The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-08-16

words immortal He may seek to con
vince and persuade his fellow men, to de
clare his aspirations, to unfold the truth
to question error, and, if he be able, tt
move men toward triumphant assault
on evil institutions and corrupt laws.
AS moral being, he has the right tc
indulge in the tenderest as we'll as the
loftiest sensibilies Of the heart, to sigh
with the sorrewfpl, and commiserate thu
oppressed. He has the right to nourisf
the sense Of duty, the power Of endur
ance, the energies of self-command, to
conquer passion, to resist the myriad fas
cinations Of deceitful life with iron heart
and iron will, to oppose vice, though mil
lions swell the ranks Of its worshpers, tc
espouse and uphold truth. despised as il
may lie, and even when the prospect re-
veals nothing but the fagot and the fame
These rights belong to him as man. -
They are rot gifts nor grants, ncr priv.
leges, but rights He traces them to no
concessions of Parliament that may
have assembled far back in the darkness
Of time, to no constitutions which his
forefathers may have sanctioned or fran.
ed, to no royal assent unwillingly yielded
to the acquisitions of sturdy people, to
no concessions granted in the plentitude
OF arlstocratic generosity, to no revolutions
or battles. But he traces them to high
er, greater, noblcr source than these.
They are the primary, absolute and i'm
prescriptable rights Of his nature, derived
through the laws Of his being, as a gift
from Him that is over all.
They belong to man as an individual,
and are higher than human constitutions
and human laws. The charter upon
which they depend was drawn from the
skies, and bears the signet and stamp of
Heaven. Then, to fetter the freedom of
man is not only to act the part of ty-
rant, but to outrage high gift and to
trample upon creation of the eternal
God.
The great object of Government is to
secure to every man the enjoyment of his
rights. And as the will of the people is
the source, and their good the end of
Government, it is manifest that they may
at any time effect change. They may
accomplish any revolution which their
growing civilization demands. They may
adapt the structure Of its departments to
whatever state public morality and intel.
legerco requires. Their naked rights
none but the sturdiest adherents will de.
ny. But in the determination of a
change, parties will inevitably arise
They will arrange themselves under the
operation of influences and principles,
which spring from the diversity of ma
turc. The interests fostered by establish
ed systems through the natural instincts
Of sefishness will form themselves into
conservative bands. Their dependents
through all the ramifcations of society,
will hasten to swell the same ranks, while
the timid and doubtful as to the virtue of
their fellow men, confessing no dismal
prospect of future anarchy and misrule,
will enlist under the same banner To
these will be gathered the wealth aud
fashion which draws its existence from
old customs and laws, the privilege of
which subsists on ancient error, and the
talent which accustomed to profound ven.
Grafton never travels beyond beaten
track. They will be met, on the other
hand, by the untutorcd, yet unsophistica-
ted mass, and those bold, independent
men CT genius who intuitively seize the
right and labor with might, mind and
soul for human progress. The contest
will be intense as interests and principles
involved are great.
As it embraces the great doctrines Of
science and religion, the first truths of
government and welfare of nations, a long
warfare will break the restraists Of law,
will throw the sword into families,
and give rein o the widest excesses
of passion. But at length the great rrin-
ciples Of truth, of justice and the rights
of the people will prevail. There is in
man an eternal principle of progress,
which no power on earth can resist. Ev-
cry custom, law, science and religion that
obsIructs its course will fall as the leave,
before the wind. Already it has done
much, but it will do moro. 1t has laid
the despOtism Of force, the absolutism of
religion, and the feudalism Of wealth, on
the crimson field, while the principle
itself, alive and vigorous, is still battling
against nobility and privilege with unro.
laxing strength. It is contending for the
extinction Of tyranny, for the abolition of
prerogative, for the amelioration of gov
ornment, for the establishment of justice,
for the maintenance of white supremacy,
for the progress of humanity, and for the
dignity and worth Of tho individual man.
Democracy will finally reign, Its founda-
tions arc deep in the human heart. The
great mass whose souls are bound by q
strong fratcrnal sympathy, once relieved
from prejudice, will stand forth as its
moreless champions. 1t fastens the af
fections Of men as the shield Of their pres.
cnt liberties ard the ground of their fu.
ture hopes. They perceive in il II re-
deeming truth, regenerating power. 1t
is tho only creed that does justice to man,
or that can bind the entire race in eternal
chains Of brotherhood and love. Moth,
ing sinks SO deep into the hearts Of the
people for nothing eke is so identified with
their moral social good. Though the
high and mighty Of earth may dcrido its
simple truths, these are willing to die in
its defence. These truths are blended
too closely with all for which it is worthy
to live and glorious to perish, to be relin.
auishad without n struggle or A panr.--