The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-09-30


might reasonably expect an attentive hearing
from all sorts OF persons. The vast armies Of
men, drawn from such remote quarters and
diversey organized a. Infantry, Artillery, Cav
airy and Engneers-the prodigious quantity OF
provisions consumed by them-the vast trans
portation fleets on the water. and hundreds of
thousands Of horses employed on the land-the
immense hospital arrangements for the sick
the numbers who died of disease, and who were
slain in battle-the number Of disabled and Of /
the widows and orphans spread over thirty-four 1
States-the new and strange monitors and iron
clads, unlike anything ever dreamed Of in naval
uarfare--eannOn OF a range and weight Of ma
terial unheard Of befOre-uncOunted millions Of
property destroyed, and national debts, North
and South, amounting 10 Two thousand millions,
would form series OF topics which would deeply
interest any intelligent audience.
But if, perchance, there should be present
student Of history, he might say to the lecturer,
:" In this wide range Of important topics. you
have omitted one which more nearly concerns
your countrymen than oil the others combined.
The gigantic proportions OF this war you have
well displayed; but you have not said one word
upon the change Of institutions which is 10 grow
out of it. Wars are Of short duration. People
viii not fight always. The longest war flls but
a small part Of the lifetime OF man The
dead are soon buried damages are soon re-
paired; children become mature aud in seven
ty years lev traces Of the greatest conflict, or
those who took part in it, will be found. Wars
spend their fury and force chiefly en- the existing
generation, and that which follows it, while a
law, or an institution, growing out Of that war;
may outliye a hundred generations. Wars are
Of comparatively little consequence to nation,
only a. they modify or change its existing insti-
tutions"
This great truth, hidden from the casual OBJ
server ia profoundly impressed upon the mind
OF the statesman who studies into the progress
of nations and it stands out equally prominent
whether he looks at the advance Of whole races
Of men, or Of single communities
Look 10, instance at the wars Of the Saracens
some tNelve hundred wears ago. OF What con
sequence now, to u.s. or 10 mankind, are al their
vast armies and rapid and splendid conquesi-,
threatening, at one time, TO subdue all Chri-ten-
dom Ages ago, those armies dwiudled into
dust; but ia their day, they established the
Koran, and the Koran is nov the code OF civil
law for two hundred millions OF human beings.
Wherever the Koran goes il establishes legal
ICES domestic slavery; aud thus this institution,
with all It's depressing effects o. the progress Of
nations, aud its debasing tendencies Oh the ind
vi!usl master and slave, has come down through
twelve centuries, and prevails to day among a
fifth part of the human race. The wars Of
Mah0met and his successors in themselves,
were OF little Importance to manknd; hut the
laws and Institutions established by these wars
will affect the destiny Of nations 20 the rcmotest
ages.
So Institutions, once established among a 'ace
Of men, will often survive the contests and wars
OF successive ages, and spread into all parts OF
the globe. Thus, there is the institution OF jury
trial by our Saxon ancestors, which has come
down to Us for more than thousand years, hav.
ing survived the contest of the NOrmans, the
bgotry of the Puritans, and the cOrruptions Of
the Stuarts; and wherever the Anglo Saxon j:
found whether in frozen America, or on tbs
frontiers OF China, whether taking possession o
a little isle in the ocean, OF settling continent
like Australia, he takes with him his jury trial. a:
a safeguard for his own rights, and blessing t.
posterity Who can estimate the immense al
vantages derived from the Institution thus far by
the Anglo Saxon race, in REFRESHING the venalits
of lawyers, the corruptions of judges, and the
tyranny OF sovereignss
We boast Of the prosperity and prodigou;
progress Of our own country and to what is il
owing but to OUR institutional The school
the daily newspaper-free public meetings
free speech-free labor, sure Of its reward
free press-security Of person and property by
law-Invention and skill rewarded. All thes,
make free men and free women The scope O
our institutions il to make every man ant
woman free to act cut their faculties in all direc
tons 40 that they do not thereby injure others
1t is in these that the glory Of our countr!
consists.
What sight is more pleasant than to see tn,
mechanic, in cities and villages, dwelling will
his family on his own premises, his children
attending the public schools, himself recevin!
fair compensation for his daily labor, and a
its close sitting down at his freside to rea,
the daily newspaper, and retiring to rest with
feeling Of the profoundest security Then him
sell and family are free to attend all meetings
religious, social, political or Literary, where in
formation or pleasure may be had; and if b
has an active mind and a strong will he ma,
hope to rise to wealth and political cOnsidera
ton among his fellow men. SO the Independent
farmer who owns the soil he tills, reAps, from
year TO year, the reward of his industry in In
prices he receives for his crops, subject to n
diminution except what may be needed to kee
the wheels OF government in motion. Thes
men are the representatives Of the blessings q
free labor. A country filed with such men mn:
necessarily be happy and free.
Need we remind the reader that right alon
side OF this free labor system, there is also e1
isting compulsory system OF slave labor. whie
Is the very counterpart of the other, and whic
L also one Of OUR institutionss While OF
country has grown great by free labor. how ne,
has It come 10 absolute destruction from n
blasting Influences of the other SYSTEM
-Four miliOns-one seventh Of our populate
born on the soil, are not allowed to learn
read the newspapers, Bible or schoolbook, und
aaxara nauair;as