Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-04-07

moi know but that means may be found
by which this great gulf can be bridged
over; but OH the one hand you find the
freest communities that the world ever
saw, where real and unadultera;ed democ
racy does not reign as a sentiment, but is
lived out in practice by all The people
where there is no aristocracy; where there
is no man so high that he can claim a
privilege beyond his most humble fellow
citizen. This is the nature of the CON-
muuilies of the North, and of none more
so than of that State which l have the
honor in part 10 represent here. That is
the freest of the free. 1t was there that
the mind of that great patriot, Thomas
Jefferson, fixed his eye the moment we
had repelled the force of Great Britain.
His philanthropic eye saw that great and
beautiful wilderness lying open, soon TO
be peopled by the citizens of the United
StaIes. Ii was leading object with him
there 10 carry into practice those beauii-
fnl theories of equality which had charm.
ed his great mind so long. He labored
increasingly until he had fixed out a doc
ument fully 10 carry out there his great
idea that the people should rule the gov
ernments of the earth. He found moth
ing IN the way of his theory; there was
a blank sheet of paper. There was
government TO be laid, unstained by any
of The crimes of ancient Rome No in.
slitulions had grown up there inconsist-
ent with right; and he fixed upon that soil
TO carry out the great theory OF self gov
ernment for which the world had labored
and sighed for 50 many generations; and
there the work was completed. In that
region there is no arislocracy. In that
glorious region there is no slave. Who
ever comes there impressed with the image
of God, is acknowledged TO have an ina
lienable right to liberty, that none but
God can take away.
This is the character of the communi-
ties composing more than one-half the
States of this Union. How is it on the
other side? Why, sir, | understood the
Senator from Virginir, Mr.. Hunter, in
the beautiful speech thai he made yesier-
! day which would have challenged the
admiration of every one, except for some
sentiments that were scattered through il,
10 say-I have not had the benefit of see
ing his speech printed. but think he said
that these ideas of political equality
which were held up before our commu-
mites were utopian and fanciful, and
never cCuld be realized.
This probably was not the language,
but it was his sentiment. Those princi.
pies of equality. asserted in the great
charter OF human liberty. the Declaration
of Independence, he believes to be uto-
plan, incapable of practice; mere abstrac-
lions. not to be lived out.
I wish southern gentlemen were bet
ter acquainted than they seem 10 be with
northern institutions. | tell the Senator
form Virginia, You are wrong in believ
ing this 10 be an abstraction. is, thank
God, truth, the realization of which
into my Slate. l have heard these sen.
timents uttered so often on the other side
Of the Chamber that have come to know
that our views of government are Just as
diverse as mems views possibly can be.
There is, as | said before, an antagonism
existing between US, which l know not
how you are to cover up. The Declar-
alton of Independence an abstractionl-,
Are the great right which it proclaimed
and which were the boast and glory of
our fathers, "gli!tering generalities.
having no practical meaning? If so,
would ask any man what did you gain
by that boasted Revolution of yours?-
Wherein does your Government differ
from any despo,ism on the face of the
earth? Once break loose from the glo- |
rious doctrine of that great charter of
liberty, and you are in the slough of des-
pond; you have nothing to distinguish
you from the most horrible despolism
that ever reigned over PROSTATE human
nature. / ask again. why do you boast
of what your fathers did, if they estab
lish mere abstraction. or, as it is some
times called, "glittering generality?"
The Senator from South Carolina, carry
ing out the same idea, said:
in all social systems there must be a class to
do the menial duties, to perform the drudgery of |
life. That is. class requiring but a low order
of intellect. and but little skill. Its requisites
are vigor, docility fidelity. Such class you
must have, or you would not have that other
class which leads progress, civilization, and re-
finement."
Now suppose you had not that class
V hich lands rrnrraes civiliz zafiop onJ 70 I
6nemen'; which class can you dispense
with best? OF what use is your idle ar
In Gods name. have they
not been the curse, the blight of every
nation of the earth? You cannot have
this refined aristocracy, says the gentle
man, unless you have a class 10 do your
irudgery; and that is the sentiment of
The whole Suuth. How Numerically
opposed TO it is the whole practical sys-
lem of the North! Is it reasonable, is it
right, that ga class" shall do your
1rudgery-"a class" that shall obey!- .
Sir, labor should never be- done by class.
If you obeyed the mandate OF the Al
mighty, and labor we're distributed
among all able men, it would ,
lease to be a tax; it would become a
mere amusement. and it would tax no
mans physical powers above what would .
consist with his health and his welfare
L was designed-for God is just-that
his drudgery of which the Senator
peaks should be distributed among all
he able bodied men so as to make it
light, and then it would rot be inconsiSt.
mt with the highest perfection of civili
'alion and refinement; but on the other
land, would lead directly to it. Labor ..
lone by class! That. sir, was the old
urse of the Old World. A class has
,een assigned to do the drudgery, to do !
III that is valuable, TO produce every
hing that is beneficial; and the system
caves aristocralical drones, useless, VIC