Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-07-10

world that they no longer owed or would
| render allegiance to the British crown,
! but that these Colonies were, and Of
| right ought to be, free and independent
| States. This decision was no wild and
! enthusiastic freak Of ambitious men, but
! il was the solemn and determined re-
! solve of men Of stern characters and un-
! yielding purpose. From that time un-
| I'll the present, our national progress
\ has been unprecedented IN the annals
of the worlds history we have gone on
in prosperity, until we occupy the most
pronlia 1T position among the nations
Of lthe earth, aud bid fair, ere many
more years shall have rolled away, 10
exert an influence in the world and
among all the people Of the earth, which
shall be potent i'll the extreme let US,
therefore, be careful that this influence
shall be beneficial to mankind.
II The Declaration of independence,
/ and the establishment Of a Republican
\ Government WAS Il vast problem, and
may be simpIiied TO the single and plain
Il question, is man capable OF scli,govern-
ment2 ? Three quarters Of century
/ have eapsed, and the result Is even
more favorable than TIE projectors OF
Il the Union could have anticipated 1t
IS true that we have, during that period,
Il passed through many dark an trying
scenes and there have been seasons
/ when the most imminent danger seem
4 prov icncc has ordered all things i'll
h harmony, and althosgh Gods ways are
| to us dark and mysterious, yet there is
| " sdom in His Divinity which, al
though finite philosophy cannot com
| prehend it, docth all things well. We
! must be true to ourselves, 10 our princi-
! pies, to our country we must sink per-.
! sonal considerations and desires, and
! proudly rise in our devotion TO truth
TO hrmanity. to law and to the Union,
and then we have nothing TO fear,
either from intestine commotions or out
ward attacks. Our liberty was purchas-
|. cd by the blood of martyrs and patriots,
| aud it must not be sacrificed 10 section nal
prcjudces or preferences.
/ While we sympathise with foreigners
! in their struggles for liberty on their
| own soil, we must not suppose that our
| own glorious Union is SO secure that no
conmo,ion can shake it, and that no
danger can threaten it, Ii is very true
that we have nothing to fear from a
| foreign foe, because we have become
formidable in the estimation of the ma
tons of the earth, and none OF them care
TO engage in war with US. And then,
as people become more enlightened, ma
tionaI difficulties will be more likely to
be adjusted by arbitration, or in some
such sensible manner particularly by
two powerful nations, than by foolish
resort To war, which, us a general thing,
settles no great principle, and accom-
plishes no good result But our danger
exists within ourselves, and if the har-
mony Of this glorious Union is ever dis.
turbcd. It will be caused by the violent
volcanic fires which will be enkindled
within our own domestic bosom. We
have !elt this danger, 10 Il considerable
extent during the ast two years, al
though it is to be hoped that we have
passed the crisis. The excitement,
however has not entirely subsidcd, and
the danger has not altogether ceased to
exist. All of us must sincerely dcpIorc
the existence of Slavery; and no man,
whose heart Is sound can possibly JUS
tiy the institution rs cOnsonant with the
. Divine law, or reconclable with the
fundamental principles of our Govern
mcut But 1t is one OF these great evils
. which Time alone can cure and If all
parties, in Ill sections Of the country,
unite their efforts for the amcIioratlon
of the condition of the slave, with re-
\ rard for his Ultimate freedom, we
shall surmount present difficulties, and
Il escape civil conflict. The wise men oi
the Revolution did not dare to raise the
/ question thcn,--but on the contrary,
they fully acknowledged the legality OF
Slavery, as far as human laws are con-
cerncd, in the formation of the Consii'u-
\ ti1l. Aud 50 long as the laws DO sane
ton it, aud throw guards around ihls
species of property, 1t is the solemn duty
n o, every good citizen to assist IN he en-
n lorcemcni of those laws to the full splrIl
n and letter. Il is not Tor us to question
\ ,le legality of the Fugitive Slave Law,
\. or to attempt TO prevent lis enforcement
any more than it Is our right TO oppose
\ the execution of any other law which Is
made by Congress, or "A State Lcgisli-
. urr. No law meets with universal APP
/ \ prob bttipn, anl yet laws which ae un-
! \ popular, a.c requisite for the protection
II oililc, the preservation of properly, and
the general security oi society. And :
resistance TO one particular law is coun
tcnauccd, other laws may be cvad,
Ipou the same principle, and socie'.
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