Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-06

UAtctocQs
tors snow endured; seven tedious years contended
in their struggle Tor independence. Alternate de-
feat and success attended their efforts. Brandy-
.oiss, GernlantoSn, Long Lsiand, and ChayIsstoson
sav them yield, whilst Trenton, Bssla1 Springs,
Saratoga, and Yorktosen bsheid them triumph
Ihis last great victory at Yorktoso, pat end to
The contest. The Declaration Of american hde-
pendenee ,oas maintained, peace Dds secured, and
the sovereignty of the United States acknowledged
And thus was the brightest jewel in the British
crown plucked therefrom by the skill and prowess
of him Of whom It has been truly said that he WAS
" first in war, first in peace and first In the hearts
of his countrymenp And thus ended reyolu-
ton, the consequences Of which, in the present
and the future, no eye can reach, no mind can
grasp. II naugurated new era, not for America
only, but for the world To some nations sooner,
to others later, will the benefits Of the American
Revolution be extended.
The era Of free government now commenced.
The adjustment of the expenses OF the Reyolu-
ton of the claims Of those who had spent their
time and money In the cause, the difficulties re-
sulting from the want Of uniform commercial sys-
TEN, the absence Of power In the Confederation TO
enforce the payment Of the quotas due from the
several States-these and other like considerations
led to discussions In reference TO General Gov.
ernment better suited to the wants and interests
of the nation. This brings me to the era Of tie
Federal Consolidation, and God grant that this era
may nrver, neper, terminate
Permit me, Americans, TO say that In my judg-
ment the formation of the Federal Constitution
was an event second only In Importance to the
American Revolution ITSELF Behold, the heroes
and patriots Of the Revolution assemble In conven-
ton to devise new system Of national govern
ment---a system which should SECURE the union Of
all and the rights of each Of the States; to form
federal compact for the protection of American
Liberty and the perpetuaion of American indie
pendcnce; to frame system that should combine
the strength Of consolidated government with the
independent sovereignty Of each Of its constituent
parts A more interesting scene the world has
never witnessed The result of their labors aston
ished both America and Europe.
In rearing the grand and noble structure of our
Federal Government our political architects ac-
quired unequalled glory. Here foiled our Wash
ington, our Hamilton, our Madison, and their
lise associates Immortal sagesi Your memo
ries shall live, and may the york Of your hands
endure, till history and tradition shaH be lost ~
The ,pyeck Of our planets dissolutioni
The statesmen Of Europe had doubted, yea de-
Med the possibility Of our national existence, I'M
der a form of government dependent upon the
virtue and stability Of the people for its support
and its sudden downfall was predicted But the
mighty fabric has been reared, its durability has
been tested, and whilst millions upon mions Of
our race are groaning under the iron hand Of des-
potism, we enjoy the proud privileges Of civil an
religious liberty, protected by laws of our own
adoption, administered by agents of our own selec-
ton. We pay not allegiance to prince, We obey
not the dictates Of despot our allegiance is paid
to the written Constitution OF country and our
obedience to the constitutional legislation Of the
peoples representatives. Such, Americans, is the
~, 81 ~ Ix;t
der the operation of the Federal Constitution and
tho local constitutions Of the several States.
What more Is wanting save the pure and hon
est administration of the Government, to render US
a happy and contented peopleS Is there nation
upon the globe that viii challenge US to a COM
parison In those elements which make up the sum
total of national greatness, or Of human happi-
| nessi viii China, with her three hundred mil
lions Of abject slaves and her despotic Emperor,
enter the listss VIII Russia, with her millions
upon millions Of serfs and her absolute monarch!
viii France, with her giddy and fcklo population,
her ambitious and adventurous Emperor, under
whose throne burns smouldering vocanos Win
any of those European nations upon whom rests
the incubus of Popery, And whose degraded popu-
laton arc daily sinking lower in the scale of hu-
manityS WIN any Of the nations Of Europe enter
into the comparison which have indicated Per-
hsps proud old England, our ancient enemy and
natural rival, would enter the lists OF what, then
would che boastf OF her Londons II has stee-
Piles more lofty, Il has palaces more splendid, It
has population more numerous than the cities Of
the United States but are It's citizens as prosper
Gus, contented, and happy Would she boast her
universities of learningf Our schools, academies
colleges, and universities are scsttered broadcast
over the land, TO educate cR cAsses and condL
tons Of people Would she boast her manufacto-
riesi We can manufacture every article OF neces-
sity or Of comfort, and furnish the raw material
from our own soil Perhaps England would boast
of her naval heroes, her Duncans, her Nelson's,
and her Cockburns, Has she forgotten our Hulls,
McDonoughs, and Decatursf Would she boast of
her warriors upon the landf Who met her Bur
goyne at Saratoga, her CORVALLIS at Yorktown, or
her Packenham at New Orieanss Does she fly
for refuge to the list Of her poets and philosophers
She had her Shakspeares and her Newtons, from
whose merits we would not detrsct but we may
modestly remind her. that our Franklin taught the
world 10 arrest the terrific thunderbo In It's course
TO earth, from the stormy heavens, and that our
Morse has hsrnessed electricity and made II travel
with the lightnings speed, bearing communica
tons at his command between distant regions
Boast not, then, proud, dominccring Britain !
We envy not your assumed pre-eminence In those
advantages and improvements which render ma
tons powerful or individuals honorable nor do ve
repine when we behold your gorgeous Queen, your
princes, your lords, your dukes, and your earis
your fdpored fee, with empty titles, and az empty
Leadsi We are contcnted. II Britain has or<
sovereign, we have millions Of sovercignsi Our
country too is vast In extent various 10 soil, eli
mate, and productions; and, above all, we have
free institutions, freedom from public debt, free
dom from European alliances and dependence, free
dom from domestic convulsions, and freedom from
fear Of all other nations. Britain enjoys none Of
these But, Americans with all these advantages,
we must not lose sight Of the fact that there are
evils which threaten us. In the distance, and that
timely precaution and effort are necessary TO avoid
them, or to counterfeit their effect upon our inst.
buttons. "Tbe price Of liberty ia eternal vigi.
lancet
The systematic measures Of foreign governments
| to throw upon our shores the paupers and crimi-
mails Of their countries respectively, must be re-
sisted and defeated. Selfpreservation Is a law oil
nature, and applies as well to nations ITO indi.
viduals. We must enforce this right OF selfpres-
ervation at any and every hazard. The United
States must not become tie common seper Of TIE
/ toovidi
Another and perhaps greater evil threatens us
and demands an efficient remedy. The secret aims
Of Jesuitsm, TO subject our country 10 the domin-
ion Of the Ronisb hierarchy, are now known and