The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-24

|
citizens all the resources OF re6nedogic aud drawn
into the sphere of civil rights and obligations
tho power of high forensic ora.ory-it was not
until these results Of the legislative wisdom OF Scion
had been attained that the art Of history rose and
touriehed in Greece. With tho decline OF Gfeclsn
liberty, tegan the decline in tho art OF historical
composition. Histories were written under the
Greeiab hinss OF Egypt, ana long line OF writer's
Acuiished under tho Byzantine emperors; but the
high art Ct historical competition, as perfected ia
the master works Of ierodotus, Thucy dides, and
Ienophon, had persisted IN tho death Of political
freedom.
The origin, progress, and decline Of history, 80
an art, were nearly the sauie IA lsome Salust and
Liyv nourshed st the close of ,hs republic and tho
commencement Of tho empire. The great works Of
Iacitus himself are thought by many to betray the
beginning of decline in the art, and the later
writer's exhibits It's fall
The art Of history again revived with the rise OF
the Italian republics and since the revival Of lite
nature at tho clcse Of the middle ages, il will pro-
baby be found that three things naturally rise
into importance together-thst is TO say. clvh
liberty, oloquenoe, and tho art OF historical witt
OTTER foundation is not to be laid for authentic
history than we'll authenticated facts; bat on this
foundation structures may be raised OF different
charac.eriscs-h historical biographical, and phi0-
soptical One writer may conine himself 10 exact
and minute narra,ion another, true to tho general
story, may embellish that Story with moro or less
OF external ornament, or OF eloqueuce in deScrp-
tion third, with deeper philosophical spirit, may
look iuo the causes Of events and trace
| them With more profound RESEARCH TO their sources
! in the elements Of human nature. or consider and
solye with more or less that most important
| question-how far tho character of individuals has
| produced public events or how far, on tho other
hand, public events have produced and formed the
/ character OF individuals!
Therefore one history Of the Same period in hr
man affairs, moro renders anothe, history OF the
same period useless, or upadysaoe, than the struc
turo of temple f0rbds the erection OF another,
to the Fame god or one statue Of Hercules, Apollo
or PeIices, should suppress all other attempts to
produce statues Of tho same persons.
But, gentlemen; mus. not dwell longer on these
| general topics. We nre Americans. We have
country oil our own. We are nll linked to its fates
and its fortunes. 1t s already not without renown.
Ii has been tho theatre Of some Of the most mpor-
| tant oil human transactions aud it may we'll become
US to reflect on the topics and the means furnished
| for historical composition in our own land. have
| abstained, on this occasion, gentlemen, from much
comment on the histories composed by European
writer's of modern timea, and, for obvious reasons.
| abstain altogether from remarks upon tho writefa
| of our own country
Works have been written upon tho history Of the
| United States, other works upon the Same subject
IRE in progress, and no doubt, new works are cen
| templated, and will be accomplished
1t need not DO doubted that what has been
achieved ~ the great men who have preceded
our generation, will bo properly recorded by their
successors. country in which highly interesting
events occur is not likely 10 DO destitute Of scholars
and authors, fit TO transmit those events to poster
| ity. Tor the present, content myself with Q few
general remarks on tho subject.
In the history Of tho United States there arc
three epochs. The fret extends from the origin
end settlement Of the colonies, respectively, to tho
year IVA. During this, much the longest period,
the history OF the country Is the hs ory OF separate
communities and governments. with different laws
and institutions, though all were OF common
| origin rot identical, indeed, though having q
strong family resemblance, ind having Or less
reference to the constitution aud common Law OF the
| parent country.
la all these governments, the principle Of popular
i IN 0r n yraV
il the State government IN countless In large dig
tricts, ard in townships and parishel. Aud IL 10
rot irrelevant to remark, that, 'y the exercise o.
the rights enjoyed ender these popular principles,
tho whole people came TO DO prepared, bcyoad the
| example OF all others, for the observance OF the
same principles in the establishment of national in
stu;iopa, and the administration of sovereign
| powers.
The second period extends from l77i, whom these
colonies frat acte efficiently together, for great po
hl,cai ends, as contederacy OF States to the year
llo9 whom tho present constitution of governments
vas established. The third embraces the period
! from l7s9 to the present time.
To avoid dealing with events too recent, it might
be well TO consider tho third era, epoch, as ter
miratirg with the closc Of President Washington's
! STANDARDIZATION, and going back into tho second so
far as to trace the events and occurrences which
,bowed the necessity of general government. diff
ration, which prepared the minds Of tho people for
The adoption Of the present constitution. Nodoubt
the assembling OF tho first Continental Congress may
States commenced This event took place in Phi
ladoipsia, the city distinguished by the great civil
events OF cur early history, on the 5th of Septem-
Der, IVA, On which day the first Continental Con-
gIcss assembled Delegates were present from
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylva-
mia, Delaware, Maryland Virginia, North Caro-
Ina, South Carolina, and Georgia
Let this day be ever rem EN- bered, IL saw assem-
bed from the several colonies those great men whose
names have Come down to us and wiiidescend to all
poSterity. Their psor edines are remarkable for
simplicity, dignity, and unequaed ability. AZ that
day, probably, thtro could have been convened ON
lo lart Of this globe, equal number Of men pos
fessing greater talents and ability, or animated by
higher and more patriotic motive. They were
men full Of the spirit Of Tho OCCASION, inbued
teeply With the general! sentiment of the country.
OF large comprehension, Ct long foresight, and Of
few verbs They made no speecnes for osten.asion,
they sat with closed doors, erd their groa. maxim
was 'fdye sans dire" 1t is true, they only wrote;
but the issuing ofsuch Writings on such authority,
and at such Q crisis, wa; action-high, decisive,
psst they were alive to al tho Sii.asos and nd ali
she dutiee OF tho present, and they acted from tho
FIRST as II the future were all open before them
feyton randolph was unanimously chosen Pre-
sidelt Charles Thompson was appointed Secre-
tarv. In such constellation it would be nvidious
to point cut the bright particular stars. Let mo
only says what none can injustice to others,
that George Washing ton was one II toe number.
Tie proceedings OF the assembly were Introduced
by religious observances, and deTout suppica.ious
to the Ihrone OF Grace fer the inspir ason of wis
Dom and the spirit Of good councils
On tho second day OF tho sssson il wal ordered
that committee should DO appointed to state the
rights OF the colonies the instances in which those
rights had been violated, and the means proper to
be ruTFued for their restoration, and another
ni.ste to examine and report upon tho several sta.
tutes Of the English Parliament which had been
ratsed, affecting the trade and manufactures Of tho
colonies. The members Of these committees were
chosen on the following day Immediately after
wards congress took up, as tho foundation Of their
proceedings certain resolutions adopted, Just before
tho time OF their assembling, by delegates from
towns ~ the county Of Suffolk, aud especially the
town Of Boston.
Boston, the carly victim Of the inaic.ion Of wrong
by the mother country, tho early champion OF
American liberly--Boston, though in this vast
country sh5 may be now Surpassed by other cties,
in MEMBERS, in commerce and wealth, yet ske can