Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-07

ly there is not particle of Jack-C adesm in them,
whatever other characteristics they may possess.
ADDRESS OF THE HON. CHARLES J. INGERsoLL.
Within the recollection Of many here present assertion
Of American approximation to European standards po
Etica moral, religious, scientific, literary, was SO
rpudated there be dscredited here In less than
one lifetime American spontaneous development without
forcing has convinced the old kingdoms that this young
republic is at least formidable and becoming civilized
Flattered by that transatlantic acknowledgment which
Hitherto has been always more impressive than indgen
Gus self-complacency, vanity will hardly bear
the truth, but takes umbrage if not adulated.
Yet shall submit, gentlemen ought to be able
to be admonished without irritation some reflections
familiar, desultory perhaps vapd though sailed with
few facts the experience Of old and ardent indicator
Al American politics, letters, and society cordially
their advocate when weak atter their falngs when
strong Not attempting to reach the very armament of
learning and dealing with only permanent politics, /
shall not NEEDLE with the subterranean, whose ndigni
hes however, agree with Bacon, the muddy road to
dignities.
Having torn up, root and branch the ancient basis of
popular subordnation, turned the social upside
down, put venerated SUBMITS underneath and ground
hngs uppermost the problem of democratic representa-
tive Government, American discovery, which claim
% patented by these United States has gone far
chat it must be worked out certainly in the world
VI net in the old And that mighty solution is whether
auch radical reform benign advance perncious
frograde. Most of those speaking English whose num-
Der will probably to be the greatest the GLOBE
many speaking French, not few Germans and paucty
al Others believe with nearly all Of u.s. that it will end
well 1t to be, at all events, the manifest and
Inevitable destiny Of large portion Of mankind though
there many who apprehend that it will prove
vhclmng catacym, fatal conhagraton, like the first
detuge TO destroy the world
The chief responsibility of the trial is ours and all
government like all men, continually tends to evil,
slant wachfulness is indispensable to detect expose and
prevent abuse and decadence the price of liberty being
eternal vigilance guard against usurpaons only
the few but of the many.
Stagnaton almost every where considered retrograde
Progress is the endeavor and boast of all the countries
we admire An eminent French royalist Mr. Berger
lately in their national convention full of the
not practical at any rate learned public men, chaeng
ed contradiction of his assertion that French monarchy
has proved progressive than French repubicansm
and in great radical reforms monarchca and arstocrac
Engiand has outstripped democratic America of late
Our greatest national reform, and that by
renee to the first principles of Government the indie
pendent treasury falls short of the vast reformation by
Tree trade in England and the repeal of taxes equal in
amount to whole national revenue ten years ago We
mug ourselves with the mistaken selfsufcency that
are ahead OF all the rest Of the world beneficial changes
But would American steam ascendancy ever have
been what it is but for emulatng English predecessors
that advancement! Would Congress, without British ex
ample have enacted cheap postage, against which con-
ofs0risprudence, in extension of suffrage We
within the last few years. the leaders supeors Of
British kindred!
foreigner of great authority after personal examina
ton, On de Tocqueve in the thirteenth edition of his
work America testfes that property is safer in this
country than in any other it is because many
are property holders here than elsewhere STILL
IN the want Of authority to prevent and to punish cen
tIous arrangements on private property and rights
are IN an imperfect social state far inferior better
hxed communities. The chorus to Of national
ffrnrac Int ,uHa AVID L.. r.
much by children domescs and workmen by states
and the tenure by which almost every thing is held
rather goodwill than authority.
There is restless passion for change, and what is
supposed reform is attractive to eemen But il much
easier to alter than improve Defects in government are
often perceptibe attempts amend which instead of
advsncemens, are mostly rerograde and the fair trial
of great radical reforms is injured by dvertng attention
60 perpetual experiments Of superficial changes Results
apt be beneficial when nveterate abuses are
fally eradicated by highly cultivated men, like Milton
Locke, Romilly, Peel Bentham or Brougham II Penn
Franklin, Jefekon graft stock though learning,
experience prudence and attend their
yet they sometimes fail But foresight is part Of
even the wisest human nature when the ignorant who
not having read the past, cannot possibly comprehend
the future rush headong into the dark abyss still
when mere partsans competing for base popularity and
worse than all when foreign beggars horseback, with
their wild, revolutionary schemes undertake reform is
then the road to ruin Sensuasts in aQatons they are
hke what Cicero says Of youthful vouptuares in plea
sure; Mill esse tam detesabe, tamque peserem guam
vupatem. Hinc patria proditiones hinc repub-
nSsfem eversiones hinc hostus candestina collie
qua nasci nullum denique scelus pullum rualu faci
pelleret $3.50 -
trainers OF the Constitution Of the United States
wisely guarded against passion for change RI, a;,e
rated conventions TO alter the State Constitutions ALWAYS
s1perimentslly often specifically and mostly pbysick
ing patent In excellent health, have pushed reforms
backward to the verge Of British repudiatea ,os.
Hsitersted conventions, with unlimited power sunnant
day organized legislation, usurpng parliam
Fotence Nor do our reforms pause where British Parl;
aneuary omnpotence stops, which De Lolme "a " c.r
do any thing but make man a woman; for GANGS ~
This Address was delivered at PHILADELPHIA ON tho
14th Of 1853 by request Of the Society OF the
Alumni at the celebration Of the hundred and fourth
nniversary Of the University of Pennsylvania in the
ssnoc Of highly respectable and crowded audience in
siuding the Hon. GsoRos M. DALLAS, Hon. RoBsRr J.
wALKKR, Hon. WILLIAM BIoLER the Governor Of the
essse, and other distinguished gentlemen.