Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-10-16

7
scho!asticism; gained for the soul entire
liberty Of conscience, and emancipa
ted conscience itself from the iron
shackles of superstition--a doctrine
which is the basis Of the capacity Of sell
government. They laid this broad basis
in Pennsylvania. ave lay" they said,
"a foundation for after ages to understand
their liberties as Christians and as men,
that they may not be brought into bond
age, but by their own consent; for pe put
The poeer IN The people," Other peoples
have come in to form the basis of our state
nationality, and their characteristics are
such, that We can rot but feel that our
destiny as sovereign state will not be be-
hind our sisters Nay, more be pre-em-
inent in all that constitutes substantial
greatness in state; fo:, although we all
claim brotherhood IN love and devotion
to our common country, yet each state has
distinct and peculiar people, differing in
the details of their laws and customs-dif-
fering as much in the elements of their
state nationality, as they differ in soil
and climate.
The manner of the settlement Of our
country seems TO me peculiarly happy.
One can not but think that the same God,
who guided the Israelte by his cloudy
presence and fiery pillar, led the bands Of
the emigrant. The Puritan-the man Of
stern non-conformity, Of indomitable will,
earnest, severe religion-the daring, pray
ing round. head-were guided to the rock
bound coast Of New England. Fit men,
by disposition aud character, to people its
sterile soil, contend with its rugged will
derness, endure its harsh climate, and
brave its savage inhabitant. The trading
Hollander who conquered by traffic,
while England, France and Spain, fought
for supremacy with the sword-,ho sea-
born Zealander, and the sturdy B4ta:iaD,
landed at Manhatten, and took possession
of the finest trading por, in the world
New York "The glorious destiny of the
City was anticipated" When your
commerce becomes established, and your
ships ride upon every part of the ocean,
throngs that look toward you with eager
eyes, will be allured to embark for your
island" This prophecy, two centuries
ago, was addressed by the merchants of
Amsterdam to the merchants of Mauhat-
tan. The gallant Cavalier planted his
home amid the rich lands of Virginia,
whose extent and climate were consonant
with his taste for Dominion. The brave
Huguenot, forced by religious persecution
to qui. his vine clad hills, sought the Car
olinas, near akin in its genial climate to
the sunny homes of his loved France.
In calm, religious earnestness, yet with
none of the bigotry and intolerance which
characterized many of the other colonies,
the Quaker King founded his principality
on the Delaware, and opened :hese quiet
forests to all-in Penn's own words, ga
free coloney for all mankind" and all
should have entire freedom in thought,
word, and deed. "You shall be governed
By laws of your own making, and live
free, and, if you will, sober and indus
trious people" This was his pledge, and
he kept it.
Hiher have they come from every land
but especially, the German, the Scotch,
the Irish, and what is known in descent
by "Scotch-Irisb," aud it is on the stabil-
ity, the beneficial, moral, and educational
tendency of the Scotch, the sensibili;y,
warm heart, and eloquent soul of the Irish,
the industry, common sense, even temper
and truthfulncss of the German, that we
depend our hopes of the future, as peo-
pie. The strong bias of the German has
always been in favor of freedom. And it is
due to the "poor hearts of Kircheim and
the handful of German friends from the
highlands of the Rhine, that the initiatory
steps against slavery, were taken in Penn
sylvania l have said thus much about
our people, because our success lies as
much in the character of our people, as in
our natural resources, for it lies in them
to dcvelope them.
Aud we have in Pennsylvania, resOur-
ces to deyelope, such as will greatly con-
tribute to our wealth and power as peo-
pie; such as will give employment to ev-
cry hand and to every mind, and Of such
variety as that almost every physical want
can be supplied.
One of its principal resources is the cul
tivation of the soil. We read in that
Book of earliest time, that Adam was
sent forth from the garden of Eden to I'LL
the soil What was q necessity, aud
source of bitter regret to him, has become
the blessing and delight of his race. Ii
has become, as it were, an Unborn taste.
The pleasure it gives, and the desire OF its
pursuit, is as universal as the race. 1t is
looked upon as the basis of the wealth. /