Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-26

tbs mighty field before it, ere erected the altsrs o. lie
rivilz ton and the temples Of ts worship or organ
lied the institution, OF its discipline and proclaimed
the order OF lis future march, What but Providence
could have inspired The thought quickened the
laith which led to such achievement neT field
| was to be opened to human enterprise, and new
| form to be given to human development Hitherto
mans progress had been mostly confused 10 the social
side of his being Governments had directed their
efforts mainly to social strength aud Improvement.
Society was the whole of which the individual was q
part. II he had rights and power it was becaas, CO.
cetv had given them. Such was emlnenty the genius
of the organization of the Roman empire and ot no.
man law whose impress is still deep the ns!itu
tions of the Old World, and to which social progress
owes its most forward STEP so far as human agency
il concerned. But Providence opened here new
theatre and reversed ths order OF the march OF human
imprOv ement. Man was thrown into situation
entirely new and all the circumstances Of his position
were adapted TO the development OF his individual "a
iure Unsphered, as /; We're. from organized society
man was thrown into the wilderness with the wants
the arts and the strength of civilization, and Yet
exposed 10 most Of the rude necessities Of state of
nature. For his government 5s was mainly directed
by his own WILL for his support and protection he was
chiefly dependent his own resources, and his com
inunion for the mos. part with himself. Ssfreli
ance al intense love OF independence of thought and
action, and opinions Of human nature and OF human
rights, formed from the study OF sn an individual
rather Than As Creature of society," must have been
tho result ot slch culture.
shout! have arisen out of it, in which the individual
the unit and society hut the multiple and in which
society derived is rights from the grant OF individuals
who reserved what was nor given Instead of comforting
UPON the individual Whatever he po, ssssed. With
such views the individual would be- likely to deal ont
his powers 10 Government with sparing hand. He
woaid be SPIT, too, to demand that the powers thue
granted should be exercised by those only VINO
likely be governed by the uam- interests and feel
nss With hn.s!f and that he hlrnssii SHOULD par:ic
pate equally in this exercise. Gu, Ut this would n.tu
rally grow division OF the powers of Government
amongst thera.it Social ORGANIZATIONS, whose bond
tina. OF co;umoG Interests and feelings. The com.
Manitles thus organ ID would probably become the
soci,l Units OF Government, upon the basis o!
COMMON interest. whose powers wsre 10 be exercised
far rs possible by those only who were identified
in litica Interest aud feeling. Such would pa the
natural and orderly growth Of the ss.d OF Individual
ism which was prJvidel:iay planted Ia th- virgin sol!
u the New Void, and n %hose development George
Washington wa. the ,aff human sg-nt The law u!
progress here is on of sr!!.dereo2mtnt 20 man OF
Is day, perhaps ua1e.stoot tas so we'll a. HasdioS
ipn urs.S iGs' the right of An individual to manage
mis- own eTars in his cwn way, il they concerned on.
~ himself, Implied u poDdIog obligation on hln
intervene in the affairs vi others where ;hey
auno interested. IL app:eciateu too, The rlca
an opportunities for ths Sell dsvclopn .ut which
wee nfJrd-! b. our position. To these be directed
the attention OF his coun:rynsn when be eShorted
them to institute "Am-r!cnn policy, and TO work
uat their own dgtuy und=r the Impulses OF their own
peculiar genius, ana Win III. Ec!srcuc5 10
cumsteuces viii surrounded the:u To afford .res
scoops to thi. law OF s=if.developnent an unlimited
field was opened to human competition ali ihe
p-izss Of li!s offered free aud fair com
psf on, aod were ava DID TO the Victo IN the great
stru .ylIs which tried their strength 10 the utmost.
lies. wara splendid a. 70 tempt SOM in e the
organized Efforts of Sraes but for The most past they
constituted :he reward OF individual eAertIon. The
greatest possible stimulus ;hre given to the de-
ve'U ym-ni Of human energy, and teemiDg, strug-
J Gin ny IN, uHdp f,ruJ 70
1tl-c. Of human aspiration which the genius vi our
ia=tl,utioDs does not hold out Is reward 10 tempt II
dviduss to exertlon. II imposes no condition upon
ns atsD.ng il except that he shall be worthy Of the
prize. He who claims the place Of Ulysses must be
ablo TO bend his bow. Did he demand field for his
iabors and place on which to found his family, II
pointed him - the wilderness, ssd, giving him sn
axe and rife, babe him 10 conquer It with the s~ea,
Of his brow from the unwilling hold Of nature and 10
keep It when conquered by the strength OF bis hear
anu the cunning Vi his hand. Does be- sigh for mari
TINE adventure bids him to spread his calls 10 ihe
lreez5 in whsever direction bis fancy may take him.
and guarantees TO him that the harvest which he may
gather shall be his own, and sha not be wrestet from
him by the hand If force at home or abroad. Does
be ccvct the s.a's If power or The Eonors of lfs II
say., "Lo the:s they arei prove yourse!f worthy
aud you stall have them; measure yourself
ND. II Jon feel strong enough for contest in
which you wil. find many rivals, enter upon IT, fer
h- prize. belong 10 the strongest" Stimulated by
such impulses, our progress has presented spectacle
D! human energy uneQualled III tnb history az the
past. The march of the restless column is ever on
ward. Forward is the cry which still rtsouads along
the line, and if tbose who head the column ever halt
again II must be IN the grave. Nothing stay that
column IN its mighty march even tor a moment: il
stops neither 10 bury It's dead nor 10 care for lie
wounded; il peuses at no obstacle; il cares for no
odds which il may have to encounter; lis steady
tramp aud its hum OF men have already ecsred the
-.Ece Of tbs remoest solitudss of the wilderness
and the shouts Of its warcry will be heard across
IN seas Whist IL resstless tide OF human energy IL
thus sweeping over continent 10 fuhl the DEGREES
ct lie destiny. What An embodiment Of moral power
thus organizing may be, to take the supreme direc
;iu OF the affairs Of man! Tell not of Aarc or AZ.
hla OF Tamsrane or Gbengis Khan; tell me not OF
Goth, o! Hun, or of Tartar or Of whatever other de-
stroyere OF have vexed the earth for awhile
and who like tempests come and so depart. tell you
hat lie greatest destroyer Of all is abroad be.
foro whom snail fall more Of the old organizations Of
human government, more Of the tradtionary insttu.
iiuns which letter The onward march OF man. and
more, too OF the eeber Of the earth unless in
way they can be brought within the shadow
of ifs protection, than have been tramp,sd be
meath the conquerors heel before. Butts c0uques.s
will bs such rs shall leave ruins behind them.
Il wil destroy The time worn organizations of old
civilization to rebuild from their materials others
which shall be suitable 70 the wants of the
nav. TIE nations of the earth when il passes them
shall cheer mat glorious column as il advances Pull.
ing down the old and putting up the new, until hu.
msniiy shall lind in The institutions of socisty the
aid Tor the development Of all lis faculties.
So fer az human agency is concerned, there is
man, who, more than all othere, may be said 10
have Organized s.d directed this great movement of
human society; there is one name which, above oil
others, represents this m ghtv epoch in history, and
rha, is the name of George Washington, the son of
N!rgiUin the Fath~r Of his Country, the best and
perhepa tho wisest OF MI who have ru!ed the desti.
n:.s Of our raced name which represents more Of
hgman fame because il has moro deeply effected hu.
ma ar ny n uh in
mails Q! man.
is - duty, then, which Virginia owe, to him, to
hsrse T. and TO posterfv TO tell the great story OF his
life in MI the forms ia which il cau roach the hearts
GrG minds Of men. Let il bs told in The graceful
numbers OF the poet; let it be carried down in the
everlasting Traditions OF Eeto.y let il be !neged forth
~ the highest mpersonstoos Of the pain'er's and
:Ele scuip.ors genius. There il great moral in that
story which ought 10 be fsl; ny every rmsn heart,
tor l. is the story Of who none OF all the great
rr!srs NJ men has proved, by consistent example,
thy in the midst OF temptations ard the most rrdu.
crg opportunities for the qualification Of relish
ambition he preferred the duties o! life IN Its plea.
sure, its power, and even to life itself. Let, ih-.,
Virginia on lhir HE na:Si Gay raise the eipy OF Der
nnbiest son before !hs eyes Of ainirng me; ard
who sha blame her i! som" toach of maternal pride
should be mingled with the tears of pions regard |
which sha may shed for him WHO was The worlds
great paragon 70. ali that is Sublime III public virtue
a1G al that il P.ten. snd brave in The humsu soul
she raises this image not TO refrssh the fountains OF
her grief. Eo 10 tate tribute from human sympatiy |
for The soui's deep wound, not express the sac
sen-s OF Bereavement III whatever form OF utter
nace may bs nosi enduring; but che this day ele.
ys,es it IN The face of tbs wcrld to consecras ha
memory 10 The best affections Of every h-srt and to
dedicate hs name {" the great caus. of humanity,
and rs r common possession TO h markld. This is |
no idle ceremonial Of grief which celebrate 70 day.
but State is inauguraiing with the anal tor
row which such greatness may inspire in sven mo
Tiers heart the Influence Of perhsps the hghest hu.
man example, viii lis To be ~ wild. as the world in
us operation and to command love and sympathy
from every human heart. Long, then, may yonder
expressive hronz. continue Ia speak iis lessons Of
virus and wtstom TO each sucoe-dng generation of
man Let the mother bring her boy hher ,h.t she
may teach him in this presence her earest Lesson
much Of the great story of Washington as he may
be ahle 70 appreciate and comprehend. Let the as.