The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-07

unon our own shores While the flower of their
numerous armies wss wasted by disease or per-
ished by hundreds Of thousands upon the battle
Seld the youth of this favored land were permitted
to enjoy the blessings Of peace beneath the pater
nal roof. While the States Of Europe incurred
enormous debts under the burden of which their
subjects still groan, and which must ABSORB no
small part OF the product OF tne nonns. ,he I'm cd
States have once been enabled to exhibit the proud
spectacle of nation free from public deot and'
Ii permitted TO pursue our prosperous way loF
few years longer In peace, we may d" the SAFE
again.
But il is now said by some that this policy
must be changed. Europe is no longer sepd-
rated from US by voyage OF months, but
steam navigation has brought her within le"
days sail OF our shores. We see more OF her
movements, and take deeper interest in her
controversies. Although no one proposes that
we should join the fraternity OF potentates, who
have for ages lavished the blood and treasure
Of their subjects in maintaining the balance
of power" We, it is said that we ought to inter
fere between coniending sovereigns and their
subjects, for the purpose Of overthrowing the
monarchies ofEurope and establishing in their
place republican institutions. 1t is alleged
that We have heretofore pursued a different
course from sense of our weakness, but that
now our conscious strength die ates a change
Of policy, and that it is consequently our duty
TO mlDEle IN these contests and aid those VINO
are struggling for liberty.
This is q most seductive but dangerous ap-
peal to the generous sympathies OF treemen.-
Enjoyi ing as we do the blessings of free 60
vernment, there is no man who has an Amer
can heart that would not rejoice to see these
blessings extended TO all other nations. We
cannot witness the struggle between the OPP
pressed and the oppressor anywhere without
the deepest sympathy for the former, and the
most anxious desire for his triumph. Never
theless, is it prudent or is it wise TO involve our
selves in these foreign wars! Is it indeed true
that we have heretofore RETAINED from doing so
merely from the degrading motive of a consci-
entioBs weakness? For the honor of the pat
nots who have gone before us, | cannot admit
it. Men of the Revolution, who drew the
sword against the expressions of the mother
country, and pledged to Heaven "their lives,
their fortunes, and their sacred honor" to main
tain their freedom, could never have been actu.
ated by so unworthy motive. They knew
NO weakness or fear where right or duty point
ed the way, and it is a libel upon their fair
lame for us, while we enjoy the blessings for
which they so nobly fought and bled, to nsn-
uate it. The truth is, that the course which
they pursued " es dictated by n stern sense of
International justice, by statesmanlike pru-
dence and far-seeing wisdom, looking not
merely TO the present necessities, but to the
permanent safety and iAterest of the country.
They knew that the world is governed less BY
sympathy than 10y reason and force; that it vas
not possible for this nation to become 'prop-
agandist'' of free principles without arraying
against 1t the combined powers of Europe; and
that the result was more likely tc be the over
throw of republican liberty here than its estab
iishment there. History has been written in
vain for those who can doubt this. France had
no sooner established a republican form of GO
vernment, than she manifested a desire to force
its blessings on all the world. Her own his
torlan informs US that, hearing of some petty
acts OF tyranny in a neighboring principally,
The National Convention declared that she
would afford succor and fraternity to all nations
who wished to recover their liberty; and she
gave it in charge 10 the executive power to
give orders to the generals of the French armies
to aid all citizens who might have been, or
should be oppressed in the cause of liberty."
Here was the fatal step which ed to her
subsequent misfortunes. She soon found her
self involved in war with all the rest of Eu-
rope. In less than ten years her government
was changed from republic to an empire !;
and finally, after shedding rivers of blood, TO-
reign powers restored her exiIed dynasty, and
exhausted Europe sought peace and repose in
the unquestloned ascendency Of monarchicai
principles. Let US learn wisdom from her ex
ample. Let us remember that revolutions do
not always establish freedom. Our own free
institutions were not the offspring of our Revo
iu ton. They existed before. They were
planted in the free charters Of self soyernment
under which the English colonies grew up, and
our Revolution only freed US from the domin
ION OF foreign power, whose government was
At variance with those institutions. But Eu-
ropean nations have had no such training for
selfgovernmert, and every effort to establish
II Nv htaoty nl,ttinn hos nd
without that preparation, continue to be fail
ure Liberty, unregulated by law. degenerates
INTO anarchy, which soon becomes the most
horrld Of all despotisms. Our policy is wisely
10 govern ourselves, and thereby to set such
an example of national justice, prosperity, and
true glory, as shall teach TO all nations the
blessings of selfgovernment, and the un1aral.
leied enterprise and success of free people.
we live in an age of progress, and ours is
enphatically country of progress Within
the last half-century the number of States in
this Union has nearly doubled, the population
has almost auadrupled, and our boundaries
nave been extended from the Mississippi to
the racine. Our territory is chequered over
with railroads, and furrowed with canals. The
inventive talent of our country is excited 10
Inc highest pitch, and the numerous applca-
tons Tor patents for valuable improvements
distinguish this age and this people from all
The genius Of one American has enabled
our commerce to move against wind and tide,
and that of another has unnihilated distance
IN the transmission of intelligence. The whole
country Is full of enterprise. Our common
schools are dffusing intelligence among the
people, and our industry is fast accommodating
the comforts and luxuries OF life. This is in
par OWING to our peculiar position, to our
.erule soil, and comparatively sparse popula.
noh; Out much OF it is also owing to the popu
isI institutions under which we live. TO the
freedom which every man feels to engage in
any useful pursuit, according TO his TASTE or
lucnhation, and to the entire confidence that
ms person and property will be protected by
Ia. me laws. But whatever may be the cause Of
in.s unparalleled growth in population, intel
~ e'Gce, ana wealth, one thing is clear, that
nro., government a1 men must keep pace with the
psogfess OF the people. Unjust participate in
mel5 spirlt Of enterprise, and while II .xsc,s
,bos TO the laws, and Restraints all unsn.
States. j, shn"1a Of the rights of neghborug
dustry, and lend its powerful s,ren nome m