Newbern weekly progress., 1860-11-27
VOLUME III.
From the New Orleans Picayune.
THU TTNT0N


| the causes and agencies which have contribu-
ted to produce our national prosperity, our
material and intellectual advancement AS
we have already said, the Declaration OF lnde-
pendence, ''that thrilling appeal to the reason
and justice of nations in which people assum-
ed to vndicate, upon grounds of natural rights,
their claim to take their place in the great
equality of States, and then announced their
sublime decision to make their claim good by
revolution and battle Gas the eloquent Rufus
Choate once spoke of it,) gave US the Confed-
alton and the constitution, is the source OF all
the political blessings we enjoy.
The intelligent reader of American history IS
well aware that the trainers of the constitution
had to deal with the same elements of discord
as now exist; that they dealt with them in a
spirit Of compromise and concession, and that
the result was the adoption of the constitution,
that wise and just charter Of rights that con-
sumateframe of Government for united repub-
lie of many States, under which we have since
prospered and attained our present vigorous
growth Before that constitution adop-
ted the condition of the country was deploEa-
| BILE. Immediately after the constitution went
into operation, the country entered upon that
/ wonderful career of prosperity which with
I casional Interruptions, has continued to the
present time. In the union and the constitu-
| ton has hitherto been our strength and in
them is still our only safety. In them we have
always had the means of upholding Govern
ment, security for the steady and prosperous
pursuit of the ordinary avocations of life,
bond of amity which we would fain hope will
be ever sacredly cherished, and our sure de-
| fence against foreign aggression and domestic
dsse ltion They are the results of the most
| expensive and magnanimouS patriots, and I'M
| der them liberty has been preserved, we have
| been happy and prosperous at home and have
reached our present elevated position in the eyes
| of the world.
| Since the Union came into existence, it has
witnessed the old French Revolution, the wars
| of the elder Napoleon, the European upheaVing
of 1880, the general overthrow of 184S, and the
momentous and startling events of later days.
In all this period, while thrones have been shat
! tered dynasties overthrown, and tyrants hum
| bled while nations have been the scenes of
! revolutionary violence and have been shaken
| from centre to circumference by the storms of
popular commotion which has only been allay
! ed by the strong arm of force the Union has
stood unscathed, because it was founded on a
capacious and generous nationality, and in its
constitution for the preservation of their rights
! and lberties-the people had answering and
| we'll founded confidence. True it is that on
several memorable occasions the Union has en-
| countered rude shocks, but thanks to the
failing patriotism of the people, and to the great
! statesmen of the age, who had the requisite
| knowledge and authority to expound the true
constitutional and conservative doctrines by
which alone the preservation of our institutions
| can be secured, the danger was happily always
overcome, and, the storm once past the ship OF
state, with favoring gales and all sail set allow
and aloft, again careered glorously onward in
it's prosperous course.
Among the agencies that have contributed to
our national prosperity, none have been more
potent than the patriotic and never-to-be-fo
gotten iabors of the founders Of our system of
government, and of the great statesmen who
have flOurished among us, and who, by the
wisdom Of their councils and their untiring de-
votion to the national interests, performed such
noble services in developing our resources,
giving tone and character to our representative
SYSTEM contributing to the strength of our
government in its torei gn relations by their
generous and uncalculating support, and aiding
in the glorious consummation of the great eXpe-
riment of popular government, so wisely and
happily begun. The example of those great
men has had powerful effect upon the char
acter of our people; it has done much to-
wards the formation and growth of that feeling
of broad and unbounded nationality which on
many occasions has been demonstrated to the
astonishmcnt, aye, the admiration, of the WOrlC.
At this day we have the pleasure OF knowing
that the lessons of wisdom those noble states
men inculcated are cherished, and although
their voices are no longer heard, depicting in
langt1age Of power and eloquence the dangers
that threaten u.s. calming the fears of the timid,
cheering the faithful and true, utterlng words OF
warning to disorganZers, appealing to the most
patriotic and holy feelings of the people, and !
stirring to the utmost depths the hearts of
of the masses by their glowing oratory in de-
fence of the Union and the Constitution, their
precepts and examples not lost upon this
generation, but live in the public memory and
are cherished as rich legacies by allthoughtful
and patriotic citizens.
Another powerful and beneficial agency we
recognize in the opperation of parties From
the foundation of the Government until four
years ago, our great parties have been exclu-
sive1v national organized for the common well
fare, and differing only as to the means where
bv * the greatest good of the greatest number,
for the greatest possible length of time might
be most certainly, and in the best manner, at
tanned Each party advocated the measures 1t
deemed best calculated Ito form more perfect
union establish Justice insure domestic tranquil
itv, provide for the common defence, promote
the general welfare, and secure the blessings
of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity, and
no matter which party was victorious, 1t was
notional and Union-loving party that triumph
ed Parties puerly national IN their objects,
are essential to the preservation OF our liberties
and the permanence of our institutions, and
such contests as they engaged in, have been
productive of the manifold advantages and
blessings which result from the truth of opin-
ions and the severe and strict investigation OF
political questions
We must not omit to notice another and
most influential cause of our national prosperi-
ty and national greatness. 1t is the deep-seated
reverence for the Constitution and devotion to
the Union, which exists in the hearts of all
true American patriots which has ever animated
them, and which in times of difficulty and danger
as in times of quiet and repose, has ever promp
ted and guided their action. There have been
several occasions in our history when, under
the influence of artful appeals to prejudice and
passion, feelings of animosity and alienation
have prevailed among the people of different
sections but their sober judgement and patri-
otic impulses have always overcome such feel
ings, and they have been succeeded by further
united endeavors to add to the prosperity and
promote the glory of our beloved country. In
all the differences which have occurred among
the people of different sections, love of country
and TIE determination to uphold the Constitu-
ton and the Union, have ever been the potent
influences in allaying sectional excitement, and
restoring peace and harmony.
So long as the people looked ''to the true OBJ