The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-05-16

Rurepc and America.
ia the troubled state of Europe our conn-
trymeu may learn to appreciate the bless
ings Of their own government, and the inn
portance to their highest interests of pre-
inviolate the Constitution and the
Union. We are too apt to overrata 1.-THE
ills We have and to underrate those that
happily eve know not Of" What those
unkuown ills are, however, we may form
some idea from the state Of things in Eu-
rope. An extent Of territory not too large,
if the people were free and intelligent, for a
single government. cut up into scores of in
dependent sovereigniies, with conflicting
interests, slecpless jealousies, large standing
armies, heavy taxation, and occasional
wars, in which the masses have nothing to
gain and everything to lose this is the
condition of Europe, and this would be our
own condition, If the Union Of the States
were overthrown. The immense emigra-
ten to this country from the old world has
not been prompted alone by the crowded
state of population, and the consequent
difficulty of obtaining the means of life
1t is because the rewards of industry are
materially diminished by the expense of
supporting large standing armies and
costly thrones, aud exposed to be swept
away at any moment by destructive wars.
1t is because the masses are still vassals as
completely as under the feudal system, more
oppressed in peace, equally subject to mill
tary duty in time of war, and receiving no
equivalent Of law and protection like the
feudal vassal received from his lord They
here possess the name of freedom, but none
of its attributes, and are not only deprived
themselves of political and social equality,
but have no hope of it for their posterity. -
A man may be resigned himself to life of
i'll requi:ed toll, and of grinding subsection
to despotism, if he has the prospect of a
better destiny for his child. In the Ca
bins of the European peasantry there is no
such hope, no prospect of any fate for the
little prattlers about the hearth but the COL
lar of the serf in peace, and to be food for
powder in the wars of their despotic mas
tiers. The wives, mothers and daughters
of these military despotisms may we'll trem-
BILE at every breath of hostile preparation
which stirs the force of Europe. Every
thing of the little they have that gives a
charm to existence, is put in peril at the first
clash of arms. Every one who has read the
horrors which followed the march of hostile
armies in the time of Napoleon, the con-
f1agration and sacking of towns, the uni
versal Pandemonium of lust, rapine and
blood, the desolated fields and destruction
of private property, the sackcloth and ashes
which clothed ten thousand times ten thou
sand bereaved households, may perceive
some OF the reasons which have swelled to
such gigantic proportions the exodus from
the old world to the new. Here is coun-
try divided by wide ocean from the wars
and ambitions which have rendered their
lives burthen in Europe, in which indus
try and integrity are rewarded; in which fa-
miles may remain in peace and security I'M
der their own vine and fig tree. Hence,
there are no stronger advocates of the Union
than the adopted population of America -
They have seen and felt, what we have not,
the political, social and domestic miseries of
a continual split up into number of indie
pendent governments, and they shudder
with horror at the idea of being overtaken
in their land of refuge by the fountain pro-
life Of every curse that humanity can suf-
1ei, iIou "HiCu lucy HhNe just eSCdpeu
A division of the States, when once COM
menced, can never stop at one DIVISION
The spirit of dscord, the demon of ambi-
ton, the foul fiend OF demagogueism, will
not be exercised by their triumph and sue
cess. lfsuch government as this, framed
by the most complete human wisdom, con-
secrated by the most exalted virtue and self
sacrifice, halowed by the purest patriot
blood, illustrated by the most glorious deeds
of heroism, crowned by the grandest victo-
ries of battle and the most brilliant achieve
ments of human progress. securing to every
man political equality, civil and religious
liberty, universal peace and prosperity. if
such government Succumbs to the corrup-
ton and selfshness of human nature, what
can we expect of the petty political stree
lures that will be built upon its ruins -
What can we look for but as many separate
empires as Europe, with large standing ar
mics, frequent wars, heavy taxes, and the
universal degradation and misery of our
posterity?