Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-18

DelOrc tne VleWh OF tnose VINO support
ed Henry's resolution against taxation
ripened into the opinions Jefferson
enunciatcd in tho Declaration Of In.
dependence.
During that period, they went grad
ually from discussion to protest
and from protest to resistance, and
at last from resistance to revo.
luton. Through all these long years
the leading men Of the colonies were
necessarily and most seriously engaged
in considering the principles OF gov
ernment; what were the rights Of in
dividuals, what the just powers Of
rulers, what the duties ofsubjects, what
the obligations OF the colonies. And,
being compelled TO consider these ques-
tions under new circumstances and un-
der conditions without precedent, they
were compelled to consider them upon
principle, and to apply principles to
conditions in which they lived. Those
days, too, were in themselves favora.
bic to solid study and sound reflection.
They were days OF patient industry,
of steady habits, of moderate gains
and simple living. There was then
room and opportunity, as well as oc-
casion, for deep and earnest thinking.
No clicking telegraph gathered its
outline Of passing events from all
quarters of the earth to engross mems
interest and attention. No journal,
bristIing with headlines of news, full
of items for wonder or excitement,
with leaders rich in editorial comment
and suggestion, came to supply men
daily with ideas and save them the
trouble of studying and rejecting for
themselves. In those days, men had
little of the varied and general knowl-
edge of our times, the knowledge OF
passing events. Life was easy and
simple and natural, neither crowded
nor hurried but il was sound and solid
and hearty. Things were then carried
from point TO point with too much
difficulty TO make what was idle or un-
founded, or frivolous, worth the car
rying.
And so, by much study and much
reflection, the men of the colonies pre-
pared themselves for independence.
After that declaration, came u long and
bitter struggle, throughout which our
Fathers maintained the highest reso
luton and the noblest devotion; and
this, by the aid of France, resulted at
last in triumphant success. Alter those
years Of strife in arms, there came yet
other years in which the infant con.
fedcracy kept alive with difficulty the
ftcbIy light of national life. Daring
all these years, the principal men OF
these colonies were being educated in
all that went to produce large minded,
wise, just, and sell reliant public lead
ers, SO that, when finally they came to
meet ut convention in Philadelphia,
for the purpose Of framing the Ma
tionul Government under which we
live, perhaps no body Of men that ever
met to frame government were bet
ter prepared for the duties before them,
7 esr brought to their task greater purity,
"bility aud wisdom.
1 N How wisely they iasbiondd, how
having regard to tH'G thsX boilded
camstances under which they built
we know. No one can read the de-
bates of that convention, nor those Of
the State conventions which followed
without feeling how full the time wai
, OF wise, able, thoughtful men-mer
who dealt with principles rather thar
with forms, and who considered sub
stantial matters more than matters o
detail, nor without observing how
notably the most distinguished o.
these men were Vlrginans.
Speaking now TO the descendants o
, the virginlans OF that day, may asl
attention to the principles upon which
the Fathers founded the Government
10 the circumstances under which they
, applied those principles, TO the change
D IN the country which have since takei
} place, and to the evils which hav'
g arisen with these changes that VI
= may inquire whether their principle
r of government afford remedy 70
src5 avis
ruv pp,Nc,prrs ox wu,ou Tur FATHER
2 FOUNDED GOVERNMENT.
2 The Fathers held three cardins
. nr;ncinles ot government. Upon tbes
6 all their systems, both of State an
!, Federal authority, were based. Th
n first was that government should
Q limited against absolute power. The
!, had well learned that (" liberty consist
: in the limitation of government;
r that " the many, though strong TO e'
}. ecute, are often blind TO perceive,
is They therefore established both the
d State and national governments b
v written constitutions, which were 4
n once the source, the measure, and tn
II limit of their authority and by th
y distribution of the powers OF goveri
d mcnt into independent department
10 and by various details, they furth'
% provided for the fullest preservation
such limitations.
y Their second principle was that u
b government should be 10 allied, ~ th'
h, the men Of the locality should sett
70 for themselves the concerns oi thi
/ locality.
ID Their third principle was that thel
ia should be in this country no favor,
. povernng class, and 81 they forbat
ID titles of primogeniiure, aud the pc
q petuation Of great estates.
a vpv ruvsr PRINCIPLES HAVE ngr
d. oyrRLooKrp.
IS .,.honah ~. ra,,,ors hod c,r
N No" a',nVas ,asG G ~ sngor;aa, m a.
n .nsougn 'ons ysA.s :, ao,,,,'',;'p ,uao,s ~ o.
d. '.noo''o" ne .,a;.,s. 10 H. ";sen,na, ano Y