Daily National Intelligencer

WASHINGTON, July 12.

The character of this nation daily unfolds itself to the world, by whom it begins to be viewed in its just light. Moderation and forbearance are, in public and in private life, alike inseparable from true dignity of character, but in both are sometimes mistaken by superficial observers for tameness and pusillanimity. Time was, anterior to the late war, when the pacific policy of our government placed it in that predicament. Having endured injury to the furthest limit of forbearance, it is discovered, by our acquisition of respect abroad since the change of our attitude, that the character of the nation had been wholly misunderstood. Its redemption from a load of obloquy and reproach, is one of the consequences of that war which, whilst it was the subject of shameful discord at home was the theme of approbation abroad, even by the allies of our then enemy. What we now have to guard against is, lest, running into extremes, to which we sons of Adam are always prone, we should become boastful and captious, like meddlesome youths who, having thrown their man, are anxious again to try their strength. That moderation, that forbearance, which has been viewed as a fault, is one of the cardinal points of Republican policy. It may be again misinterpreted by foreign powers, into apathy, indolence, or imbecility; but, every man is the judge of his own motives, and every nation ought so to act that it shall be able to justify its own conduct to itself, preserving always that attitude which will enable it promptly to avenge injuries, if other nations presume on our pacific aspect.

MODERATION, then, is a component part of the American character, so far as it is to be deduced from the acts of the government. Energy, never inconsistent with moderation, is also a Republican attribute. Not desiring to revive odious recollections, we will not dwell on the admirable conduct of our government in the retaliation contest with G. Britain, & other instances, but pass to the brilliant expedition against Algiers, where America, the youngest of civilized nations, has set an example to the older powers of Europe, of which they have shewn their high admiration, by their endeavours to imitate it. If other evidence were wanting, this instance alone would prove that Energy is an attribute of the American character.

Moderation and Energy, duly combined; what more is wanting to fill up a bold outline of a great nation? We answer a due attention, on the part of the government to the PERSONAL RIGHTS of its citizens.

That this trait also is peculiarly a characteristic of our government, it is not necessary, at this day, to demonstrate. In a government derived wholly from the people, depending for its efficiency on their co-operation, it could not be otherwise. If the origin of the late war with Great Britain, the events which occurred during its progress, and the still more recent expedition to Algiers, have not sustained this position to the satisfaction of every man who has viewed with impartiality the measures of his own government, it would be labor lost to endeavor to fortify it by reasoning.

The Mission to Carthagena, however, the result of which we have just heard, ought to place beyond doubt as well the disposition as the ability of our government to vindicate the rights of the people who constituted it. Our citizens unjustly detained in captivity, during the turbulence of civil war in South America, are yielded on the demand which our government promptly made for them; and, with them, a number of the enslaved subjects of European powers. This group of figures completes a picture of a government, more perfect than even Utopian projectors have hitherto ventured to conceive.

WE have a government, emanating from the people, founded in their reason, guided by their will; moderate and forbearing in peace; prompt and energetic on occasion, and, careful, above all, of the personal rights of those who place themselves under its protection. Ought we not to honor, to love such a government?

The Secretary of War left the city on Monday on a short visit to his family seat in Georgia.