New Orleans daily crescent., 1856-08-05
~, ! . ,5,sI5T 5TsT,TC AND ms DUTIES.


of country may fairly guide sin forming proper
ndrment Of the sentiments that animate its people
Just at this time, when sectionalis is rife it is plea
SAINT To erect words Of sobeness vet of force, that
awake revered feelings for the land and government
beqneathed to US 5byso our sires.
We have never permitted ourselves TO doubt the
devotion of tie people of the United States to the
government selfimposed as it IS part and parcel of
it as they are, receiving from it nothing but good
every consideration of sober common sense necessarily
prompts u desire for its continuance.
In times Of great excitement like the present, all
men do not pause to consider. Many are apt to be
led by those who stimulate the passions Of the mo
ment and a casual observer might think that just
now the stability Of our government is il danger We
have no such apprehensons The people have too
much intelligence to cast ruthessy aside the accu-
muated blessings Of eighty years Beneath the foam
Of the restless waves there sleeps deep, quiet and
never changing sea. Fear not the foaming waves OF
sectionalisnl they cover but the surface, while be-
meath lies deep sea of devotion to the Union Inc
bubbles Of the one will break and be scattered to the
winds the unrutled waters Of the other will long
roll on in steadiness and peace.
we have been led to these reflections from reading
the following article, from that sterling paper, the
Baltimore American, the sentiments OF which we
| adopt as our own S;s
4a II there are any people with whom the love ot
country should be paramount feeling, we OF the
United States are certainly that people. we have q
government Of our own, and that government IS re-
sponsiye to tile wishes and feelings Of the governed
All that mankind has learned Of rational and const
tutonal freedom is not only Incorporated in our laws
but forms the groundwork Of our institutions, and
peneates through and through every portion thereof
We are the inhertors of what is good in representa-
| tive government of all preceding ages For us the
patriots Of all former time have struggled; everything
achieved by them with whatever sacriticeeyery vim
dicated right Of humanity principle consecra-
| ed to freedom by suffering and blood-every noble
idea Of ma agnanimous heroic, sefdevoted patriotism
all are ours and tend to make up the grand aggre-
gate of our precious heritage.
But we cannot thus be the heritors of tile benefits
and experience Of the friends Of freedom in all ages,
without assuming ALSO as the representatives of the
human race, claiming, in the name Of man. the right
and duty Of seEgovernment, responsibilities which
extend far beyond the compass Of our own immediate
concerns The cause of all mankind, holy and a
noble Charge is entrusted to keeping In assun-
ing to govern ourselves we assume the position that
the power Of truth and Of good upon the understand
ing and the heart, voluntarily admitted is adequate
to sustain political and social relations, and to main
tain the human mind in a constantly progressive state
Of improvement. If this be not the true idea Of self
government, if it be not practical dea embodied and
developed daily in our national experience, then are
we Of all men the most wretehed in being thrown
loose to the unbridled sway Of selfish and conflicting
passions capable of overthroWing truths and of st
fling the conmotions of conscience
g Great privileges always carry with them great
dangers and liberty may as easily be converted into
curse it capable Of comforting inestimable bles
sings-that it may be perverted into the freedom o
the worst and most violent propenstes Of degraded
human will is possibility which always has and
must continue to be part Of the westudied lessons
of free government.
These are all verities if not platitudes that have
been again and again called to public recollection
But they are Of kind that cannot be too often re-
peated or too studiousy conned An eminent jurist
now numbered among the departed lights Of the re
public stated these considerations most mpressvely
in charge delivered i'll the course of his of1ieia
duties. The passages we quote from one of Judge
Story's addresses to grand jury were never more
applicable than at this time, worthy the con
sideration of rejecting men:''
a We are the latest, and if unsuccessful protabl,
shall be the last with whom the form of republican
/ government will ever be tried. II unsuccessful w
shall only be the mighty nations of the past which
have made the same attempt before US only lessor
to all future ages OF the folly and vanity Of the idea
self.government by q great people. do not speal
i words of prophecy or of fear when tell you tha
there are thousands of hearts and intellects mos
deeply interested, and regarding with earnest watch
ulness every movement every change in our country
To see what is to be the result of American republi
cansn acting on its own interests and on the inter
ests of the world Can it be maintained or not? tha
4 is the question Of which they anXously seeking
and waiting m answer. The friends Of our nstitl
tions are looking on with alternate hope and anxiety
fearing yet trusting believing but yet not convinced
anxious that the result of our efforts should be th
!. permanent establishment Of the freedom and happi
ness Of man but they have perceived that on on
side other Of this most desirable consnmmation
the despotism of the many or the despotism of one
each equally destructive and to be dreaded.
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to say, if you
Courts under your noble Constitution have thus pre-
tected all rights if that instrument and the law
which have been framed underit have endeavored t
4 provide O. remedy for every wrong which can beia
you, be you on the solitary deep, with only the hea
vens above You and the waters beneath Or on th
solid land, beyond the jurisdiction and protection
State laws if the guardian power of the United State
has been around you, watching ever for your supper
protection and succor; if this he So what is you
duty on the other hand Is it not to preserve th
beautiful system of yours uncorrupted, as your inr
ence and labors do it, to the latest time? Carr
apt you IN your hearts, gentlemen, to the gface I'll
principle that neat to the duty sykich you QUE to Coz
there is none higher and more sacred than that 1chiC
yoa o,ce to yous' country
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