their religion differed from his own. He must go travention of the clearest principles of British crusading in behalf of the exiled Stewarts, how- Freedom. The alarm was immediately taken, ever irrevocably England was set against the re- But England persisted, in spite of remonstrance, turn of Despotism and Popery. His own domain in a measure which, as is now known, was part was one of the finest in Europe, and the magnifi- of a system for repressing our growth and keepcent Valley of the Mississippi called him lord; ing us in subjection. When argument was but the Pyrenees intercepted his view and there- exhausted, a war for Independence followed of fore must he take the freak of placing his grand- course. The capture of Louisburg in 1745 had son on the Spanish throne. These various and revealed to New England the secret of her insane projects drew off his attention from his im- strength. The defeat of Braddock and the inportant interests in this quarter, divided the Catho- competency of other leaders in the succeeding lic counsels, and successively raised up a host of war had done much to dispel the illusive prestige enemies on every side whose united strength put of superiority of the British arms over those of him to an ignominious defeat. The lustre of his the Colonies. But here was the occasion in which arms was tarnished, the resources of his kingdom was to be fully tested the temper of those virtues wasted, his ambition moderated, and his pride at which had been so long growing and strengthenlength effectually humbled. ing in our school of stern and novel experience. Such however was the irrepressible buoyancy Our cause was manfully defended against fearful and energy of the French character that a few odds; but our hands, if not our hearts, were beshort years sufficed to recruit the national strength coming weary in the unequal strife, when France, for the renewal of the combat. And it was re-not for love of us, as is now also well known, but newed more than once before the great contest in return for the many favours she had received was decided. France seemed now determined to from England-came to the assistance of her re redeem the time she had lost, and to carry on her bellious colonies, and turned the scale in their well-devised plans for securing her American posfavour. England submitted to the Inevitable with sessions. Much was done, but as the event provwhat grace she might. Our claims were acknowed, it was too late. The war of "the Austrian ledged and the tie which had so long bound us to Succession," in which both herself and England her was sundered forever. We had made good were involved as parties, produced important our position; henceforth a distinct career of our events on this side of the water. Louisburg was Whether it should prove one own lay before us. captured by the unassisted arms of New England, of honour or disgrace; whether we should therethough it was subsequently restored by treaty. after sustain our proper part in the great contest But the opinion which had been slowly and si- of principle which still divided the nations, or ig lently growing was now strengthened into settled nominiously fail, would depend on ourselves and conviction that Canada must be conquered at the the blessing of Heaven. next outbreak, if British America would be kept free from European broils. And the opportunity soon offered. The veteran gladiators had become parties to the Seven Years War,' and had crossed their swords on the battle-fields of Germany; but remembering that the boundary between their respective possessions in America was unsettled, the fight was transferred hither. The old policy of the Grand Monarque-that of spiriting up the Indians to harrass our Northern frontiers, was renewed by his successor with tenfold malignity and effect until the same weapon was vigorously retorted on himself. The struggle was desperate and doubtful for years. Many battles were fought with alternate success, in all of which the Colonists participated. Strong places were taken and retaken. At length on the Plains of Abraham and the heights of Quebec the great question was settled, and Canada lost to France forever. Had England been wise now, gratitude for this timely aid might have bound these colonies to her for generations to come. But it was otherwise ordered. In two short years an effort was made to tax us without our consent, and in con The cooperation produced by the old Articles of Confederation had carried us triumphantly through the Revolutionary struggle; but Independence once achieved and the pressure from without removed, they proved insufficient to preserve and consolidate our Union. During this season of collapse both our foreign and international interests suffered much. The future was dark and patriots desponded. The sufferings of the people in this awkward interval rendered them the more willing to try any expedient that promised relief. The remedy proposed and adopted after the most anxious deliberation was THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, which has made us the nation we are. Our old enemies had predicted a dissolution into our original elements, and separate weakness and mutual hostility as the consequence. Our Federative System, which provided a General Government to attend to foreign affairs and the mutual relations of the States, leaving the States to take care of their domestic interests, at once gave union and strength to the thirteen original parties which had so lately been engaged in a common cause. Had a titled Aristocracy temporal and spiritual | in the eyes of foreign nations. Another Party been entrenched in our midst, we may divine from would construe our Great Charter more strictly the experience of other States the obstacles they and guard with special vigilance the rights of the would have raised to the establishment of any go- States. They believed that were the compromivernment founded on equal rights. But our an- ses of the Constitution adhered to, the General tecedents prevented this. There was neither no- Government to refrain from exercising doubtful ble nor bishop in the land; and our novel exper-powers, and use those clearly granted, only for iment could at once be initiated with the assu- the general good, it would prove an unmixed blessrance of a fair trial. The result we know. ing; that the benefits of the Union would then be There was at first enough of this spirit to awa- too manifest for it to be wantonly sacrificed; that ken and preserve a corresponding degree of in our people have been so trained in habits of reterest and vigilance in the thorough Republicans,spect and obedience to the laws that they would who at length obtained undisputed ascendency. 'not likely depart from it on light or frivolous preMore than one form of Religion had been es- tences, nor unless they are felt to be unjust; that tablished by law, but their connexion with yet it is easy to frame those laws so as to be genethe State was easily severed when there was a rally oppressive, or to build up the town at the regular organ for expressing and giving effect to expense of the country, or to favour one class or the public will. The ball of Revolution had in- section of country to the detriment of another. deed received its first impulse from the upper or- These things they allege have been done. They ders of society-the heads of the great houses are moreover jealous of the progressive tendency but these men as such had now accomplished their of power assumed, and dread, lest in the effort to mission, and in their turn must come under the build up a splendid Central Government, those of new system. Entails, which had accumulated the States should be overshadowed and their property in a few hands were abolished. Their powers ultimately absorbed. It may be that some estates in the regular course of descent became of these are extreme opinions, and the supposed subject to partition; and their sons must enter the injustice of certain laws may be but the effect arena with their fellow-citizens, and in the strug- of different circumstances, habits and pursuits, or gle for precedence stand or fall by their own me- of declining to participate in the advantages of a rits. This, however, has not been done so abrupt- true policy as declared by a majority. Yet has ly as to destroy at once the type of character and the South by a sort of happy instinct generally caste of manners which had so long won both in sided with that Party which was opposed to an fluence and respect, but enough of both was pre-exaggerated Centralism in all its forms. Whether served to secure their continuance so far as they this was the true policy or not, it was certainly a were in accordance with the new institutions. In safe one in the beginning. So far as it has obthe enjoyment of equal advantages and the more tained, it has generated a happy emulation among general diffusion of knowledge, increasing num- the States which has promoted their internal imbers have been raised to this level; and many of provement generally, and by the increase and diseither class have joined the moving army,' and persion of landed proprietors has fostered the by a brilliant and useful career in the Great West Agricultural, the great interest of the country, in have won new honours to their names. especial. At length our example began to react on Furope and the old French Revolution broke out. Artful and incessant appeals were made to our From the Origin of our Government there have been two modes of interpreting the written constitution which defines its powers. The disciples of either school declared that this government sense of gratitude and impulsive spirits would should exercise no other powers than such as had have embroiled us in that quarrel. How fortu been granted; but they differed, honestly we nate at such a juncture that we had a Pilot at the doubt not, as to what those were. One class of helm who could steer our vessel safely through Statesmen, dreading the centrifugal force of our the storm; who could dare to oppose the madness peculiar system-its apparent tendency to disso- of the people in his Proclamation of Neutrality, lution and the consequent evils of separation, if and by the precedent establish as a maxim of our not of anarchy, from which we had so recently espolicy- Peace, Commerce and Friendship with caped-could see no other means of securing our all nations,-entangling alliances with none.' Union than to strengthen the hands of the Gene- Our system while embracing in its operation ral Government. Such government alone, they only the Atlantic States, had disappointed the thought, could guard our interests against the ma- fears of its friends and the hopes of its enemies. chinations and encroachments of foreign States, But the tide of emigration now set steadily toprotect the industry of our people, who, under its wards the Western Territories, which soon began shield, could go on more speedily and fully to de- to claim as of right a proportional share in the velope our resources, and so give us respectability Government. The mountains however, were a Again: Spain was poor and at issue with her own rebellious colonies to our South. So in 1819 she consented to sell Florida to the United States, which at length gave us the entire coast from the great barrier to intercourse, commercial and po- 66 But Mexico, which had now achieved her independence, had much vacant territory in her most Northern and largest province, and invited settlers from the United States. Large grants of land with other liberal uarantees were made to the adventurers. The pledges given to these hostile confederacies, which cannot but end in adopted citizens were forfeited, and their reclamathe failure of your experiment and a return to tions being disregarded, a Rebellion followed monarchy as the only safe and legitimate govern which proved successful. The Independence of ment." It must be owned that the experience of Texas was acknowledged in 1837 and in 1845 on all antiquity as well as of modern Europe seemed her own voluntary application she was annexed to favour the opinion that a Republic could only to our confederacy. But her Southern bounsucceed over a territory of moderate extent. But Science at this crisis has come to our aid and fal-dary was left undetermined by Mexico who refused to treat with her revolted province. After sified their vaticinations. Internal improvement with its roads, canals, and at length railroads, the latter became an integral portion of our Union, this boundary, being still unsettled, behas penetrated the passes of our mountains and came the occasion of a second war in which Mexthe multiplication of these facilities of intercourse ico herself was overrun by our arms and only together with the crowning invention of the elec-! tric telegraph, has united the great West to the preserved her separate national existence, by East as it were with bands of iron. Then the yielding the boundary we claimed and surrenderapplication of steam-power to navigation has, bying the provinces of New Mexico, Utah and Calovercoming the current of the Western rivers, hastened the settlement of the great Valley, af- Before this our Northern boundary, being illforded an outlet for its products, an inlet for its defined at either extremity, had become the source commerce, and thereby indefinitely enhanced its of much irritation, which might have resulted in agricultural and political value. By these vari- an appeal to arms. But a war so unnatural was ous means each grand division of our territory averted by friendly negotiation, which having adis made accessible to the others and the Republi-justed these perplexed questions, can hardly fail can principle has been shewn by experience to be to compose any minor differences that may heresusceptible of indefinite expansion. after arise. We have now a territory lying be ifornia to the United States. Shall we Shall we Diplomacy also, by promptly availing herself tween the St. Lawrence and the Rio Grande and of what politicians call the chapter of acci- extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean ; dents,' has secured for us yet other and impor- a fair and ample field on which to expend our entant advantages. Thus Bonaparte on the renew-ergies and work out our destinies, and with none al of hostilities with England in 1803 found him- on all our borders to make us afraid. self weaker than the enemy at sea, and that Louisiana would probably fall into her hands if immediate measures were not taken to prevent it. To deprive her of this prospective conquest he was constrained, though most reluctantly, to sell this vast region to the United States, for what to him in his then emergency was a fair equivalent, though not a tithe of its intrinsic value. Thus was alienated from the crown of France that noble possession which had been the theatre of so many efforts and expectations, and thus did it pass into the hands of that very people to whose onward march, it was once hoped, it should have offered an impassable barrier. Nay, in the act of ceding it, Napoleon consoled himself with the reflection that he was thereby adding to the naval strength of a power which would ultimately divide with England, if not entirely deprive her of her ascendency at sea. And now we ask-Are all these perils passed, victories won, advantages secured, the work of human valour and prudence alone? exclaim in the presumptuous spirit of the Chaldean Monarch-" Is not this Great America which we have built up, by the might of our power and for the glory of our race and name?" not rather ascribe it to the God of our Fathers, who inspired their counsels with wisdom, who covered their heads in the day of battle, gave them strength for their peaceful toils, and upheld their resolution throughout their long and arduous task? And may we not further believe, that He who has so long watched over us, and in hours of darkness has appeared in our behalf, has yet other and perhaps greater purposes to be accomlished by our means? In this connexion we must not omit to notice other incidents which have contributed in the sustain the Commerce, the Marine and the Indushighest degree to the material wealth of the na- try of America and of Protestant Europe, but it tion, and which are particularly remarkable when has forced a transit across the narrow isthmus we consider the time of their occurrence. Al-which separates the two great Oceans, and in so though the Cotton plant was raised in Virginia so doing has accomplished the desideratum of three early as 1628,* owing to the difficulty of separat- centuries, and thereby it must in time secure to ing the fibre from its seed, but little was grown us the Trade of that Old Orient which has sucfor more than a century, and that only for domes- cessively been the prize of so many nations. tic consumption. In 1748 seven bags, valued at Thus have we seen that while our people were little more than £20, were exported from Charlesas yet but few, neglect and oppression made them ton, S. C. In 1770 the quantity shipped from all strong and wise to defend and govern themselves. our ports had increased to ten bags. In 1793 When called to grapple with more formidable foes, Whitney invented the Cotton Gin. The impulse the Briton was used to chastise and expel the Gaul, given to the culture of this staple by this inven- and the Gaul in turn has aided to repel the Brition and its many subsequent improvements is ton. When a nation was to be born, those who beyond all precedent. From $42,000, the value assisted at the birth were endowed with the needof that sent to foreign countries in 1790, it rapidly ed wisdom. At each doubtful crisis a light has rose to $112,000,000 in 1851, and this was exclusive been thrown on our path; in every serious emerof the large amount annually consumed in our own country. The various manufactures of which for our relief, or some material agent which none gency some happy expedient has been suggested this constitutes the material either entire or in could anticipate has been sent to the rescue. And, part, at this day give employment and subsistence as if this were not enough for gratitude, the lands to many hundred thousands of people in our own of the Gaul and the Spaniard being added, peacecountry and Europe-but especially in New Eng- fully for the most part, to our former acquisitions, land, Old England, Germany and France. This the fruits of their previous labours have enured is so notorious that it has grown into a maxim, to our benefit. These are precious memorials, that "Cotton is the king of the [commercial] and the common property of the whole country, world." Now, when it is equally notorious that North and South. And shall they be forgotten Cotton cannot under present circumstances be amid the unhallowed party strifes of the day? raised in quantities sufficient for the demands of Should we not rather blush to be reminded of civilization, in any other than a Southern Latievents which to all should be as familiar as housetude or by any other than slave labour, we might be tempted to inquire, whether any thing can exceed the perversity or blindness of those who are seeking to disturb this great and established deWe doubt not it will be said, however, that the partment of Industry, and thereby sporting with the interests of millions-themselves included? We whole of this novel argument is a fallacy, as being will, however, suggest, that on any other suppo- founded on a gratuitous hypothesis. The gransition than the order or permission of a higher deur and importance of the results none will disPower, it is a little singular that such an invention as that of Whitney's should have been delayed until our independence as a nation was established, and our jurisdiction extended over the region which yields the chief supplies of this pro duct. And why, we ask again, did a steamboat never breast the current of the Mississippi un il its mouth and all the broad lands which stretch westward from its right bank had been added to our domain? Without doubt Gold also has been mingled with the sands or stored in the hills of hold words, and engraved on the very tablets of our hearts? pute; but might they not have been attained without this blot on our escutcheon, and this formidable burden on our inheritance? In a word, could not the white man have accomplished the task without the aid of the slave? Most certainly he could, if allowed to proceed through an indefinite future, without let or hindrance from Gaul or Spaniard. But does not the supposition refute itself? The work, we repeat, must be done and done quickly. It must be done by a particular time or all will be lost. It could not be timely done without help, and from no other quarter could help be obtained. California since creation. Yet was it hidden from the eyes of its former owners, whose fathers, as "But look," it will be rejoined, "to New Engwe have seen, had so much abused a similar boon land, to New York and Pennsylvania. Here also of yore. Not until this new Ophir had passed was rough work to be done, and surely the woodinto the hands of a Free and Protestant nation man and the husbandman have laboured here was this treasure laid bare. Thousands have has- to some purpose." We deny it not. ted to draw it forth, and now it not only helps to here too, as we have heard, the labour of THE SLAVE was employed without scruple, until it ceased to be profitable. But New England and *Smith's Hist. of Va. II, 60. And the others, we must say, bear but a modest pro- | South. A Northern General-Nathaniel Greeneportion to our present area and much in either fought the battle of Guilford, but it was with remained to be improved at the era of Indepen-Southern heads and hands to assist him. For his dence. Bear witness ye forests of Maine, of signal services on this and other occasions he was Western New York and Pennsylvania; and of immediately adopted by the South as among her what was done in this kind in each of the latter most honoured sons, and, far from indulging a provinces, how much is due to the sturdy German jealousy against him on account of the land of or to other than the native Americans. his birth, she gave every evidence-material and But how long would our Northern brethren-other-of her lasting gratitude. The well-conif we may still call them so-have enjoyed the tested field of Guilford proved to be the beginboasted privilege of working as freemen, if they ning of the end'-a fitting prelude to the closing had not received assistance of another kind and scene at Yorktown, and we all know under whose from that very quarter which is now so much de- conduct that crowning victory was gained. nounced for its supposed offences? In battling And the same efficient system of cooperation for Independence can we suppose that they could has never been intermitted either in cabinet or have stood alone when our united strength barely field. A Southern Statesman--Charles Pinkney-sufficed to keep us erect in the protracted strug-presented the first draught of that constitution gle? Were the French such very Quixotes, or which, with some modifications, was adopted as so much in love with them alone, as to fly to their the bond of our Union. Our great military chief rescue on the first intimation of distress? Their was unanimously called to inaugurate the New respective antecedents, we take it, had not been Experiment and to set the machine in motion, such as to ensure this superlative degree of mutual and he has had successors not a few from the same affection. It may seem invidious to cite local ex-quarter and not wholly unworthy to occupy his amples when all so manfully did their duty. But taunted as we have been, we may claim a small part of that which is justly our own. seat. Our highest tribunal of justice was long and early filled by one whose exalted qualifications were an honour to that responsible post and whose grave decisions are worthy to be prece dents for all time. The sons of the South have not yet lost their reputation for forensic ability, We say then, that Southern eloquence, no less than Northern, roused the people to a sense of their danger and prepared them in advance to meet the coming storm. A Sou hern Statesman was the first to move the Resolution for Independence and to advocate it in strains of oratory which confirmed the faithful and fixed the wavering. A Southern pen drew the manifesto which But faithfully and honorably as the men of embodied the reasons of our resistance, a procla- this quarter have discharged the duties of peace, mation which has gone forth to all lands and our later history has shewn that their hands have a wilful perversion of some of whose principles is not forgotten to war. A Southern General, with like to be the occasion of future trouble to our- an army from the South Western States, repelled selves. When all was at peril, a Southern Gen- the enemy from New Orleans and thereby a seceral was selected-as emphatically the man who ond time secured the outlet to the channel of alone could unite all hearts and hands in its de- Western Trade. To men of like type with a comfence. In each decisive battle of the Revolution mander from the same locality was given the vicSouthern valour or conduct contributed materi- tory of San Jacinto, which gave freedom to Texas ally, if not entirely, to the favourable issue. and ultimately gave Texas to us. And finally, in Would we look to that which was really the each of our brilliant Mexican Campaigns a Southopening scene of the drama? A Southern Gen- ron was still found at the head of our armies. eral-Andrew Lewis-in command of Virgin- Whenever also our borders have been enlarged, ians, at Point Pleasant so effectually broke the it has been done under the auspices and most strength of the Indians in our rear, that they generally by the direct efforts of men from the dared not annoy us throughout the pending strife, same latitude. These things were done morebut left us free to meet the enemy in front. Not over by the white man in Council or the tented a few Southrons were with our glorious chief field, while the slave was peacefully tilling the when at Trenton he wrested a victory from for- soil. tune. A Southern General-Daniel Morgan- Nothing of all this will probably be denied. with his Virginia Riflemen, did no little towards But it may be said that later experience is against deciding the fortune of the day at Saratoga. The our hypothesis; and we shall be pointed to the same rough but efficient commander with the States of the North-West, which were settled and same followers, at the field of the Cow-pens first cleared and are now teeming with population and turned back the enemy from his foray through the wealth, by dint of white labour alone. Our reply |