The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-12-14

had no sooner established republican
form of government than she manifest
ed desire to force its blessings on all
the world. Her own historian informs
us that, hearing of some petty acts of
| tyranny in neighboring principalty,
'Ihe National Convention declared
that she would afford succor and fra.
tcrnity to all nations who wished to
recover their liberty; and she gave it
in charge to the executive power to
give orders to the generals of the
French armies to aid all citizens who
might have been or should be oppress-
ed in the cause of liberty
Here was the false step which led
to her subsequent misfortuncs. She
soon found herself involved in war
with all the rest of Europe. In less
than ten years her government was
changed from republic to an empire;
and finally after shedding rivers of
blood, foreign powers restored her ex-
lied dynasty, aud exhausted Europe
sought peace and rcposc in the unq,ies-
toned ascendancy of monarchical prn.
ciplcs. Let us learn wisdom from her
example. Let us remember that revo.
lutions do not always establish free
dom. Our own free institutions were
not the offspring of our Revolution.
They existed before. They were
planted in the free charters Of selfgov-
crnment under which the English col.
onics grew up, and our Revolution on
| ly freed us from the dominion ola for
cign power, whose government was at
variance with those institutions. But
European nations have had no such
training for cfgovcrnmcnt, and every
effort to establish it by bloody
revolutions has been. and must, with
out that preparation, continue to be a
failure. Liberty, umrcgulatcd by law,
dcgcncrates into anarchy, which soon
becomes the most horrid Of all dcspot-
isms. Our policy is wisely to govern
ourselves, and thereby to set such an
example of national Justice. prosperity.
and true glory, rs shall teach to all na.
tions the blessings of sclt:govcrlncnt,
and the unparalleled enterprise and
success ola free people.
We live in IN age of progress. and
ours is cmplmticalIy country of pro-
grcss. Within the last half century.
the number of States in this Union has
nearly doubled, the population has al
most quadruplcd, and our boundaries
have been extended from the NIissip-
pi to the Pacific. Our territory is
chcquercd over with r.ilroads, and
furrowcd with canals. The inventive
talent of our country is excited to the
highest pitch, and the numerous ap-
plications for patents for valuable i'm
provements distinguish this age and
this people from aI others.
The genius Of one American has en-
ablcd our commerce to move against
wind and tide. and that of another has
annlIi!atcd distance in tAr transmission
of Intelligence. The whole country is
full ofcnlcrprisc. Our common scLnols
are di!iising intelligence among the
people, and our industry is fast accu-
lnulating the comforts and luxllrics of
life.
This is in part owing to our peculiar
position, to our fertile soil, and
comparatively sparse population; but
much of it is also owing to the
! popular institutions under which
VIC live. to the freedom which every
man feels to engage in any useful
pursuit. according TO his taste or in
clination, and to the entire confidence
that his person and property will be
protected by the laws. But Whatever
may he the cause of this unparalcl-
ed growth in population, Intelligence,
and wealth, one thing is clear, that
the Government must keep pace with
the progress of the people.
1t must participate in their spirit Of
enterprise, and while it cxacts ubc-
dicncc to the laws, and Restraints all un-
authorized invaSions Of the rights of
neighboring States, it should foster and
protect home industry, and lend its
powerful strength to the improve.
mcnt OF such means oi'intcrcommunca-
tion as are necessary to promote our
internal commerce, and strengthen the
ties which bind Us together rs 4 pco.
pie.
1t IS not strange, however much it
may be regretted, that such an cxub.
crance of enterprise should cause some
individuals to mistake change for
progress, and the invasion Of the
rights OF others, for national PROV
ess and glory. The former are con
stantIy aSilating for some change in
the organic law, or urging new and
mtricd theories Of human rights. The
latter are ever ready TO engage in
amy wild crusade against a ncighbor-
ing people, regardless Of the justice OF
the enterprise, and without looking at
the fatal consequences TO ourselves and
to the cause of popular government.
Such expeditions, however, are Of
ten stimulated by mcrccnary individ
uals, who expect to share the profit or
punder otthc enterprise without eX-
posing themselves to danger, and
are led Oh by some irresponsible for
cigncr, who abuses the hospitality of
our own Government by seducing the