Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-12-15

is it wise to involve ourselves in these for.
eign warsl Is it indeed true that we have
heretofore refrained from doing so merely
from the degrading motive of a conscious
weaknessi For the honor Of the patriots
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
maintain their freedom, could never have
been actuated by so unworthy motive.
They knew no weakness or fear where right
or duty pointed the way, and it is a libel
upon their fair fame for US, while we enjoy
the blessings for which they so noby
fought and bled, to insnuate it. The truth
is that the course which they pursued was
dictated by stern sense Of international
justice, by statesmanlike prudence and n
larseeing wisdom, looking not merely to the
present necessities, but to the permanent
safety and interest of the country. They
knew that the world is governed less by
sympathy than by reason and force; that it
was not possible for this nation to become
a propagsndist' Of free principles without
arraying against it the combined powers Of
Europe; and that the result was more like.
ly to he the overthrow Of republican liberty
here than its establishment there. History
has been written in vain for those who can
doubt this. France had no sooner estab.
ished republican form Of government
than she manifested desire to force its
blessings on all the world. Her own histo-
rian informs US that, hearing of some petty
acts of tyranny in a neighboring rrinc.
pa!ty.
The National Convention declared that
she would afford succor and fraternity to
all nations who wished to recover their lib
erty; and she gave it in charge to the execu.
tive power to give orders to the generals
of the French armies to aid all citizens who
might have heen or should be oppressed in
the cause of liberty" Here was the false
step which led to her subsequent misfor.
tunes. She soon found herself involved in
war with all the rest of Europe. In less
than ten years her government was changed
from republic to an empire: and finally,
after shedding rivers of blood, foreign pow.
ers restored her exiled dynasty, and exhaust.
ed Europe sought peace and reposc in the
unquestioned ascendency Of monarchial
principles. Let US learn wisdom from her
example. Let us remember that revolutions
do not always establish freedom. Our own
free institutions were not the offspring Of
our Revolution. They existed before. They
were planted in the free charters Of self
government under which the English colo.
uies-grew up, and 5aaS 5aiSu uSssSlHsion. only.
freed us from tire douIfnI0nE E0fI Y0frIgW
power, whose government was at variance
with those institutions. But European ma.
tons have had no such training for self gov.
ernment, and every effort to establish it by
bloody revolutions have been, and must,
without that preparation, continue to be
failure. Liberty, unregulated by law, de.
generates into anarchy, which soon becomes
the most horrid OF all despotisms. Our
policy is wisely to govern ourselves, and
thereby to set such an example of national
justice, prosperity, aud true glory, as shall
teach to all nations the blessings OF self.
government, and the unparalleled enterprise
and success Of 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 quadrupled, and our
boundaries have been extended from the
Mississippi to the Pacific. Our territory is
chequered over with railroads, and furrowed
with canals. The inventive talent Of our
country is excited to the highest pitch, and
the numerous applications for patents for
valuable Improvements distinguish this age
and this people from all others. The genius
of one American ha, enabled our commerce
to move against wind and tide, and that of
another has annihated distance in the
transmission of Intelligence. The whole
country is full Of enterprise. Our common
schools are diftiu,ing intelligence among the
people, and our industry is fast accumusting
the comforts and luxures Of life. This is
in part owing to our peculiar position, to
our fertile soil, and comparatively sparse
population; but much Of it is also owing to
the popular institutions under which we live,
to the freedom which every man feels to
engage in any useful pursuit, according to
his taste or inclination, and to the entire
confidence that his person and property will
be protected by tho laws. But whatever
may he the cause ofths unparalleled growth
in population, intelligence, and wealth, one
thing is clear. that the Government must
keep pace with the progress Of the people.
1t must participate in their spirit of enter
prise, and while it exacts obedience to the
laws, and restrains all unauthorized invasions
of the rights Of neighboring States, it
should foster and protect home industry,
and lend its powerful strength to the i'm.
provcment of such means of intercommu.
nication as are necessary to promote our
internal commerce and strengthen the ties
which bind US together as people.
1t is not strange, however much it may be
regretted, that such an exuberance Of enter
prise should cause some individuals to mis-.
take change for progress, aud the invasion
Of the rights Of others for national prowess
and glory. The former are constantly agi.
tating for some change in the organic law,
or urging new and untried theories Of hu.
man rights. The latter are ever ready to
engage in any wild crusade against neigh.
boring people, regardless Of the justice Of
the enterprise, and without looking at the
fatal consequence to ourselves and to the
n Il.