The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-08-04

ltndsbscd--the world ~ ndebed--tof inst other
great phenomenon ia the history IL the rise and
progress Of nations, In all its bcs'ings, not ye,
fully ecmprch,ndcd by the nations II tho Old
World. nor even by ourselves and which viii,
in Ill future time. be tho study sud admiration Of
the historian aud tho philo.orhcr. ! mean not
the founding of Republic on these shores, 80
recently tho abode only ~ savage .nd nomajic
tribes but ts amazing growth and development,
its unsgic-hc spring hom small beginnings {
rising ~ II were by single effort, by one elastic
bound, into all the attributes Of G'stisc Power.
great Republican Emprr-sblr not only 10
maintain Ia tights OF sovereignty aud indcpend.
cnc.. by land and scs, against hostile world.
but. at the same. by its example. shaking To their
foundations the dcsr"ic Powers of the earth =
great incorporation oi freedom. dispensing its
blessings e. all mankind. III fabisd b,rth # Nj.
nsfra. icayinP ~ hR panopiy from he hsud II
jorc. u a fr"th. aud No fiction. would scarcely BE-
NOR. womd,ttd than ~ greater mystery. r,thovt
me cim ,eh,ch ,Ur.can 'iars,y J.rnishss J"r N,
solution II IL
Sir, making nj .luc allowance for American
rnl,tpfiTc anil the energies ui ir"" labor under
surh ayai'm Of government a. Ne rnjrv. !
doubt whether the power snd ~'"uccs Of The
country would have attained more than half their
prescnt rNuaordnar, proportions. bit fcr h's 80
much 'st,isd institution If siarerv Sir your rich
aud varied commerce, external nnd in'rinsl tour
navigation vuur commercial mRtinr. the nursery
ct the military )pur pmplc rcy'uucg the public
credit IT your manufacture, your Ii,h. porulou'
and splendid cti,s.-s all mny trace Ia This nsIitu.
ton, ~ 10 til W apling, thoir rrrs NJ gigantic
upot,iuns--uoulilhcd aud built up to lis present
amazing height anl grandeur by the g,rn, atapl =
of IA. South the products oi slave labor
Yet slavery. in every FORM in which II has OK.
sied, ~ m lh' primitive period Of oignniiol 'oci
e'y-hOm IL rarli at aud ra'ti,rrh,l form to this
time. in rvc,y qunt,I Of tn globr--sn all ia
insults. even the magnificent r'uis Of African
SLAYER, in the Iuttd State. He jccls,rd 10 b.
against the law of nature Though contributing
in y h,ndlej y.ious forms and modes. though n
period VI thousands If ycats. to tho anielorstiou
uf The condition of mankind generally though
somctimrs abused. all human institutions. even
these Of religion, are si contributing to advance
he rausc OF civilization though. If you pl'sac,
having i,s origin in ind, idual cupidy. a,ill wwl,
ing out agntsl good VT slavery aud all t.
h,neiictn Ut results IL pronounced against thr will
III God. by those who clpim a superior illumiua
tim upon III" subject ih. may he AZ bat |
must 81, that this conclusion, conf lou,ly an
ruunc,d. ia rot arrived nj In sccrrlauc" with the
BaconiAn t,,tcm # reasoning, by which we az
taught, HAT from great many particular aud
we'll established facts In The physical economy.
we may Hshl, d,duce general law e ply scal
nature aud 80 of morals aud government
n ss,m, 10 ny freak f,ssi'rs tiat u Is rather az
arrogdm aud pn,awpi"oWs d'rdsnmsm - The
ray, II Psornd,rcs. mysterious a, ne knnr them
10 b.. fot Jssbi, man 20 decir, that tta' ~, ha,
been PERMITTED 10 ctia and prosper FROM, N, h,e,r
ming dmong men and rai,or, :, contrary 10 h,s
,rM
Hut who'Not has studied In much purpose the
lihcry " civilization. the prrgr" Of society. th'
laws mud COVE, nment. must have perceived that
certain sbe,thc' ~ thccr,tc truths. VIII, th"r IN
civil or r'ligicua policy, have br,H. AL c,r oul,
-.h SAFETY to the ultimate onda 81 all .oci.tiss
fNN WV ihNFHN4 "" hilNlNhf wv NNNli's. hll'l
adjusted At every stop according To- thu advance
of ,nri'y from its infancy 10 higher civilization
aud NOR, enlightened conpr benacu such o.
the equality Of natural tights aud privilcgcs the
rights ot wligoverumcnt and Freedom of speech
and opinion. Thcec Ecnc,sl truths. though thay
cannot hr successfully coutrovcr,sd ut this day.
vet A. they have been seldom admitted in their
length and breadth, in the practical operations of
government, with 7ncc,ss, sou'r lnwgivcrs have
been led to d,n ny that they src funded in rsaon /,
and when th'sc truths have at any time been
suddenly embraced by the controlling minds
among people, The misfortune has been that
they were applied in rNcrss-wilhout due rCnd
to tho actual condition ot th' ponpl whr wrrc To-
be- affected and hence they have az fer failed oi
succcss in some cl the most highly civilized ma
iicns of Europe Hut II IL more TO the point to
refer TO the emancipation Of the slaves OF ~ DO
mingo; ono Of the fiat explosive cHrcis of sudden
recognition of ha rights of man by the French
people II would b. difficult 10 demonstrate. Al
this day. that the cauec uf humanity ~ Of human
progress has been in III" sligmcs, degree pro
NOTED hy the abolition Of slavery in that moat
fcriilc aud beautiful island.
II il. I believe now pretty Wei understood that
British statesmen committed mi error in the policy
OF Wost India emancipation. forced upon them
Ivy fanntica rrlormrrs They were driven To-
adopt scn,im,ni instcad Of practical truth "a III"
foundation oi radical change in the social condi-
ton of people who WEI" not prepared to arrro-
caic or profit by T. Even tn reformation IN
religion aud church government. which com.
mcuccd some three centuries ago. in the opinion
of many Il thu moat profound 'nquirrrs has
failed of that complr" success which ought to
have attended II. tot the reason that the general
truths and principles upon which it was founded
wcrc applied in c,ccss The s,alous champions
ol rclom. in throwing aside all oh7rryanc" which
Affect the ecn'rs. anu IN sphiiuasinG too much.
there Is reason ~ h,lovc. have stayed the pro
! grcss ~ rational aud substantial reform. aud
checked tho spread of religious rreiran'' upon 'hc
c,il passions 1T mcn. But this is dchca,r sub.
| icct. and ! must loiboar
III. I'D. ,,,,,,i,, may elo,x that th.tr rgt.