The Washington union., 1857-10-01
4 s. ,sassA4


tAtons we own ourselves wvtchedy disappointed Ths
literary gaces for which, at least, We had night 70
look seek in vain Flowers Of rhetoric are not "i
ing il is true but they do not spring gracefully on
fields of thought cothe the idea with ha,ui.i
bloom, but resemble, rather, in their awkward adJos'
ment the paper posies q tavern mantelpiece' oho
specimen will suffice to prove what we say ,
Gentlemen amid the jargon of corrupt pohucs, ana
tho shiverng sophstres of tmdity and inderence ana
ease which blow upon every generation OF young hear %
the suffocatng sirooco blows sprnging grain re-
member steadily that laws are of two kinds, &C
But might possibly have fancied we dscerneu some
fragrance beauty in these pretentious weeds winch D
Curtis would have take flowers, II they had poeh
twined with manly thoughts and brave hopes such as
become theme like this. Let us see what this man
ideas of patriotism are
The first column of his address concludes with the fol-
lowing deduction
..Thus gentlemen we see that mans country is not
certain of and-of mountains rivers, and woods
but it is principle and patriotism is loyalty to that
principle
We never supposed that anybody thought that love Of
country is an attachment to many acres OF wheat OF
potatoes cotton rice and the elaborate argument
of Mr. c. to prove that it isn't gives US no favorable IDEA
of the intelligence of his college auditors we trust
however, that this proposition was established 10 inc en-
tire satisfaction of the young gentlemen OF dartmouth
whose country led to infer up to the near
ing of this address, bounded by the paternal onion
patch or sheep.wak the Connecticut or Merrimack
Mr. Curtis having clearly shown what patriotism
~ proceeds in his lucid order OF arrangement TO tell
us what it IS
Now as / conceive it, gentlemen patriotism in an
American is simply fidelity to the American idea.
Fidelity to the American idea" So far we entirely
agree with Mr. Curtis only ascertain what the
american idea is, shall know exactly where to fix our
loyalty how to be patriotic, and have standard by
which to the patriotism OF others What then
is the American idea? The idea think clearly uah-
wicA Ansoioa could not be- which has made us united
nation, and which keeps us united to-day The organ
lied sentiment of America whelesoeyer is TO DC iound
which is patriotism The place to find it seems to us to
be in the constitution framed by fathers sanctioned
by the country at that day and at this hour unchanged
in single feature not because the people have not the
power change it, but because they like it best as it s
Where If not here is the great idea of the nation to be
found wc, the people of the United States, III or
der to form perfect union, establish justice insure
domestic tranquility provide for the common defence
promote the general welfare and the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and posterty say what shall be
the great ideas of government who shall impeach our
power say so deny that this deliberate uerance i'm
bodies the American will Loyalty to the constitution,
then we conceive is patriotism and in far any
theory sentiment however fnespun or sublime, re-
fuses to conform to that instrument just far IL it from
the proper standard.
But hear Mr. Curtis sAnd your duty as patriots is to
understand clearly that all its antecedents your
try consecrated to the of freedom that 1T was
discovered when the great principle OF human liberty was
about to be organized into human institutions that 1t
settled by who exiled by reason OF their
loyalty to that principle; that it separated politically
from its mother country because that principle had been
asaed and that it began its peculiar existence by for
may declaring its faith in human freedom and equality
and therefore, that whatever in its government or policy
tends to limit destroy that freedom and equality is
anti American and unpaotic because America and ber-
ty are insepaTable ideas =
This Is plausible enough, but shameless falsehood
lies couched under this '.much fair speech" What
ever in government policy tends to limit destroy
that freedom and equality is antAmercan and unpari
otc because America and liberty inseparabe ideas
Il. kick
Mr. Curtis alludes 'unAmerican and unpatrotic" are
the freedom and equality of the black The context
shows that this is what he meansevery line of his ad
dress shows tand must do him the justice to say
that he Is not ut any pains to conceal it. Now, Mr.
Curtis very well knew when he wrote this fine paragraph
that African slavery existed in this country long previous
to the revolution that 1t existed here when the constitu
ton formed that it recognised by that instr
men existing institution and the right of the mas
ter to reclaim his fugitive expressly provided for He
knew too, very we'll that the Union could have been
formed on no other terms and must die whenever they
cease be observed Here then within the very bosom
of the expressed thought of the andn the very inner
sanctuary of the temple where the American idea en-
srned if it be enshrned at ALL is the recognition OF
doctrine which Mr. Curtis tells is nAe,tcan and
patriotic" We begin to where he and we differ
The idea to which he exhorts men to be loyal he
does not seek in the letter of the constitution in
its spirit He ignores tho old proposition which lies at
the foundation Of institutions and is indeed the
American idea tthat the will OF the majority shall gov
en" But the of patriotism with him, is loyal
y to an abstract and impraccabe theory of universal
equality and in far as the constitution and the major
y of the nation at with that theory, just in
far are they un-American and wrong No honest man
will do any deed of which patriot need be ashamed
The supreme law of the land nasmuch as it differs from
Mr. Curtss theory, and conflicts with his judgment s
unpatotic The conclusion follows that it must be dis
obeyed; and so he tells his Dartmouth hearers:
You not to suppose that law is under all cir
cumstances to be obeyed you would be poor children
of seven years armed disobcdencc to laws you be-
licvcd that civilized and intelligent society obeys
the law When the law begins to grind, that commu
nifty changes it, if it makes its laws protests If 1t
docs not If protest is of avail and the law still grinds
the community changes tho makers, at whatever cost
of time and money and blood.
And again. after alludpg to the law requiring the
turn of fugitives, he tells us
Such laws God and require of you to disobcy,
for upon people who under any pretence could yield
to them there tyranny terrible that it might not
be imposed. -
Thinking it possible that OF his hearers might be
disposed to covet the bonors of maryrdom he gives
them a precedent to cheer them
"Whcn good men sent to Jail for refusing to do
wrong if there be any public conscience there will soon
be n change. James III sent the bishops to the tower,
but put them in the tower not to put them in the
wrong, and after little while the people of England
drove James ii across the sea-"
1t il trick of the abolition party to represent
the government at Washington hostile government,
and to seek anaoges between the workings of law
and the yrannous gaspings of kingy power in other
times and in other lands. But they forget wilfuy
shut their eyes the fact that this is of
Iars and not of that if ruler exceeds his power,
he is punished for the usurpaton and that If he don't
exceed it, he does but execute the will of that majority
which, while the american idea lasts, must govern.