Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-12-16

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some petty &C of tyranny in neighbor-
ing principally, ,s"the National Convention
declared that she would afford succor and
fraternity TO all nations who wished 10 re-
cover their liberty, and she gave it in
charge to The executive power TO give or
dera TO the generals OF The French armies
to aid all citizens who might have been Or
should be oppressed in The cause OF liber-
ty." Here was the false step which led to
her subsequent mislOriunes. She soon
lound herself involved in war with all the
rest Of Europe. In less than len years
her government was changed from re-
public TO an empire; and finally, after she'd
ding rivers of blood, foreign powers restor-
ed her exiled dynasty and exhausted Eu.
rope sought peace and repose in the un-
questioned ascendancy Of monarcbical
principles. Let US learn wisdom from her
example. Let US remember that revolu-
tions do not always establish lreedom-
Our own free institutions were mol The off
spring of our Revolution. They existed
before They were planted in the free
charters of self government under which
the English colonies grew up, and our
Revolution only freed us from the domln-
ion Of foreign power, whose government
was at variance with those institutions
! European nations have had no such train
/ ing for self government, aud every effort
/ to establish it by bloody revolutions has
been, aud must, without that preparation,
continue 10 be failure. Liberty, uDregu-
lated by law, degenerates into anarchy,
which soon becomes the most horrid of all
despotsms. Our policy is wisely to govs
efn ourselves, and thereby 10 set such AN
example Of national justice, prosperity, and
true glory, as shall teach to all nations the
blessings Of sell government, and the emz
paraIleled enterprise and success Of a free
people.
We live in an age Of progress, and ours
is emphatically country Of progress
Within the last half century, the number
Of States in this Union has nearly doubled,
the population has almost quadrupIed, and
our boundaries have been extended from
the Mississippi TO the Pacific. Our terri
tory is chequered over with railroads and
lurrowed with canals. The inventive tai
ent Of our country is excited 10 the highest
pitch, and the numerous applications for
patents for valuable Improvements dist n.
guish this age and this people from all
others. The genius OF one Amrican has
enabled our commerce TO move against
wind and tide, and that Of another has an
initiated distance in the transmission OF
intelligence. The whole country is fall oi
enterprise Our common schools are diff
lusing intelligence among the people, and
Onr industry is fast accommodating the COM
forts and Iuxuries OF ife This is in part
owing TO our peculiar positiOn,t to our fertile
soil, and comparatively sparse population
but much Of it is also owing TO the popular
institutions under which we live, 10 the
freedom which every man feels TO engage
in any useful pursuit, according to lis |
taste or inclination, and 10 the entire con,
fidence that his person and property will |
be protected by the laws. But whttevcr |
may be The cause Of this unparalleled !
growth in population, intelligence, and !
wealth, one thing is clear, that The Govern
ment must keep pace with the progress Of |
the people. 1t must participate ia their |
spIrlG OF enterprise, and while it exacts obe> !
dience 10 the laws, and restrans all unau.
thorized invasions of the rights of neighbo-
ring States, il should foster and project !
home industry, and lend It's powerful |
strength TO the improvement of such means
Of in1ercommunicalion as are necessary 10
promote our internal commerce and strength
en- the ties which bind US together as
penple.
II is not strange, however much it may
be regretted, that such an exubelance Of +
enterprise should Cause some individuals TO
mistake change for progress, and Inc iGva.
SIGN Of the rights of others for national
prowess and glory. The former are cons
santIy agitating for some change in the
organic law, or urging new and untried
theories Of human rights. The latter are
ever ready 10 engage in any wild crusade
against neighboring people, regardless
Of the justice Of the enterprise, and without
looking at the fatal consequences to our
selves and TO the cause Of our popular goys
Such expeditions, however, are
oGen stimulated by mercenary individuals,
who expect TO share the pIunder or profit
Of the enterprise without exposing thems
selves TO danger, and are led on by some
foreigner, who abuses the hos,
oltahty OF our own Government by sedus
ling the young and ignorant to join in his
scheme of personal ambition or revenge,
lnder the false and deusive pretencc Of
the area Of freedom. These
'eprehensibe aggressions bat retard the
rue progress OF our nation and lar1sh It's
air fame. They should, therefore, receive
he indignant (rowns Of every good citizen
yho sincerely loves his country aud takes +
| pride in lis prosperity and honor.
Our Constitution, though not perfect, is
doubtless the best that ever was formed -