Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-02-21

MA century has not elapsed since tn,
Government of the United States of Asaercs
was formed and the plan of government pub
lished to the world, meeting the appreciation o
all good men, eliciting EXPLANATIONS Of joy from
the oppressed of every nation and moving it,
enemies to sneers. The first, because of the
worthy principles on which the government
was formed the second, because'a home and
refuge from tyranny and oppression was afford
ed to the needy; and the third because the idea
Of people governing themselves and remaining
free was simply absurd. 4 century has. not YET
passed, and the drama would seem to be closing
the experiment near termination. Novel tc
the world, it was simple matter of experiment
as to the policy ola free and republican govern
ment, such as this promised to BEAN expert
ment, It's true, on a grand and magnificent scale
but nevertheless an experiment, based upon
theory alone, which, should it succeed, would
tend more to the overthrow Of tyranny and
thrones than all the wars Of conquering princes
combined for once overthrown by the incalcu-
liable principle Of liberty, supported by the
precedent and example of this government,
they fell to rise no more forever or an expert
ment, which, if it failed, would only involve us
in greater troubles than ever; for having once
tasted the sweets of liberty, our palates retain
yond our reach, and bitter morsels of tyranny
substituted in its stead How careful then
should our fathers have been in laying the foun-
dalton of that government, which, upon its
duration or failure, carried the blessings or curses
of millions
What weighty responsibility rested upcn
their shoulders II this experiment failed, all
the fine steories Of free government, all the hopes
of perpetual liberty, fell to the ground and must
fill one comrnon grave. Engaged in warfare,
bloody and distressing - enduring hardships
from cold and hunger, unparalleled in history,
and bearing all these with meekness and with
out n,urmur, because of the principle on
which they acted and the air., which they had
in view-6naly succeeding in procuring an
acknowledgment Of thelr independence, when
the time arrived for forming a permanent gov
eminent, in order to protect and fulfill these
noble purposes, is it any wonder that all care
should be taken to render that government as
strong, that system as perfect as they possibly
could, in order to ensure permanency to the
government Is it any wonder that anxiety,
great anxiety, was felt by the patriots, on &C
count of the hardness of the States in giving
that ready support and encouragement, which
was so essential to the future welfare and per-
manency of the Union? Years of labor and
anxiety were spent by the patriots of that day,
in adjusting differences of opinion between the
several States and reconcling the interests of
one to the interests of another, well knowing
that unless concessions and sacrifices were made,
no union could be formed and finally the pre-
sent Constitution Of the United States and its
correspondent Form of Government was submit
ted to the country, not with the expectation
that it would meet the full and entire appro-
baton of every State; but that each would
doubtless consider, that had her interest alone
been consulted, the consequences might have
been particularly disagreeable and injurious to
others" Thus, in proper spirit of amty, was
this difficult question solved, and the foundation
81 one Of the. most noble and hallowed govern
ments the world ever knew laid, as it was then
supposed, upon such sure foundation that when
all thrones and empires were crumbling into
dust, this glorious fabric would still stand out
proud beacon light to guide the successors
Of pershing princes aud potentates in the pro-
per road to permanency of government. But
alas, how mistaken were these noble patriots Of
the eighteenth century! Dreaming Of perpetual
ton, fondly hoping for permanency of govern
ment, they laid themselves down in the quiet
sleep of death after their arduous labors were
finished their ashes to mngle in the dust Of that
land for which they had fought, bled, and many
had died, believing that ever after, their spirits
high up in Heaven, would look down upon their
ashes resting place shaded by the stars and
stripes. But could they DOW rise from their
sleeping places, what would be the picture pre-
sented to their astonished gaze? Domestic strife
discord wranging, sectionalities, disruption, and
shall we say it, ruin. Busy de6lers, chisel and
mallet in hand, erasing from the rock Of oul
liberties the este perpetta carved by a Washing.
ton, Henry, Jefferson and their compatrlots
Where is that spirit Of concession which formed
our government originally? Where is the spirit
of sacrificing minor differences for greater ends
with which our fathers were inspired Alas
where
"In all our deliberations" said Washington
Eve kept steadily in our view, that which ap'
pears to us the greatest interest of every true
American-the consolidation Of our Union-ir
which is involved our prosperity, felicity safety
perhaps our national existence" How true
would seem to be his prophecy, how vain hi
hope? Our national existence is surely threat
ened, endangered, perhaps destroyed. The vair
hope Of perpetuation of government. entertained
by Washington, seems melting into vapor, to b.
driven from the sight of man by the first breez