The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-07-06

incline the minds of men to seek security, and
repose in the absolute power of an Individual
and, sooner or later, the chief of some pre-
vailing faction, more able or more fortunate
than his competitors, turns this disposition to
the purposes of his own elevation on the ruins
af public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity
OF this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to
be entirely out of sight the common and con-
tlnual mschiefs of the spirit of party, are suffi-
Gent to make it the interest and duty Of wise
people to discourage and restrain it. 1t serves
always to distract the public mind and enfee-
Die the public administration. 1t agitates the
community with ill-founded jealousies and
false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part
against another, fOments, occasionally, riot and
lnsurrection. 1t opens the door to foreign in.
nuence and corruption, which find facilitated
access to the government itself, through the
channels of party passions
Such, my fellow citizens, was the solemn
warning of him whose character alone has
done more to spread the influence of Republi-
can liberty than all the pa.tes that were ever
formed. Such was the warning of him who
in the early history of our Constitutional gov
eminent, called to his aid the great and pa
triotic Hamilton, and the pure and far-seeing
Jefferson, and leaned his great arm on them
for support. Himself too great too patriotic,
too pure TO be a partizan, he only thought of
calling around him for support, those who
could aid him in laying deep and permanent
the foundations of liberty in the land he loved
so well.
Of what avail was it to him that these great
Americans differed even on some important
questions of civil polity. His penetrating eye
saw at once, that they possessed too much OF
wisdom, knowledge and patriotism, to be was
ted away in an Improbable party warfare
Washington knew them to be honest, to be pa
triotic, to be great, and by calling them both
to the aid Of his administration, he felt assur-
ed that the country would be blessed the fOun-
datlons of liberty Strengthened the first
administration of Constitutional government,
placed upon a sure and firm basis
1t is not unreasonable to infer that the first
President Of che United States, bred and dis
cipllncd as he had been in the camp, and pre-
vented as he had been in consequence of his
responsible duties from dcvOting much of his
life to the study Of the philosophy of govern
ment, that he was greatly indebted for the
wisdom of his administration, to the dis
cusslon of those principles by such men us
these. The fact that they differed was source
of advantage to him and to the country. 1t
brought out from the hidden recesses of their
great minds, the rich treasures of wisdom and
of knowledge which they both possessed. And
although he might have differed with them
both in some questions of Importance, yet he
saw in them the exhibition of that patriotism,
which prompted them to labor for the public
good alone, and wisdom and experience which
himself and the country so much needed.
The practice adopted during the administers
ton Of Washington, and the earnest, solemn
appeal which he made to the people on retir-
ing from public life, appeared for time to
have made deep and lasting impression upon
the great heart of the nation.
In those days of republican simplicity no
one was deemed qualified for place on account
of the peculiar service he had rendered fac
ton or party nor was any one prescribed
by reason of his loving liberty better than sla-
very, nor by reason of his anxiety to prohibit
the extension of t..rritory wherein men might
be bought and sold.
Acting in accordance with the lessons which
the Father of their Country had taught them
the people, in selecting agents to carry out
and administer the government, looked more
to the virtue, patriotism and ability of the
man, than to the avowed theory of the politi-
clan. For with the combination of virtue
patriotism and ability in their rulers, the peo-
pie felt assured that the true honor of the
country could not suffer- nor her name be tar
nished.
But when those great elements of character
were wanting, in those days of Republican
purity, the people felt no assurance that the
liberty and honor of the country would be
safe in their hands. They felt no confidence
in the unceasing vaunting of partizans, nor
did they place reliance in the vitality of plat
forms and resolutions. They rather looked to
him who cultivated habits of selfsacritice and
devotion to duty, for protection and advice
This tendency of affcirs in tho earlier history
of our government, led to the most fortunate
and happy results. 1t brought forth into &C
tive public life, a large number of the great
est and best men, which have ever adorned
the high places which they occupied or did
honor to the land of their birth.
1t is to the American, an honest and just
theme of exultation, that until recently in all
the departments of the government there have
been glazed men who in all that constitutes
true greatness of character, find no equals in
the representatives of any nation upon earth
We are, and justly should be, proud of oul
great Americans. In their day they had nc
equals. There Was no man to stand by the
side of Washington.
And where will we turn in history to fine
such spirits as Hancock, Adams, Hamilton
Jefferson, Henry, Franklin, and their compeers
all associated together in one country, at
one time, for the accomplishment of a common
object? History furnishes US no such charac-
tiers elsewhere. And in after times, where will
we find men to compare with Jackson, Web
ster, Clay, Calhoun, Story, Marshall, Adams
Alas! we will search in vain i'll other lands
it was the liberal spirit, which have attempt
ed to show, characterizing the earlier history
of our government, which brought these great
men into public life, and which devoted their
priceless services to the good of their country
But they have all passed away, and the ex.
preston is almost universal in our land, that