The Morning herald., 1876-07-05

ite lasting fortunes, and shape the chAr6c4DF'
land purposes Of its future rulers. n n ~
birth Of societies, 4 says Montesquieu, d, A q
the chiefs of 81 State that make its natityl
tions; and, afterward, It is these instit|
tions that form the chiefs Of the Stste.s 4
| And what was this people and what thei1
traits and training that could justify tlstg
congress Of their great menip prOmuIg Akiu6
the profound views Of government and M
and expecting their acceptance as s.seIE Eeyt
and how their spirits prepared, that thn
new Launched ship, freighted with Ill thelr
fortunes, could be trusted to their guid-
ance, with no other chart or compass than
these abstract truthsl What warrant MaaE
there for the confidence that upon MAa8y
plain precepts of equality Of right, com
munity Of interest, reciprocity Of duty, A
polity could be framed which might safelys
discard Egyptian mystery, and Hebrew
reverence, and Grecian subtlety, and ROy
man strength, dispense, even, with Engli11
traditions Of Il
| "Primogenity and due Of birth, n ~ b
Prerogative ef age, crowns, sceptres, lam
rels." s
To these questions the answer was ready
and sufficient. The delegates to this ~;
mortal assembly, speaking for the
whole country, and for the respective Col
onies, their constituents, might well say: \.
s'What we are, such are this people. We
are. not here as volunteers, but as their
representatives. We have been desig-
mated by no previous official sta
| ton, taken from no one employ
| ment or condition of life, chosen from the
people at large, because they cannot assem-
BILE In person, and selected because they
know our sentiments, and we theirs, on the 4
momentous question which our deliberations
are to decide. They know that the result
of all hangs on the intelligence, the cour-
age, the constancy, the spirit Of the people 4
themselves. 1fthese have risen to q height,
and grown to strength and unanimity,
that our judgement reDdersas adequate to
the struggle for independence, ard the
whole sum Of their liberties, they will ac-
cept that Issue and follow that lead. They
have taken up arms to maintain their rights
and will not lay them down until those
rights are assured. What the nature and
sanctions of this security are to be they
undel stand must be determined by united
counsels and concerted action. They have
deputed US to settle and proclaim, and this
we have done to-day. What we have de-
clared the people will avow and affirm.
Henceforth 1t is to this people war for
the defense Of their united Independence
against it's overthrow by foreign arms. OF 4
that war there can be but one issue.
This Northern Continent Of America had
been opened and prepared for the transp0r-
tation of the full-grown manhood Of the
highest civilization of the Old World to !
place where it could be free from mixture
with competing or hostile elements, aud
separated from the weakness and burdens
which 1t would leave behind. The impulses
and attractions which moved the emigra-
tion, and directed 1t hither, various in fora,
yet had so much character as to omit the
description of being public, elevated, mOrsl,
or religious They Included the desire of
new and better opportunities for institution
consOnant with the dignity of human
nature, and with the immoral and Infinite
relations Of the race. In the language 81 u
times, the search for civil and religious li6-
erty, animated the Pilgrims, the Puritans, y
and the Churchmen, the Presbyterian, the
Catholics, and the Quakers-the Huguenots~s III
the Dutch, and the Walloons--the Walden
ees, the Germans, and the Swedes, In their ~
several migrations which made up the col h
onial population. Their experience and
fortunes here had nothing to reduce, every
thing to confirm, the views and traits which \
brought them hither. To sever all poll zeal
relations, then, with Europe, seemed to 4
these people but the realization of the pnr-
poses which had lead them across the ocean
but the one thing needful to complete
this continent for their home, and to givo
the absolute assurance of that higher life
which they wished to lead. The prspara-
tions OF the past and the enthuaiasms Of
the future conspired 70 favor the project of
col m in~,ns+ .rvski
grandeur which furnished the best Omens II
and the best guarantees for its prosperity. H
Instead ofa capricious and giddy exalts4 Y
tion OF spirit, % at new-gained liberty,
sober and solemn sense Of the larger trust *.
and duty took possession of their souls.
% II the Great Master had found them H
faithful over few things, and had now
maze tnem rulers oYer q manx "A T.
lSA ~ ~ \ \ III Il 1GlI11 Gl1 K
=. .a.cc. 1xs &! Y X \ NY !. ~ y n - N N
s!3!s ;a1s:s H. ". q d. !. ;sa x