Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-08

|
ton has remained the same, and in its struc-
ture and general principles, | trust it will thus
continue for generations yet to come. It's moi
perfect in all lis provisions. 1t has been
amended heretofore, and it may be amended
again. Yet no one can fifty approach it for
that purpose, without feeling that he treads
upon sacred ground. Experiments there are
of too great importance TO be lightly hazarded {;
and he who attempts to employ his improving
skill upon the Constitution, should feel that he
uses the knife of the surgeon in the very re-
gion of the heart. The Constitution is not
perfect, but it is founded, l believe, upon true
principles; and have great distryst of any
| progress which has no reference to these prln-
ciples. In politics, as in other sciences, he
who would improve must have some starting
| point of doctrine, and some recognized truths
| to guide him. OF what value would be the
calculations of an astronomer, who neglected
the laws of gravitation, or those of a mathema-
tcian who had forgotten the multiplication ia
BILE And so, what confidence can be had in
political movement of reform, which has no
starting-point of admitted truths, and is guided
by no sea-mark of principle!
We have room for but one more extract, and
it contains an excellent comment upon progress.
The difference between agitation and progress is
very clearly pointed out, it will be seen, as
we'll as the idea of true progress clearly defined :
Sir, there are two kinds of progress. The
one is definite, regulated, and steers by COM
pass the other is wild and dashing and too
magnificent to be defined. The one drives the
chariot of the sun, as to give light to all the
earth the other, like the tabled Phaeton, sez-
es the reins with passion, drives madly off the
course, and nearly ingulphs the world in dark
ness. The one moves on with steady step and
sure, like a "steed that knows its RIDER" the
other, like the wild horse of Mazeppa, goes
careering over bush and brake, over moor and
mountain, through morass and forest, until,
at last, from sheer exhaustion, it sinks down
amidst the regions of barbarism and savage
life. FROM progress of the one kind have come
those wholesome State reforms to which have
referred; from progress of the other kind have
come those numerous fantastic schemes-the
very bloomerism Of politics-which, under va
rious familiar names, infest the country at the
present day. Sir, agitation is not always pro-
gress. We have had some signal illustrations
of this in the career of France, where, from
time to to time, the ocean heaves and RACES,
but accomplishes nothing but Instruction.
France has shed blood enough during the last
sixty years 10 fertilize continent for liberty.
Yet what useful results has she accomplished
She has changed King for an Emperor, and
an Emperor back again for a King she re-
posed little while under the degrading sway
of Lonis Philippe, and has now emerged from
new revolution to complete her degradation
by sinking into subsection, beneath the shadow
of a name. She has established no magma
chorta, no bill of rights religious liberty, no
habeas corpus act no freedom of speech and
the press, and seems really to have no other
idea of Government than that of great CEN
trail power in the midst of Paris, which shall
control not only all general and national af-
fairs, but shall extend its Briarean arms to reg
ulate the concerns of every department, and
every village, and every family in the Empire
The President of the French has now all pow
err. He can make and unmake; he can regu-
late or reform or destroy. But such, happily,
is not the condition of the President of the
United States. His duties, under the Consli-
tuition, are limited in number, and extend only
to certain clearly defined objects. He is not
the source of reform or the centre of all au-
thorlty. He holds a great office for he is
the head OF great and prosperous Republic,
and has the confidence of a numerous and en-
lightened people. But if he is worthy of his
exalted position, he will "keep steadily in
view the limitations as well as the extent of
the executive power, trusting to discharge the
function of his office without transcending its
authority'-and with General Jackson, he
will ''bear constantly in mind the fact, that the
considerations which induced the trainers of
the Constitution to withhold from the General
Government the power to regulate the great
mass of the business and concerns of the peo-
pie, have been fully justified by experience.
We shall take an early opportunity to quote
further from the excellent ideas contained in
the speech, and bespeak for our readers an I'M
usual interest in all that we are able to furnish
Them.