The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-16
Correspondence of The Cecil Whig.l
Synopsis OF a Lecture.
By JOHN A. J. CRESWELI.. ESQ.

Mr.. Editor The last of the course of
Lectures. in this town, was delivered on Fri
day evening the Sth inst, by John 4. D.
Crcswell, Esq, of t.ll<ton, on the subject of
Parties and Party Men in the Times of the
First Presidents.
The lecturer opened with the declaration
that he intended to consider his subject with
impariality, as he had to do, on that occa-
sion, with men who had long since left the
stage Of action. lie remarked, ia, ,,,,iyrmore,
that almost all political parties could be trac-
cd to two leading features-radicaliS and
conservatism, or the progcssirc and the stand
still, and that although other questions and
principles might arise, these arc the great
motive powers, as attraction is the motive
power controlling the planets. lie then gave
a narrative of the circumstances that led to
the Declaration Of Independence, and a his
tory of distinctions that served to form par
tics. lie treated of the several Administra-
tons down to the first election of Jefferson,
the time when the Republican party first
came into power; continuing with a contrast
between Jefferson and Hamilton. The speak
er here went into brief review the achieve
ments completed during the period over
which the lecture extended, and spoke warm
ly of the many things that had been accom-
plishcd, and of which Americans ought to be
proud. lie said Lift be asked to what are
these results attributable, answer, under
God, to the virtue and intelligence of the peo-
pie, and to the potency of the amended Con-
| stitution," and in conclusion, spoke as fol-
lows: "And now, men Of Maryland, in
these days, when threats of disunon and null
| LITIGATION have become as sounds familiar to
the popular car, one word of caution. Mon
tesquieu, French author, says, Speaking
of England,) 'as all human things have an
end, the state we are speaking Of will lose its
liberty, it will perish. Have not Rome,
Sparta ard Carthage persisted! 1t will per-
ish when the legislative power shall be more
| corrupted than the executive Now, in this
happy land, the legislature is your peculiar
care. The ballot-box proclaims your soyer-
eighty. The laws flow from you. If, then,
these States shall ever perish-if they shall
ever lose their liberty, the fault will be with
the people: they will have polluted the legis-
latnTc, and corrupted the foundation of all
power. See We to it. There was time when
Maryland and Massachusetts stood shoulder
to shouldtr--thcre was time when the men
of Boston and the old Maryland line, gather
ed under the same banner folds, and marched
obcdient to The same commanding voice; but
Massachusetts no longer looks toward Lex
ington and Bunker Hill. With face averted,
with arms reversed, and with banner trail,
ing in the dust. there she stands, not as Of
old.--too high for pancgyric, but as the OBJ
ject of contempt, and yet Of pity. Her legs.
lativc halls have been disgraced by band Of
renegades, who seemed to delight in sporting
upon the very verge of treason. Let the peo
pie of the old Bay State have care, lest thu
words Ct ,lon,es4uleu Gnd their drst fulfill