Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-03-29

isvissd 10 unite with the Wings Of Lynch
bar. n ths meeting.
Rgogressive Democracy.
Thar 10 no sppella.ion by which the
Dsmoeney Of the country delight so
,..eh 10 charactsrize themselves. os that Of
svseyssive. What precise significance
s,sy attach to this term. we have never
bssa able clearly to comprehend. From
The psrinaeay With which they adhere to
Il. hswsvsr, and from their constant as
sumption Of it. As something which pecull-
sriy distinguishes them from the Wing
party. We sometimes fear. that in the I'M
dsrs,anding Of those Democrats. who are
supposed. ia their personal and political
ehsrseser. to be the representatives of this
pr;ae;Pls. It has an import attached to it,
which sugurs badly. should their counsels
pvsvsil. for the supremacy of the Consti-
sss;op, and the stability of our republican
Institutions.
II they design. in its use, to convey no
other idea than that which is the natural
and ordinary meaning Of the word. when
applied to the physical. social, and civil
improvement Of the country; then with
equal. If not with much greater Propriety
might the Wing party be denominated the
party Of progress. Its policy has ever
made the development Of the rich, and va
ried. and abundant resources of our entire
territory primary object of patriotic Con-
Germ and public effort. 1t has labored to
demonstrate. that the great leading inter-
ssts ofthe country. the interests Of agricul-
sure, manufactures and commerce. so far from
being rivals, and thus antagonistical to each
other. were. If rightly considered, Of mu-
tualsid and bcneht-advancement in either
stimulating to activity and improvement in
all. Il has therefore sought to foster and
encourage the substantial pursuits of our
people; and thus to secure wealth. and
power and progress for the country.
To have thus promoted these great in
forests would have been speedily follow
ed by grand awakening Of the indvi
dual and national mind. Science and art
would have received mighty propulsion.
The genius Of our people would have
wrought out such inventions, as would
have enabled US to control, for useful pur-
poses, other agents, powerful as steam and
swift a. electricity. A civilization might
thus have been achieved which in every
aspect, material, mental, and moral, would
have greatly surpassed any the world has
ever known.
This is still the true line of national
progress. Better secure wealth. by i'm
proving those resources. which nature
has made boundlcss. and which SO readily
yield to tho hand Of industry. than to plum
der il from a less powerful neighbor. Bet
let exert influence among nations. by
the moral force. consequent upon the ex-
ample ola free. prosperous. intelligent and
law-abiding people; whose government
while protecting the meanest Of its citizens
from foreign oppression and wrongs,
claims no exemption from just punish
mcns. for its greatest and most renowned;
than aim to make ourselves felt, us a new
pcwur on the earth. by prorcsts aud by
arms. Better stand by those limitations,
which the fa,hers the Republic put up
on the government. for the protection of
States and individuals from outrage and
tyranny. than inculcatc the idea that there
is an elasticity and expansiveness in our
Federal Constitution, by which the sane.
ton Of Its authority may be secured to
Every act OF the majority. Better, inf
hitely setter, progress smoothly and safe
~. along tie channels Of the Constitution.
than turn loose the torrents Of lawlessness,
eouqdcst and intervention, to tear away
al that is consecrated by the experience
and traditions of the country.
-
Henry Clay.
As the career of this eminent statesman
draws near its close. the fogs and mi.ts
which political detraction had .accumula-