Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-24

tiiiS UlIn 10 the ninth century,
During the whole of this period, what was once
civilized Europe, pressed by barbarians on every
side, had not moment of repose and, amidst the
movement, we find race dsplacng race and nation
piled on nation.
Never has an angry heaven inflicted upon tbis
any event in human history, has wisdom and Nor
cy, in the midst of wrath and vengeance. been
more manifest. For it is an indisputable fact that
that same tempest which desolated Southern En-
rope and swallowed up her langushing and ex-
hausted civilization in universal barbarism, scat
tered, at the same instant, the seeds of another
and ahigher and more glorious civilization. Not
only did it break the great Roman empire into a
hundred fragments-whip its lazy elements into
motion and stir the stagnant mass to its Utmost
depths; but it introduced into modern Europe a
new ard invaluable element-that of indiridua2
H6erty-perSonal tndependeuce-an element which,
as have already explained, had no place in the
ancient world, but which came now, for the first
time, from the woods of Germany. This senti-
ment of PERSONAL---VERY. ndividuality-freedom
from all control, and the liberty of doing whatever
one wishes to do, this sentiment, l say, so strong
III the bosom of every savage man, was passion
among those barbarian races which overthrow the
roman empire, and became the characteristic ele-
ment of that civilization which they established.
Thus do we see that, at the darkest hour of Euro
pean history in the mi LIST of confusion. strife and
chaos, were those germs scattered which have
since rlpened INTO those great principles and in
situations which now shelter and protect our lives
liberty and property.
s'And this should teach us
There's Divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will.'
AS the Dark Ages passed away, and society be-
gan to reorganize itself, we every where find Fell
dalism issuing out of the bosom of barbarism.-
''W herever barbariansm ceased, Feudasm be-
gan" Now there is and always has been, in the
nnnrt Jio1 fI,o
Feudal system. Nor can it be denied that in many
respects, this prejudice is well founded. AS So
c'al System, have nothing to urge in its behalf
1t did little or nothing for society-it was every
where opposed to its progress and to the establish
nent of order. AS system of general hbertv. 1
have still less to urge in its behalf for it was I'M
questionaby system of injustice, tyranny and
vioence-a despotism founded in no sentiment
moral or religious, but in brute force and the domi-
nation of man over man. But all this being ad-
mtted, and freely admitted, let it never be forgot
ten that it was this same SYSTEM thus universally
opposed to general order and liberty, which first
organized that principle of personal Independence
which, introduced into Europe, as we have seen
Tor the first time, from the forests of GERMANY and
perpetuated in the Feudal System has become
the Keystone of the arch which supports modern
liberty and civilization. And let me say, in pass
ing, that it was principally by of that ascen-
dancy and preponderance which the Feudal Sys-
tenn gave to country over city life that it was ena-
bed to effect this end All the ancient States
were city States-their governments, municipal
governments. Rome herself was city-the ON
pire but an aggregate of cities, and when that en-
pire dissolved, it returned to its original elements
cities. During the Dark Ages, also, population
was every where collected together in cities, or
large masses, for the purposes of protection and
security. But the Feudal system has changed all
this 1t dispersed the population of the cities over
the country, and gave vast preponderance to
Thn Flo font
fed against the law as well against violence"
Is the type OF that system. Here, the lordly Ba-
ron, gathering around him his feudal family spends
his life Within its walls are his wife, children and
retainers. Beyond them, at distance, collected
together in huts, the serfs who till his lands
These constitute no part of the feudal family
they have no association with the inmates Of the
castle. They are infinitely beneath them-gene-
rally OF different race-a conquered race-and an
impossible gulf lies between them. Over this lit
tie society the Baron rules supreme-his will the
only law Can any situation be conceived better
calculated to foster and develope the sentiment of
personality and individual liberty than this !? And
does not fact here come in aid of theory! Does
not the feudal baron stand the historical represen-
tatlve and impersonation of all that is Jealous,
proud and naughty in liberty and the spirit of per-
sonal freedom?
have said that the solitary castle, with its tow
ers and frowning battlements, fortified against the
law as we'll as against violence, is the type of the
feudal system. now say that the peasants lowly
cottage, with its matched roof, and unchinked
walls, fortified, not against the law, but against
lawless violence, is the type Of our present system
OF modern civilization. ''The poorest man may
in his COTTAGE" said Lord Chatham in his great
speech upon the quo warranto, sbid defiance to all
the forces Of the Crown. 1t may be frail-its roof
may shake-the wind may blow through 1.-THE
storm may enter-the rain may enter-but the
King of England cannot enter! All his forces
dare not pass the threshold of the ruined tene-
ment?' And thus has a principle which was as
serted eight hundred years ago by armed barons in
their ordly castles, descended in the progress of
society and of liberty, to the humblest peasant
protecting MN IN his lowly cottage, and making
that cottage his castle.
or is this principle, which thus throws its pro-
lection around private property, confined to those
countries which, in common estimation enjoy free
constitutional governments. 1t extends to every
country, however absolute its government, which
the feudal system has pervaded. In all those
countries, the inviolabty of private property is
a fundamental MAXIM You have all heard of the
windmill of Sans Souci. There it stands to this
day in full view of the palace at Potsdam, an eve
sore, and yet monument prouder than any tri-
umphal arch, OF the inviolabty of private proper
ty,testlfylng that no European monarch, be he ever
SO powerful, dare invade its rights save in those
cases where, by usage or the organic law it may be
condemned for public uses. And it is precisely in
this fact, that the distinction between the Euro
pean autocrat and the Asatic despotis to be found
in the fact that whereas the European autocrat,
however absolute, is but prince and chief magis-
trate the Asiatic despot is, in addition to this,
proprietor and landlord over all his vast domin-
ions, which are, indeed, but his estates and his
subjects mere tenants holding at his sovereign will
and pleasure. And that this is not now the rela-
ton between European monarchs and their SUBJ
jects, and between modern democratic govern
mens and their citizens, is due to those feudal ba-
rons who, in the middle ages, asserted and MAIN
tanned against the Grown, principles which then
rendered their own persons and property invola-
BILE, and now throw their protection around the
life, liberty, and property of the humblest citizen.
Such is the history, such the pedigree of our Ii
berries. Modern speculation and theory have, in
deed, had much to do with their Development; but
their roots extend far out into the past. And the
first instance, believe, either in ancient or mo-
dern times, where any people, renouncing antiqui-