Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-04

tells the world that dissension, show
through sectional law, is foe to freedom,
and the main cause Of national ruin. Eng
land slew Charles; a Cromwell grasped
the sceptre denied a royal hand. Both ru-
lers were untrue to themselves and country.
Each represented party; neither repre-
sented the nation. Under Charles blood
flowed like water, and the resources of the
State were taxed to their utmost Ruin
was impending Under Cromwell was
found in essence the same state of things
True, abroad England was feared as never
before; true, at home no opposition could
be expressed. But there was a sword pow
er; and whenever you engraft sword pow
er on nation painting for peoples gov
ernment, you are sure to make it two
edged sword, cutting both ruled and ruler.
Ruin was impending. A mere accident was
her deliverer; Cromwell died. I tell you
had he lived, or his son had half his ambi-
ton and ability, England, torn by intestine
commissions, had gone down IN the same
grave with Greece and Rome and Poland.
AS it was, all parties united to welcome the
exiled king to his rightful power, while
around that power were thrown those
checks which made law just alike to COM
moner and cavalier. The results, we point
to her as the embodiment of stability in
government.
Why look further? If the rise and fall
of nations exhibits one fact; if from all the
facts thus accumulated for ages we can de-
duce one principle, that deduction is that
sectional feeling and feud eliminating in
laws to aid one party and oppress the op-
posite is death; that the vital principle of
nations is law-law prompt to execute its
penalties on all-law able to defend the in
nocent of all classes-law in it's broad
sense enacted not to the interest of one
party or section, but for the welfare of the
nation as a united whole-law in all its
wisdom, in all its justice, with all its mod
Grafton.
Greece suggests-Rome sustains-Pola
convinces-England persuades-does it re-
main for America to demonstrate that sec
tional animosity and laws emanating there
from determine national ruin Whence
these commissions ? I'll not assert them
products of sectional jealousy !! An EN-
mett's ghost might interfere I'll not call
them offsprings of sectional injustice =
Justice these days assumes strange fantas-
tic shapes But you all know that by some
means sectional laws did enter this nation's S
code, and do hold America the clinching
proof OF the truth [ would establish. But
there is a vital principle A system of gov
erment founded on principles utterly sub
versive of order, security and property,
cannot, by any possibility, maintain itself
for any length of time. It must either
overthrow national freedom and pave the
way to the government Of the sword, or be
itself subverted by the aroused indignation
of all the better classes Of mankind. If
this injustice is the offspring of a false
principle it can never stand the test of the
worlds advancing reason and increasing
moral power concentrated on 1t In one
burning, blazing focus.
That which was founded on mere preiu-
dice, mere folly, might, in, the dark ages,
fetter q true principle but that focus y
now glares upon such actions to expose
their villany or deride their folly. Now
then, the opposite, if nation undazzled
| by the false glare of the revolutionary me-
teor adheres strictly to the principles OF
order and justice, that nation creates an
insuperable moral power to resist decay
and encroachment in its every phase
What is national power Does it consist
in extent of territory and number of in
habitants No It consists in the ma
terial only so far as it is made the lnstru
ment of the immaterial. It consists in the
intelligent power within the people to make
destiny a glorious destiny, and to wielG
that destiny to their welfare and the vel
| fare of the world.
It has been demonstrated over and over,
that if mere physical man overcomes men
tai man he but finds himself the victo
vanquished. Just as individuals take power
not by physical, but by moral force, SO na
tions conquer not by brute muscle, but by
the divine power of man in his divinity
And this power is fast increasing. Once
the naked sword and brawney arm were al
sufficient Mere muscle won the day
Heroism was measured by feet and inches
! But now, after the clash of physical arms
| has died away, new battaliOns are ranged
on the ethereal plains of mind. War in it
last analysis is reduced to reason. Man
kind feels and demonstrates it. Why thl
rush for education just after our defeat
Why? but that you intuitively reasoned
the lack of power in your arm was but th
want of ability in your brain
National power is this eternal uncon
ouerable power within. And who, then
would say the true patriot is ever powerless
the true nation ever conquered? ? Wha
syren is it that would lull us to inglorlou
ease, because physically defeated IT'S
demon, a devil that would snatch you
grandest power away, and then, aye then
truly say, you are powerless. But no ! \
man ever yet was in that position whe
, possessing the faculties given by the 60
above Us, he could truthfully and manfull
say, "I cannot help it." No nation eve
can be at that ebb Of fortune when wit
truth she can say, I am utterly powe
! less !' Let the man but collect his tacu
, ties, let him but show a brave heart, dc
, termined will and quickened intellect, an
! he will rise a proud Mont Blanc above h
+ adversaries But let the patriots of natio
q exert their several energies in their sever
+ Spheres all held in their orbits by desl1
+ for right and regard for law, and soon'
Z. shall this globe fly from its orbicular cour
n by the impotent efforts of its pigmy inhab
! tants, than they be turned from their pu
9 pose of Justice and true freedom to man.
J. Said one of Cromwelps men, The be
courages are but beams of the Almighty
q | Patriots of all lands, here are your arms
u beams of the Almighty If they fail "tl
S pilared armament is nothingnesss, al
q earth's base is built on stubble.' Patrlo
l. of our land, here where hostile bayon
j. gleams-even here, in our conquered "su
IS nv South let US, oh let us, form OF
,. grand moral phalanx, marching on-n
l. by the stirring strains of victory or deaf
|, but by that nobler sentiment, that high
I | insniration that Godlier design" Victor