Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-02

TO settle this great principle for our
selves alone but for the world, aud unoonsciously
or otherwise, all the civilized nations have been
by our examples
But this Is not all. Our experiment has set
tied the principle past questioning, that a re-
nublican constitnion like our OWE, by which the
principle of self-government best demonstrates
itself is favorable to the highest state Of social
aud intellectual progress There Is no other
form of constitutional rule, under which all the
powers Of human thought Hnd action hnye such
free and healthy scope Even the ilustrlous
Frenchman acknowledges that, mo political
form has hitherto been discovered, which is
equally favorable to the prosperity and develop
ment Of oil the classes into which society IS
divided"
There never has been q country where the
subject of personal and individual rights has
been 30 well understood. The relation OF the
sexes is more clearly defined and is put upon a
higher basis. The influence Of caste the ar
raging Of one class against another is less felt
The undue influence of wealth is less frequently
observed.
Tue humblest individual has a fair chance in
the race aud struggle of life, and the heAlthful
stimulus of individual success and enterprise
OPERATES to produce equality among the ranks OF
common and social life. There is q kind of self
respect, which is fostered and cultivated MS the
natural product of such a government as ours,
that do not believe eau be found in any other
land heueath the sun.
II is affirmed that general education and in
tellieence are conditions absolutely demanded for
the existence and specially for the pcrmanence
ol Democratic institutions. But we must remem-
her that that is also iu the very nature Of such
government to encourage aud extend popular
education. ''lt was certainly one OF the most
striking circumstances in the history Of nations
that iu New England, by the time the first Oorr
child had reached the proper age for admission
to u college, college Was established i
THE BLIGHT AND CURSE or SLAVERY.
Early in the history of Virginia, Universit,
was in operation. Aud this course of things hn
obtained throughout our entire history where
ever tho principles of republican governmen
have been allowed to control or as far as they
have been recognized. There is large portion
Of our land, where schools and colleges anu gene
raj educational influences eau no more flourish
than oranges eau grow ut the poles or crops ripeI
on a scorched desert Wherever slavery has
prevailed to any extent, it is n perversion of Ian
guage to speak of general education or popula
intrlligence. The whole system OF slavery is th'
deadly foe Of all these.
A late vigorous writer, Hon. r. j. Walker
contributes some bald and stubborn statistic
upon this subject. Taking the census Of 1860
he contrasts Massachusetts, with Maryland ant
Mary land with South CaroinO, and then Massa
chusetts with South Carolina, in all the depart
ments of social, pecuniaTy, industrial and liter.
airy enterprise and progress, cannot give yol
at length his process but the results 10 whcl
he arrives are strkingy instructive especial
when so many are ready 10 apologize for an
bolster up that Ubiquitous system which is to da
drenchiug our whole land with blood. Gu
ouly give his conclusions. "Under great naturu
disadvantages this is the grand result achieve
in Massachusetts by education, science, industry
free schools free soil, free speech, free labor
free press, aud free government. The fucs prov
that freedom is progress, that knowledge
power. II all the States had contributed as muc
as Massachusetts to the treasury and diffusion {
knowledge, our whole country, North aud SOut
would have oeen advanced century. and thi
rebellion, based upon the ignorance, imperfeC
civilization aud standardization produced b
slavery, could never have occurred.
Massachusetts is, in material progress, futthe
10 advance of South Carolina than that State
of the savage Indians.
Thus we have the successive steps and grad
tons Of man. Massachusetts, with free labor an
free schools having reached the highest point
civilization South Carolina with slavery au
ignorance, excepting the few in q semi-barbar
Gus stage and the lowest savage condition calle
barbarous, but nearer to South Carolina tina
than that State to Massachusetts,.
"Slayery then, the census proves, is hostile
progress in wealth and population to scienc
literature and education; to schools, cOlleg
aud universities to books and libraries;
churches and religion to the press, and ther
fere to free government. Hostile to the poo
keeping them in want and ignorance hostile
labor, reducing it to sertitude, and decrcusir
two-thiris the value OF its products; aud hOsti
to nornls And shall labor and education, lite
ature aud science, religion and the press susial
, an institution which is their deadly loe?"
These are questions Of no ordinary concern
ment in such times as these, and based as th'
are, upon the stern facts aud figures of the Gel
, sus, Nor have they altogether been overlook
p by some in those States most deeply interested
. among which we must class our own.
!, The press Of Marylauds chief city, says :;
p "t these facts, great truths, they will stan
i if otherwise, they will fall But we must hn
!, the courage when everything is in motion,
!, examine them at least to keep our eye upon
. surroundings to learn, If possible what pa
Maryland il expected by eminent men in Il
:, milton, to play in the great drama, II mny
true that it is not hatiering to our PRIDE to iii
4. comparisons to our disadvantage made belwi
our own and other commonwealths, but If Il
r comparison approximates what is just, il is Il
=. part of wisdom to heed the facts presented III
# sec what can be done to make up what is wautl
"a to our future advance"
% every State hal long since adopted this cours
d our whole country instead of being as now, t
,s theatre of internecine war, would present ma
i. nilicent spectacle Of human happiness
But as have already said while the presen
of this disturbing force within our land preveu
tho more perfect growth of intelligence Al
,r healthy social progress, il in no way altera Il
NJ fact TINT in our republican government, there
~ a far higher order Of education, aud great
=, amount of human enjoyment than were ev
"a found in any country Of the world.
This we have proved in our brief national hi
4. tory, aud the whole world is,.wiser and richer
y, our successful experiment
l.; Sydney Smith once faceti0usly wrote of us
N America seems on the whole to be q count
ne possessing vast advantages and little inoou'
m niences They have cheap government and b.
Ia roads. They pay no tithes and have stage coach
Ia without springs. They have no poor laws a
"a no monopolies, but their inns are inconvenie
IL and travellers are tehsed with questions. TIL
- have no collections in the fine arts, but they hn
y, no Lord Chancellor and they can 60 TO law vii
out absolute ruin. They cannot make La
,e verses, but they expend immense sums in t
education of the poor. In all this the balance
prodigously in their favor. / doubt there CIV
n, was an instance of o new people conducting th
4, affairs with so much WISDOM or il there was e,
re so extensive scene Of human happiness and pr
or perty'"
~ THE REBELLION.
y, But must pass TO notice
re q That we have reason TO be thankful d
en COL did not aliOio Ibis rebellion 10 be precipda
e upon as at an earlier dag. 1t had long been lhre
rs ened, as it had long been plotted and forctod
lu The nation has been more and more rapidly drl
es ing toward the fatal circle. 1t being prin,ip
es fundamental to our government, that the FIJI
Ln Ln expressed will of the majority should be the L
ne of the land, blow aimed at that must meet