The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-04-11

lear TO &c just TO mighty Common
WEALTH, lest pew meu should supplsni
tSeD for the crIue OF being right rather
than son>i-teut Sir. it il bumil,ating tc
witness this yielding of grave lie e.i.lstors
to error The Senstor FROM Berks should
remember that he Is not to legislote mere
ly for to-day; that be is called upon to act
% questions which must tell upon the
property Of the State when be and |
shall have passed asay. He may hsve
to combat the prejudices of the isBotaut
and the sche me. o! the reckless; but the
true test Of public measure By which a
sworn legislator should be guided. is its
Inherently jGstlce-its proffered blessings
to the people who haze coDfided their iu i.
teres.s in our hands. The sculptor of old
who wa- employed to prepare .tatue Tor
the pinnacle OF a temple, brought 1t be.
fore the people and they jeered aud de-
rlded him a. they steod face to face to the
ungainly. i'll shaped form. But be had
not chi>eled 1t to stand before them; and
as be raised it to it, place, snd distance
gave it beauty aud symmetry, it extorted
the uuminxied applause OF the multitude
Sir, it il only too true that this question,
confessedly right, braves prejudices in
so0e sections which time alone can dis-
pei However priceless it, fruits. there
are those who will not understaud it; bat
prefer not to be one who shall shape
the statue 70 that when placed above the
fatal Prejudlces of the day, it will prose
uosigbt'y and i'll proportioned because it
was fashioned to sake tho world stand
It'll. | suba.it to Senators whether this
Issue is rot the inevitable policy of the
STATED whether it will not stand the
searching tert Of time and experieDcel-
Ii It be SO. let no man who has sworn to
discharge bis duty be fsishless to his con-
victioDs. Brave, true wen, seldom fall.
while the timId, time serving pass away
With the errors that flung them into life.
The constituents of the Seuator from
Berk- hesitate long and move slowly to
accept any departure from the poisy Of
their fathers; but the m an tho leads the m
to liberal progress will deserve we'll of
them and of the State. Peuusylvania
turns to-day With pride to the men who
were in advance OF their time. Go to
our national capital and sou will zee a
uas ~ho ba. reached the age allotted to
mortals. wesdipe bis way to bis seat in
the House OF Rrprese niatives. His eye is
undiD ned. and his heart still strong in
its fidelity to his convictions. His rsce
is we'll nlgh run. and be shall soon be .
gathered to the city Of the silent, unwept
1t maJ be by a single kin-esD within our
borders. He may have erred 10 hi, po-
IitIcal policy, hu. when all bis real or i'm
aginsry errors shall ha'e been forgotten.
bl- memory viii be cberi-hed, as Is that
of Gov. Woif now, by every phil.ntro.
phi.t and patriot, for giving to Psousyl
vapia, iD advance OF her prejsiices,
bene6cent system of uniser.al education.
Every village or rural school, where the .
humele aud the opueGt can alike have
traiUrd the Immortal minds committed to
their care. is a monument as enduring as
the hills to the VISION OF Thsdeus Ste
pheDs and his cosdjutors, who braved the
prejudice- OF their day. looking to the in-
teII2enre OF our people for the safety aud
greatness OF tue goverDment. Ii may
bave cost bin success. il you plessu; ii
may have driven bin from power, as
Berks aud other coanties from year to
year reared the banners Of mo free
schools, and protested 10 these Halls "a
gaiUst beiag compelled to educate their
own sous--the future suardians OF our
free institutions; but to truth seoug the /
eternal years OF God. and even Berks now
ble-ses the policy Of the iriendIsss New
of the leading county of
the East. chosen by a unsDimous vote;
standing eouiessedly at the head of bis
and second TO but few if any
In enduring national fame. Where are
those sho fought the bsttIes against bin.
and triumphed on the tide of prejodicc!
Forgotten! Certainly unknown, save to
be marked as the lingering relrcs of pop
ulsr ignorance. Ii is 20 of those who
gave US public improvements They co,t
she State some good men, and gave il
many very bad men; and although their
may te blotted with infamy,
aud their history be but an unbroken re-
cord OF peculstion aud wrong. yet they
bavc given u Advancement they hsvegiv-
en- US huBdreds of millions of wealth, and
opened up for our great State its present
glory. Is this not the truth of hi-toryl
Aud has the time not come, 10 this noon.
tide of the nineteenth century,. when a
Senate can rl-e above un.
founded prejudice, and move onward With
the liberal pro.ress Of the world around
usi If we would do so. We must make
our internal commerce free; We mu.t un-
sbackle our owD producer; We must in.
vite. by an enlightened policy, the rich
offerings Of the industry of every State
that seeks the sea. board. and let it build
up our cIties-give new yigor to our CON-
meree, and new esergy and Increased
to our people.
o.