The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-23


WM. JONES, M. d.
JAS +. HALLIDAY,
GEO SAVAGE,
ROBT. WRIGHT,
j. +. CALLAN.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 1855
eaptemen, your note soliciting for publication copy
81 the address delivered by at the Smithsonian on
he nth instant is received 1t gives pleasure to com
py with your request and place copy al your aiS
posal. Respectfully yours, nm
Dr. ". Jones, j. f. Halliday, George Savage, Robert
Wright j. +. Callan, Hsqrs, committee
I,ntrs am GENTLEMEN From the earliest ages the PHI
losoner and statesman have been studying now pest 10
secure the rights of man, to protect the weak against s
agQressions of the strong, aud 70 guaru pe snpe u
noant against the chcanery Of the crafty and dishonest
1t would be interesting to trace the history OF the hu
,neyous and wdey-yarying plans contrseh 70 secure
these objects, and the results OF those supm.ee -
cal tests some of which failed from inherent detects whe
others were oyehrown by the frauds or violence OF those
10 whom their execution intrusted but neither the
time nor occasion Will permit ~
Tb Grst forms Of royernment were simple and adapted
10 the state and condition Of in the carly stages OF
his existence The patriarcha was succeeded ny ioins
less paterna in their character Every generation mas
witnessed changes than improvements 10 me oii
of government each having perhaps some new ana apea
nd vantage but containing inherent ana iata oe'ees
of them have despotsms In FACT whether contfoheu
by a King or Emperor Mohammedon or other reliseus
leader Despons though often tempered by behehcenee
and guided by wisdom eventually prove iau -
established hy the efficient and sklful use OF weapons oi
syar by potca reachery insidonsly operating upon
unsspecting and con6ding religious feeling Inc aespot
loves and lives for power ana aeso.s n,s and
es to acquiring and securing such ascendency anu COIL
rrol over The as may beat strengthen ana
it in his hands 49,, vi
Their written laws though sometimes wise and just are
often framed To secure tie interest Of the regnug
or to crafty its passions AID resenments and changed
only to conform to the varying WI 9, inc soieieEn M
Interpretation and execution being suhect 70 hs
In such governments there are no bohnoates
controlling the law-makng power or eircuaisc'pns my
action of those who expound execute lis mandates
despot who from motives of policy, enacs limitation OF
his powers and enlargement of that OF the masses
NAV annu both when such policy longer requires their
continuance With few exceptions in England, this has
been The history Of Europe Asia Africa and more than
half of America II is painful 10 reflect that those gov
which based upon profess to be actuaed
by most sacred religious obligations form exoep
tons Power controlled by yieding and inmovable
restraints has in all time and everywhere been the
subeeng everything possible to its will IT only to be
controlled through the influences Of education and knoW
edge, wisely directed for that glorious purpose.
Political oppression religious intolerance and persecu-
tion strongly cooperated with commercial and Other en-
ferTrses peopng the Old Thirteen Colonies Although
deeply impressed with the general principles OF civil and
religious freedom they nnrestraned by any control
ling written fundamental law efectunlly securing either
Hence the blot in the colonial history OF some of he
casioned mainly by blind anaiicsm, relentless and
INSCRIPTIONS bigory, aided by most nnfeeling into
erance Happily for u.s. these monster feelings and pas
sions yielded u general diffusion Of knowledge and
clearer perceptions of civil and religious duties obga
tons and privileges, The internal administration OF the
several colonial governments became respectable and conf
paratvey we each seeking the security of the citizen
and the general prosperity and success Of The whole.
During the armed struggles of foreign potentaes Tor as
tendency in Europe and supremacy in America, Great
Britain secured the control Of the Thirteen Colonies With
fatal policy she sought ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at home by exer
cising tyranny abroad Without rejecting upon the ele
ments OF human nature she attempted eradicate their
clear convictions concerning their rights and duties by
Strengthening those who sufficiently wise to perceive
Tho
overbearng spirit of her rulers led them into the fatal
ror supposng educated and independent could te
frightened into obedience and 1ougM into affection for the
power that oppressed them This sent their armies
shores and subsequently called to the field An
oppression felt by all induced the several colonies to send
delegates Congress in Philadelphia to consult and adj
yiee for the common good. With wisdom be
ted and boldness be admired Congress i'll lT76
declared the colonies to be free and independent assigning
for the act which then commanded the approba
ton Of mankind and gave to the document containing
them the appeation of the Immortal Declaration of In
dependence while the memory of those who prepared and
signed venerated and cherished by all classes among
in little short of political and personal idol
airy May their devotion to the public good forever
and respect and become precedent or universal mita
toni
A common danger united the colonies in common eff
fort of resistance regardless of relative considerations
which controlled their individual separate action in other
matters To equality of rights duties, and obga
lions among themselves in resisting common enemy the
articles Of confederation prepared soon after the Dec
laraon OF Independence but assented to by all the
colonies until 1884, when that danger had nearly
disappeared
These articles the necessary offspring Of the times which
produced ten failed to many OF the great objects
necessary the welfare Of those included in the organiza
ton formed under them. Their want OF adaptation to
Of had been may painfully, demonstrated
while their neciency during peace strikDgy appa
rent With many wise provisions, they contained others
that rendered the whole Intellectual in practice The
federation had the exclusive right to determine peace
and of sending and receiving ambassadors Of enter
ing into treaties and alliances Of establishing rules for de-
Gliding in Of captures land water; Of granting
letters Of marque and reprisa and might determine dis
pues concerning boundary, jurisdiction, and other causes
between States. The following article however, contains
the elements of its own weakness and inadaphbilty:
"ARrrcLE All charges of war, and all other expenses
that shall be incurred for the defence and general
welfare, and allowed in the United States in Congress
shall supplied by the several States in proportion to the
value OF a land within each State granted to- surveyed
for person. such land and the buildings and improve
thereon shall be estimated according to such mode
the United States in Congress assembled shall from time to
direct and appoint. The taxes for paying that proper
ton shall be laid and levied BY the authority and direction
the legislatures of the several States within the time agreed
upon by the United States in Congress assembled"
practical observer OF those times says BY this po-
eye power for the following purposes without being able
TO execute one of them: They may make and conclude
treaties. bnt they only recommend the observance
them They may appoint ambassadors but casnot detray
even the expenses Of their tables They may borrow money
in their name the faith Of the Union but cannot
pay dollar They may coin money; but they cannot
purchase ounce of bullion. They may make war and
determine what number of troops necessary but
not raise a single soldier In short. they may declare