The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-07-16

10y The way, one OF the lowest and most
imperfect of all tiles,j has been obtained by
Inc general government and in common with
our ether acquisitions has been or is held in
trust by III for the common use and advantage
OF all the States or rather of the people there
OF. BY the extinsuishment of Spanish title
in the Floridas we obtained not merely land
Tor extended settlement, but valuable coast
line for national security. By the acquisition
Of Louisiana and Texas we obtained control
OF the mouths Of our great river, Of The great
streams that are connected with II, in com.
mon system of outlet, and of soil, The fetil.
lty and capacity of which required enter
prising American skill for their development.
The purchase Of Louisiana was ar ac, resting
upon grounds of high necessity and policy,
Inc commanding, imperative character of
which can now be seen by the humblest
citizen. The extension OF our limits still for
!her west toward The Pacific think was also
without reproacb, justified by the most
weIsh;y re asons, and o! incalcuIabIe value
TO civilization and the national welfare.-
Since the thirteen colonies after common
struggle and urgedby common interests and
necessities united together, we have gone on
step by step toward the west, removing from
our faith the jurisdiction of other govern.
ments and the wigwams of savage tribes,
until The feet OF our brethren press the golden
sands OF The Pacific, and from ports opening
toward the setting sun. Commerce com.
mences 10 hold intercourse with the Oldest
countries OF the earth. and the former seats
of opulence and power. Whose de does
not kindls, whose heart does not bea, proud
ly in view of this spectacle? With hesitation
and doubts, but with reliance upon Provi-
dence and .some confidence in the people Of
the American States as superior 10 those of
former republics, The sages of 1887 united
The Atlantic States then organized, and com.
menced the experiment Of free government
which is still going. .on amongst us. Not
without difficulty; not without labor and ef-
fort was their work accomplished. The al
tenlive student only can duly appreciate that
period in our history. The common sympa.
thies, and If you please passions, of the rev.
olulion were necessary 10 The work, which
otherwise would scarcely have been accom-.
plished, or so well accomplished upon mere
considerations OF interest Nor is their work
10 be preserved by the force OF mere material
/ considerations. The just and generous spirit
with which they acted, must s3i!l inspire and
direct us, in order that their work be preserv.
ed and all the benefceni results OF it within
our reach be secured.
There are certain features in our American
experiment which have never been duly con-
sidered. Never in the history of the world
were so many different races brought together
in the same community anG made 10 live
and act together without constrainl or any
external influence whatsoever. The whole
process has been voluntary, and eminen,ly
successful Discord has been kept down,
internal peace preserved, industry made
secure in It's legitimate gains, labor stimulated
iLto unexampled activity and its fruits dis.
tributed among the population upon principles
OF equality that have never heretofore OBJ
tanned in the history of governments, at least
for any considerable period; and in short, all
the blessings OF civilization and all the ad-
vantsges of grea, national power have been
enjoyed by people whose lineage may be
traced directly back 10 dozen nations Of the
old world. That peace should have been so
long maintained among these various sorts of
| hoh hfanto onA fhoir f..
improvement aud progress been developed,
is TO the credit of our system and proves its
exceleucy. These populations have not been
crushed together by military force nor united
by fanatical impulse, nor been kept together
BY common struggle against foreign
power. The peculiar beauty and merit OF
The fact is, that il rests on voluntary action
the uucoerced choice aud determination OF
all the individuals concerned. We have
nearly overErowu the loug established
falsehood, that meu cannot live excep, under
powerful restraints from the civil power, and
the demonstration has been made, iu part,
with what would have been described as
uupromsiug aud discordau materials.
In the next place, never before were so
many religious sects established in the same
country, in other words never were a peo.
pie so much divided in opinion regarding
religious affairs and worship. Unity of faith
has not been accomplished though striven
for by every sect leach desirous of making
its own faith the standard of uniformity, nor
Is it apparently 10 be obtained within any
reasonable period, or until some great change
occurs in existing conditions. We have sue
ceeded, however, in holding the various
religious organizations in tolerable harmony,
and their respective capacities for useful.
ness have been directed powerfully 10 the
education and improvement of the people.
Where else upon the face of the earth was
there ever seen such number of religious
societies working separately and yet in con-
cert to the public good, and without the
slightest interference or direction from the
government of the country? No one of our
sects is allied to the State, or the object of
either State patronage or hostility. Each
and all are left to pursue their own course,
so far as government is concerned, without
receiving its assistance or incurring its hos
tility. The attempt recently made to en-