The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-07-21

ow ed their birth and education to those coun-
tries which Nature has most highly favored
in point OF soil and climate. Leaving this
question for others to settle, let US take a
view of the early history Of the Roman Re
public. What severe simplicity and frugali-
ty of manners among the early Founders of
the Republic! What stern contempt Of sell
fish considerations, of danger and death where
the honor or safety OF the State was concern
cd! Where shall we find more noble instan-
ccs of martial courage determined to sur
mount all obstacles, and Of patriotism utter
ly forgetful of every other object but the
glory and welfare of Rome. These virtues
were the effect in great measure Of the
education the citizens rccci"ed, which taught
them to despise every thing which conficted
with the good OF their country. 1t was this
love Of country which caused Brutus to
plunge his dagger into the heart of his friend
thinking it better that his friend should suf-
fer death than that the State should be ex-
posed to injury from the effects of his mad
ambition, and it was the same motive that
impelled Regnlus to surrender himself into
the power ofhis enemies, rather than counsel
his countrymcn to accept Of dishororabe
terms of peace. How delightful it is to trace
the history of this carly age of the Republic /!
How easy il is in imagination to witness the
debate in the Senate in which the fate Of
Carthage was decided by the stern sentence
Of Cato" Carthage est dclcnda." to hesitate
with Caesar at the passage of the Rubicon,
and to admire with the crowd tho soul. stir
ing eloquencc Of the immortal Tuly! But
alas! Rome, Imperial Rome has fallen from
her hi h estate. Time, which in It's ceaseless
course sweeps empires from their base as
with the bosom Of destruction, has not spared
The Niobe of Nations, there he stands,
Childless and crownles in her voiceless VICE. :.
An empty urn within her withcr' d hands,
Whose holy dust was sca'ter'd long ago;
Tho Scipios' tomb contains no ashes now;
The very sepu'chrrs lie tennntlcss
Of their heroic dwell rs dost thon flow,
Old Iihcr through marble wildcrncs-' [trcss
Rise with thy yellow waves and mantle h"r dis.
Childe Harold, Canto 18th, stanza roth.
In examining into the causes Of the decline
and fall of the Grccian and Roman States we
shall find that the foundation of their strength
was Slapped in nearly the same manner by the
sure, though silent operation of those vices
and that dcgencricy Of manners which will al
ways be certain to occasion the downfall OF
any State in which they may be suffered to
prevail. But the history OF Greece is more
especially interesting to us, from one strik-
ing fact, which VIC should always bear nmind
when the question of the exrcdiency of our
happy Union is lightly and carclessly discuss
ed. Historians inform us that so long as
Greece was united, she was invncihle, but
that so soon as the States began to wage
war with each other, and thus weaken them
selves by intestine dissensions, they became
an easy prey to tho first invader whose cupid
ity and ambition might be tempted by the
gittcring prize. We should never forget the
excellent advice given us in his Farewell
Address by him who LAS been justly styled
the Father of his Country, and who has left
i name "above all Greek, above all Roman
fame, "-"Yon should frown Indignantly on
the first dawning Of an attempt to ALLEVIATE
enfeeble the sacred ties which now link to-
gcther the various parts" In the beautiful
language ofWebstcr, "While the Union lasts
we have high, exciting gratifying prospects
spread out before us, for US and our children.
Beyond that seek no. to penetrate the veil.
God grant that my vision never may be open
ed to what lies behind. When my eyes shall
he turned to behold for the last time the sun
in Heaven, may not see him shining on the
broken and dishonorcd fragments of once
glorious Union; on Sta ties discovered, dis.
cordant, belligercnt; on land rent with civil
tends or drenched it may be, in fraternal
blood Let their last feeble and lingering
glance, rather, behold the gorgeous Ensign
of the Republic, now known and honored
throughout the Earth, still full high advanced
its arms and trophies streaming in their orig
inal lustre, not stripe erased or polluted
nor single star obscurcd, bearing for its
motto, no such miserable inteIrogatory as
"Hhat is nN This uoJth :" nor those other
words Of delusion and folly" Liberty first ana
Union afteruards''- every where spread
all over in characters Of living light, blaz ing
on all its ample folds, as they float over tho
sea and over the land, and in every wind UNI
der the whole heavens, that other sentiment
dear to every true American hcart-s'Libert,
and Union, now and forever, one and insepa
rablc."
Having thus briefly referred to the histor,
Of the Republics of Greece and Rome, We
pass by an easy transition to that of our owl
country, whose duration every patriot mus
hope will be less transitory than that of eith
err Of the others. The early settlement of ou
| country is doubtless familiar oyou all, and
l shall therefore pass it by, and merely dwell
for a brief space on the advantages our An
cestors enjoyed, and on those which we our
selves possess, subject Of the highest i'm
| portance, as upon proper improvement and
| cultivation Of them depends the prosperity
| nay the very existence of our present free
and happy form Of Government. When W,
examine into the early history of our beloved
country, we find that unlike all former at
tempts at Colonization, the first settler
brought with them an accurate knowledge o
their civil and religious rights, and tina
knowledge of the Arts and Sciences whicl
could only have been obtained in an advanc