, 1855-07-13

growth from thirteen States, to thirty-one
to say nothing Of the Territories, some o.
which now impatcntly seek to enrol them
selves among the great sisterhood of States
The national Domain largely extended, EN-
bracing surface Of country many times
greater than the "Old Thirteen" and com
prising a population now nearly twenty
five millions. And yet the tide OF emlgra'
ton seeks to embrace within our national
borders still wider fields. American in.
sttutions, the right of selGgovernment,
and our constitutional liberties are being
planted in new lands, soon to he assmila.
ted to our own. The sound Of the axe,
as it falls the forest before il, is heard
aronnd us, the plough is working in the
praries about us, carrying the blessings OF
tillage to the very peaks Nof your mountain
ranges. Saw mills, work shops, and ware
houses are being erected, and the music Of
prosperity is sounded in cars by the tones
of the hammer, the anvil and the saw,
worked by the arm OF labor, and all these
guaranteed by your Declaration Of Inde-
pendence in the inalienaLle right to enjoy
the pursuit of happiness and peIpctn-
ated by your glorious constitution in its
promotion Of the general welfare, in the
blessing of liberty which it has secured 10
its trainers, and to us, their posterity, for
whom, so benefcially designed. Under its
happy rule we ore now first among the
history Of the Earth.
From this period in our national history
down to the present time, the experiment
of free government has been successful, and
the bright cxempar we have held up to the
world has been seen by nations afar of,
aud the people Of other countries have risen
in their majesty at times, aud hurled from
power those who would invade their rights
or trample upon their privileges. South
America hes experienced the struggles Of
liberty, the love Of which is planted in eve
ry manly bosom Dcspotisms have tottercd,
and on their ruins have been upreared re-
publics. 'Tis true these have not so well
succeeded as our own, but enough has been
displayed to know that man was made for
freedom, and that the Declaration of indie
pendence is q great truth in regard to the
inalicnable rights Of all. In Europe too.
monarchies have crumbled into dust, and
popular sovereignty has struggled with va
ried success against the one man power,
and that still greater engine of oppression,
the 0ligarchy Of the Nobility, a pampered
arstocracy, with false notions of the quail
ty of blood, and still worse as to what
wealth entities its votarics. With these
two principles have the people of the op-
pressed nations of Europe contcnded, and
the day is not far distant when liberal prin-
cipIes must prevail Already have popu-
lar doctrines engrarted themselves upon
monarchical institutions. Step by step is
the doctrine Of popular sovereignty march
ing onward, and We may yet live to sec
the day when constitutional privileges and
popular rights shall be enjoyed by the
masses Of civilization. Steady has been
the progress of freedom and popular sover-
eighty since the great day, whose anniver-
sary we are now celebrating. Every vic
tory achieved has been held oil to, and not
one instance has occurred where there has
beeiSa retrogade movement. In some
countries, it would appear that though
striking for emancipation from monarchy
and Oristocracy, they have not, though with
the best of will, been able to accomplish
the effect desired. 1t would seem that
hardly were the masses ready to fall into a
state of self.government, and designing
men have been able to triumph again for
awhile, and bring about quiet, without the
accomplishment Of the end of revolution.
But name the instance where revolution
has not been beneficial. In every case the
people have gained upon the dcSpotS (; and
though failing in the ultimate object, one
more link is broken in the chain That bound
them, and they are one step nearer free
goVernment-one step nearer to governing
themselves. But suppose every other effort
had failed-suppose We had no other in
stance but America to refer TO-, as illus.
trative of the policy and benefit Of free in-
stitutions, need We go farther to assert
their success, their advantage to the people,
morally, mentally, intellectually, physically
and socially? Go through every walk oI
life-religion, politics, education and soce-
ty-take every sphere in which we move
and does it not force itself upon your con.
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