The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-10-26

oovernment has IN tts keeping those inter
ests which affect our nationality at homo
and abroad, while 10, tue sovcreiru State 4
eQpmitted Qks caro- and akssplae 'sf pub Ii
Justice, the fostering OF learning, and The
general control of the municipal and social
affairs ofsocietys-By this wise distribution
of power the whole population Is divided
into States, which, in size Of Territory and
number Of citisons, gives unity and conyo.
nience in the administration of government,
The number Of these States may be increas.
ed, and each will but constitute new star
in the bright galaxy, revolving in its cwn
orbit, but adding TO and partaking Of the
general balance Of attraction which guvi-
tates in the General Government. The
system of Government under which we
live, has proved to be eminently adapted
to the development of general intelligence
among the people. All hereditary rights
and privileges are abolished. The door to
the highest honors and most exalted Off.
ces within the gift of great nation Is
thrown open to all. No pompered and
dwarfed scion of nobility and tilted aristoc
racy walks abroad in splendid arrogance,
and claims to be our ruler without our con
sent. To every son Of the republic, high
and lofty inducement is held out for vigo-
rous self.culture, for determination to ex.
eel in whatever field of labor his choice has
placed him. Competence, wealth, honor,
all urge to this high and noble resolve
Traverse the length and breadth Of tho
land, and wherever you 90, be it among
the dark pines of the North, the magniA.
cent magnolias and snow-white cotton fields
of the South, the bumming machinery, the
clattering loom, or the laundering forge of
the East, or the waving graneries Of the
West, you find the school-house nestled in
the valley, peeping from the grove, or
adorning the town. Within its walls labor
faithful teachers, and crowd the youth, in.
nocence and hopo of our country. 1t
comes TO tho door Of every man, and mono
are so lowly as to be deprived of its bless
ings, mono so exhaulted as to rofusc its ad-
vantages. The PRESS, too, does its work
more completely here than in any nation
under the whole heavens. The number of
our newspapers is nearly equal to those of
the whole world besides. Those papers
are devoted to science, religion, politics
and general information for the people,
There is no muz2le upon their free ard full
expression and criticisms. They are as
ably con Quoted as any papers upon the
globe, while their reasonable terms bring
them within the reach Of all. Books Of ev-
cry character and upon all subjects, tcem
from the press, The land is full Of books.
The whole mental wealth of antiquity, both
in our own and tho original tongues, is
open to the most scanty means. All the
classic works of modern times aro present.
ed in innumerable forms, while the produc-
tions Of living authors in our own and 9TH
er countries, press upon the market.
Not only have common schools multiplied
beyond all precedent, but academies, col
leges and universities open their doors to
all, and afford 10 every American youth
the means Of high intellectual culture
Under these benign influences, the last half
century has witnessed display of scholar
ly attainment under our system, not second
to that Of any other nation during the same
period, The names of Bancroft, Prescott,
Irving, Bryant, Webster the Lexicograph-
er, and Webster the expounder of the Con-
Mott, Emerson Giles, Anthon,
Everett, Benton, Hunt, Adams, the
younger Calhoun, and Henry Clay, stand
out conspicuous upou the roll Of the great
minds of modern times, and attest TO the
power Of our institutions in moulding and
developing the intellect Of the people
Our American system has led to activity
in every industrial pursuit. Where, upon
the face of the earth, and through all time,
can you find parallel with the amount of
labor which has been accomplished by this
people since the formation Of our govern
ment. The grand result of nearly three
hundred years Of effort, prior to the rcvo-
luton, was thirteen small colonies with the
territory, they occupied but partially i'm
proved. Mark tho change which camo
with liberty and free government, -
Eighty years Of its peaceful rule, but trc.
mendous energy, have sutticcd to dot the
old thirteen with well built towns and
smiling villages, to carry cultivation thro'
all their valleys and up their mountain
sides, 10 fetter every river and chain it TO
the revolving wheel which imports almost
intelligent life to the ten thousand forms
of engincry employed in every species of
manufacture, from a pm TO a mau-of war.
The Mississippi, which was then our
western boundary, has been crossed, and
the tide Of peaceful conqest has swept
on to the shores o! the Pacific. Seventeen
new States which rival the old in perma-
nent improvements and developed resour-
ces, have been made out Of the raw mate
rial by the laborious blows of industrious
workmen, while half score of territories
are fast approaching Il o dignity of State
sovereignty. Over the whole land, we
have thrown net work Of iron rails which
unite inland and seaboard, the agricultu-
raj section with the manufacturing district,
the commercial cmporiums with the distant
hamlet, and over which an army Of loco
motives with lightning speed move the
wealth Of the land, or bear rich freights Of
human life. We have whitened every sea
with our sails, and plowed every river and
lake with our kecls.
Truly, young liberty has wought with
the power Of Giant! All tho day long the
click Of his trowel, the stroke of his ham
mer, the echo OF his axe, the music Of his
plowshare, the clip Of his reaper and the