The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-08-23


which their right to the just rewards of their toll was
lnrnged, that first awakened that spirit of liberty and
aroused among them that ndomable resistance which
oroVe oacS discounted the invader from their borders
ana secured 10 them and to their desendent constitat
ton, based upon the and equitable principle of
equal rights and equal privileges to all
In tlct 1T is this natural love for the soil and
quent unwnSness to reinqsh its occupation 70 anoh
er. which springs Immediately out of the sinonlar state
or dependence which subss between men and the earth
that has operated more powerfully than any thing else
70 resolve society into its proper elements and to fix
mankind into separate and distinct nations states and
communities, throughout the world As man is denen
dent upon the earth for his subsistancc an as the earth
now abors under the curse, and is no longer able to
yeu nec sren9th except under the kin lily influences of
healtaul agriculture. he is naturally soon forced to
aoaldon rowing, Tor settled life aud to relinouish
temporary tor fixed property in the soiL This fixed
property IN land thus brought about by sense of his
wants an fears naturally wels each individual man more
closely to the Little spot he cuvates and converts him
from rowing savage to the peaceful citizen of com
monweah The successive changes through which bro.
perry In land passed among the barbarous nations of Eu
rope VINO settled In the various provinces of the Roman
EMPIRE resulting in the establishment of the feudal sys
tenn, fu nsh both melancholy example of the evils
whch grow out OF an unsettled life, AMI of the absolute
necessity OF hxe1 property in man to the soil While
these nations remained their native countries free from
the necessity OF fresh acquisitions of country they en-
Joyed the earth IN common and subssed upon the spon
taneous fruits OF the soil After feeding their aocks il
ne imme lse district, they removed with them and with
telr wives and lames to another; and abandoned that
likewise in short time
As it required wildernesses of country to sustain
them long In this total neglect Of rculture it soon be-
came necessary for them possess themselves of fresh
territory This could be effected only by means of con
quest.
But as their wants real and of that character
Wnlch yieds TO nothing except to grati6cation they
were, at length driven invade the countries around
them Possessing themselves of these they were soon
forced to invade others remote In great bodies
IKE TO the army worm they marched forth from home
w hnn oy,lc L.
work OF destruction which awaited the countries through
which they passed. they pundercd and DESTROYED every
thing before them Putting the inhabitants to the sword
without regard to age sex condition country
IL only furnished them easier enerance to another
and another. Wherever they marched their rout was
marked with blood They continued this exterminatpp
warfare until they overrun most if ALL of the coun.
ues OF Europe History tells US that in less than two
two centuries from therst eruption barbarians of va
rious names and lineage plundered and took possession
OF Ihrace Panona Gau, Spain, Africa and at last of
Italy, and Rome ITSELF Thus the vast fabric of the Ro
man power which had been the work ages To perect
was in that short period overturned from the foundation
Robertson the historian in describing the desolatng raw.
ages OF these people, remarks follows:-'If man
were called to hx upon period in the history of the
world during which the condition of the human race was
most calamatous and afflicted he would without hesa
on nar that which elapsed from the death of Thcodo.
sus the Great to the establishment of the Lombards in
italy. The contemporary authors who behed that
scee OF desolaon labor and loss for expressions
TO describe the horror oft The scourge Of God the
Destroyer OF nations the dreadful epithets by which
they distinguish the noted barbarous leaders
and they compare the nin which they had brought on
the world to the havoc occasoed by earthquakes con-
hagratons, or deugesthe most formidable and fatal
caames which the imagination of man can conceive
These savage tribes settling the countries which
tey had subdued divided the land among themselves
allong to each soldier his proportionate part This
ne claimed III his right for the services he had rem
dcred in the acquisition of the country and took it as
freeman In full property He enjoyed it during his own
HE and could dispose of it at pleasure or transmit as
an inheritance to his children Thus property in land
became fixed But these barbarians were strangers
to government and without any defensive system neces
sary to secure them their possessions against the violent
ncurslons OF other tribes equally fierce as themselves
It became necessary for them to provide suitable means
for their defence. 88
The aodia property which each soldier thus acquired
by conquest to the parcel of land which fell to him.
ihoug it imposed natural obligation upon him, to-
unite IN the common defence of the holeit was still
without that sufficient legal obligation necessary to en-
iorce this duty was necessary for them to go step
farther This step led them establish the feuda ten.
ure, which most scrupulously exacted this service
We have, thus far, noticed the relation which man