The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-13

| . VERsATAL1TY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
1t is taken for granted that the chief charac
terstic. of the American people is enterprise );
such enterprise as, without reference to dis
tance or difficulty penetrates every forest, and
pushes its energy over every sea. These fea-
lures of our character are indeed most obvious
to the ordinary observer All can appreciate
the hardy energy of such hardy pioneer as
Daniel Boone, and the aggressive intrepidity
of such a man as DR.. Kane. But all do not
observe the more reconcile qualities which
have distinguished our people. In the vegeta
BILE world, there are certain plants or trees
which thrive most luzuriantly by being trans.
planted to another soil. We can trace an
analogy here between things natural and
things moral. We are transplanted people
The original stock was of the best quality,
and we do not think it has degenerated. From
the hour when John Hampden protested
againststh exorbitant exercise of kingy power
and wet the soil Of England with patriot blood,
real liberty has been progressive; while neither
Hampden nor Cromwell was permitted to land
on these shores, their princi pies were sent
overlin the trust Of less celebrated, but not
less reso!ute and determined men, So John
Wesley came over to this country to estabrlsh
his religion here, but went back without effect
ing anything. Providence used other instru
ments to circulate those doctrines, which were
to have wide sway in the new world. We
speak Of the revolution for want a better term
It is a sort of consecrated name, which we
should not be likely to exchange for another,
but it was no revolution in such a sense as that
OF France at the close of the last century. Il
was simply the carrying out of principles that
had long been held sacred by the colonial peo.
ple A monarch indeed they had but at the
same time they had forms and institutions,
which recognized and expressed the great
power Of the popular will They were not
ensaved though treated with indignty,
perinacity of disregard, which FASTENED the
assumption and declaration Of entire independ-
ence
There was a good deal of loyalty, even
among some Of Washington's own friends and
neiyhbors, towards England. And even many
of those who proved to be sound wings, hesi-
tated long and delIberated much, before they
consented 10 a rupture with the mother coun
ry. But the English ministry were under an
InfatuatOn. Far easier terms OF settlement
and reconciliation might have been obtained
from the great reformer at an earlier period of
his career, them were subsequently possible,
when the haughtiness OF ecclesiastical power
rose to its full height and the provdential
destiny of the German monk had more amply
unfolded itself. So were the founders of Amer
lean independence led on, step by step,--the
light on their path constantly increasing, until
duty and destiny became as plain as tie merl
dian sun. And SO it has been to the present
day. We are now known to the world as en-
terpizing, aggressive, warlike, acquisitive com
mercial, and diplomatic Even England ad-
mircs, willie she satirizes US ; but this admira
ton would not be SO freely expressed, did it
not reflect her own praise, and exalt her own
pride as our progenitor. She sees our marvel
Gus expansion on this ''boundless continent of
ours" unembarassed by any such ''pent up
Utica as her own sea-girt isle. But it is un-
just to write us simply a calculating" and
money-!oving people to deny us an intel]cc-
tual life, or any taste in the fine arts. Philos-
ophy is more acted then written in the devel-
opmcnt of American life. Poetry is rather
illustrated on broad scale, than composed ac
cording to technical rules. We are eminent in
the department of the imagination by some
magic it becomes practical; dreams grow into
realities; Our brief history would be verita
bic miracle, were it not that no laws of physi
cal OF moral nature have been violated in our
progress to the high elevation We now occupy
before the world.