which has presided
over lis organization and government While
the gradual and slow enlargement: Of these
military arms has been regulated by jealous
watchfulness over the public treasure, there
has, nevertheless been freely given, all that
was needed 10 perfect their quality and each
affords the nucleus of any enlargement that
the public exigencies may demand from the
millions of brave hearts and strong arms upon
the land and water. The navy is the active
and aggressive element of national defence
and, let luose from our own sea coast, must dis
! play its power in the seas and channels of the
enemy. To do this it need not be large; and
it can never be large enough 10 defend, by its
presence at home, all our ports and harbors.
But, in the absence of the navy. what can the
brave hearts and strong arms of the army and
militia do against the enemies line of battle
ships and steamers, falling without notice upon
our coast? What viii guarde our cities from
| tribute, our merchant vessels and our navy
yards from conflagration? Here, again, we
see a wise forecast in the system of defensive
measures, which, especially since the close of
the war with Great Britain, has been steadily
| followed by our government. While the per-
lis from which our great establishments had
Just escaped, were yet fresh in recollection, a
system of Notifications was begun, which now
though not quite complete, fences in our i'm
points with impossible strength. More than
four thousand cannon may at any moment,
within strong and permanent works, arranged
with all the advantages and appliances that
the art affords, be turned to the protection of
the sea coast, and be served by the men whose
hearts they shelter. Happy for US that it is
so, since these are means of security that time
alone can supply; and since the improvements
of maritime warfare, by making distant expe-
ditions easy and speedy. have made them
more probable, and at the same time more diff
fcult to anticipate and provide afainst The
cost of fortifying all the important points on
our whole Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico from
tier will not exceed the amount expended on
the Notifications of Paris. In this connection,
one most important facility in the defence of
the country is not to be overlooked 1t is the
almost instantaneous rapidity with which the
soldiers of the army and any number of the
militia corps may now be brought to any point
where hostile attack may be made or threat
ened. All this extension of territory embrac-
ed within the United States, increase of its
population, commerce, manufactures, develop
ment of its resources by canals and railroads,
and rapidity of ofinter-communication by innum-
cradle steamboats, and telegraphs, has been
accomplished without overthrow of, or danger
to, the public liberties, by an assumption Of
military power; and, indeed, without any per-
madent increase of the army, except for the
purpose of frontier defence, and atfording a
Slight guard to the public property; or of the
navy, any farther than to assure the navigator
that in whatsoever sea he shall sail his ship
he is protected by the stars and stripes of his
country. All this without shedding drop o.
4 r. ob.,li vphIl IL
lsystems of popular representation have regu
larly been supported in the State Governments
and in the General Governments-all this
while laws, National and State. of such char
acter have been passed, and have been sc
wisely administered that may stand up here
to-day and declare, as | now do, in the face
of all the intelligent of the age, that for tbs
period that has elapsed from the day tha
Washington laid the foundation Of this capito
to the present time, there has been no eoun
; try upon earth in which life, liberty, and prop
erty have been more amply and steadily Sc
cured, or more freely enjoyed, than in thest
United States of America. Who is there tha
; will deny this? Who is there prepared with
greater or better example? Who is there tha
can stand upon the foundation of facts, ac
knowledged or proved, and assert that these
our republican institutions, have not answered
, the true ends of government, beyond all prec
edenL in human history.
There is yet another view, There are stil
higher considerations. Man is an intelectua
| being, destined to Immortality. There is
spirit in him, and the breath of the Almieht
D hath given him understanding. Then, only
S is he tending towards his own destiny, Will
: he seeks for knowledge or virtue, for the wi
n of his Maker, and for just conceptions of hi
n own duty. OF all important questions, there
n fore, let this, the most important of all, b
G first asked and first answered., in what countr
: of the habitable globe, of great extent an
d large population, are the means Of knowledg
the most generally diffused and enjoyed anon
e the people? This question admits of one an
: only one answer. 1t is here-it is here, i
o these United Slates-itis among the descend
d ants of those who settled Yorktown-of thos
n who were pilgrims on the shore Of Plymouth
=