The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-03
WASHINGTON, D. c..
GRAFTON AT PLYMOUTH
DECEMBER 81, 1855.
BY WILLIAM II. SEWARD.

and spiritual conditions ofevery people determine
through either a direct exercise of their will or
their passive consent, the nature and form of
their government. Reasoning from the attributes
of the Creator and from the constitution of man.
we justly conclade that high stage of social hap
piness Is attainable, and that benefcent govern
ment Is therefore ultimately possible ANY differ
ent theory makes the hopes which sustain yirtue
delusive, and the Deity, who inspires them. a
demon equally TO be feared and hated ExDeri-
ence, however, teaches US that the advances of
mankind towards such happiness and govern
mont are very slow. Poetry, indeed, often pre-
sents TO US pleasing scenes of national felicity
but these are purely imaginary, while history is
an almost unfelieved narrative of political crimes
and public dangers and calantieS
We discover, by induction, moral laws rs infey-
Idle a. the material laws of the universe. We
know, therefore, that the hardness of political
progress results from failure thus far TO discover
or apply those moral laws The failure at first
view, excites surprise. Social melioratiou is an
parontly an object Of general and intense desire.
Certainly, the arts which subserye material safety
subsistence, and comfort, have been eminentiy
improved We construct useful engines recently
conceived we search the whole surface of the
round earth with comparative ease We know the
appointed courses and seasons of worlds which
we can scarcely see. 1t is doubtful whether the
arts Of architecture, painting sculpture. and
III. ".
then, does political science remain obscure. and
the art of government uncertain and perplexed?
IL happens, In some degree, because material
wants have hitherto exacted excessive care ; in
some degree, because the advantages which result
from political Improvements indirect and
ditusive; but chiefly because the science is in its
nature recondite, and the art intrnsicaly Diff
cult.
Metaphysics is a science confessedly abstruse.
and generally regarded irksome and Ruthless
Lord Bacon so prOnOunces, and he explains
"For the wit and mind Of man. if il work upon
matter, which is the contemplation Of the crea-
lures of God, worketh according to the stuff and
Is limited thereby; but if il work upon ITSELF as
the spider worketh his web then il is endless and
brings forward, indeed cobwebs of learning ad-
mirable for the fneness of thread and work but
of no substance or profit" How could rle study
of groups bc either easier or more satisfactory
than that Of individual man The same philoso-
pher confesses that government is a part of
knowledge secret and retired"
Consider only State Its magnitude is
immense, IFS outlines are indistinct il il without
symmetry Of psrts-its principles and dispositions
are confused aggregate of the mperfectly under
stood principles and dispositions of many thou
sands or even many millions of diverse men.
The causes which have chiefly given form and
direction 10 these principles and dispositions are
either unknown forgotten those which are
row modifying them too subtle for our exam
ination. The future of States involves further
conditions, which lie outside of the range of hui
man foresight, and therefore are called accidents
Human life is short, while the process of Undue
ton in political science reaches through genera
tons, and even ages. Philosophers seldom enjoy
facilities for that process. Hence, they make
imaginary laws for imaginary Commonwealth
and their discourses are the stars. which give
little light, because they are so high" States
man on ,I,..
States where they live, what is received law, and
not what ought to be law"
constitutional alteration il often necessary
TO secure a desirable social Improvement: hut
such an alteration cannot be made without a pre-
yious change OF public opinion in the State, aud
even OF opinion In surrounding States; for ma
tions are social persons, and members of an uni
versal Commonwealth. Habit resists such chan
ges. Timidity, though looking forward. is short
sighted; and with tar-sighted generation, which
always looks backward, opposes such changes.
Laws, however erroneous, or however arbitrarily
established, acquire a supposed sanctity from the
ceremony OF their enactment, and derive great
strength from protracted acquiescence In a
deepofic State, no subject move changes
In a free one, each member NAV oppose, and
opponents more easily combine than advocates
Ambition Is the ruling passion of States Ii is
blind tC<efects and dangers, while hurrying on
IN careers of aggression and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The personal interests and ambitions OF many ef-
fective members OF the State cling its insttu-
tons, however erroneous or injurious, and pro-
fect them against innovation. Reform can only
appeal 10 reason and conscience. Conservatism
arouses prejudice, cupidity and fear and adroitly
excites suspicion and hatred against the person OF
the reformer Retaliation too naturally follows
and so the controversy, which properly ought to
be public and dispassionate one, changes i'm
psrceptby into a heated conflict of factions
ifE md hama rr.la,
with increasing knowledge and refinement.
Hence, castles and classes long remain and these
although all equally interested in a proposed me
Iteration, are, by artful direction of their mu-
tual antipathes. made TO defeat il by their impla
cable contentious. Material interests are imme-
dately reused aud combined in opposition, be-
Gauss they suffer from the least disturbance
The benefits of a social change are more distant
and therefore distruSted and undervalued The
law OF progress certainly does not require chan
gee OF institutions to be made at the cost of pub
hc calamities, or even of great private inconve-
niences. But that law is, nevertheless, inexora-
bic. necessary reformation will have its way.
peacefully II favored violently ii resisted In
this sense the Founder of Christianity confessed
that he had come upon the earth to bring. not
peace, but a sword Revolutions are not divine
y appointed attendants of progress nor is liberty
necessarily born of social CONFUSION and ban
tlzed with blood. Revolutions on the contrary
are the natural penalties for unwise persistence u
error, ana servIle acquieScence in injustice and op-
preston Snch revolutions, moreover are oil
doubtful success. Most men engage readily
enough in civil wars, and for a flash are no,
and active; but they cool from natural INSTEAD
mess OF temper, and abandon their objects. and
many, destitute alike of principle honor and tru,
courage, betray themselves their associates and
even their cause, however lust or sacred Han.
ply, however, martial revolutions do not alvrax.
IA N m rnE fha
OF the nation undergo propitions change;
becomes generous, brave and self-denyipC an,
freedom consequently gains substantial and endu
ring triumphs. Ii is hard in such cases to sena
rate the share of fortune from that of merit il
anAlyzing the characters of heroes Nor is il alb
solutely necessary. Tho martial heroism of sue
revolutions Is wisely honored even with exagge
ration, because such hOnors stimulate "A virtuou
and healthful emulation. Mankind seek out tn
noblest among the successful champions. and in
vesting him with imaginary excellence in addi
ton TO his real merit, set him apart as an obie,
Of universal generation TO the worlds end "
recognise such representations in Tell and ALFRED
in Wallace and Washington
These successful martial revolutions however,
only consummate changes which were lon
before projected and prepared, by bold, thought
full, earnest, aud persevcring reformers Tner
is justly due, therefore, TO these reformers a
least some OF the homage which redeemed ma
lions award TO their benefactors We shall in
that tribute If we reflect that the saoacit,
which detects the roots and causes from whicl
national calamities and thraldoms spring an,
proceeds calmly to remove them and to avert I'M
need of an ultimate sanguinary remedy. or els
prepare that remedy so that it shall be effectual
combines the merits of genius of prudence an,
humanity, with those of patriotism. Opr adm
ration of these reformers will rise still HIGHER
when we remember that they always ara ernina,,