Daily National Intelligencer

POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

[FROM THE HARTFORD MERCURY]

What honest American can reflect on the growing importance of his country; the mildness of its government, and the thousand accumulated and accumulating blessings we enjoy, without feeling a peculiar glow of patriotic affection for our wise & virtuous rulers, under whose auspices these blessings have been secured? And how must this admiration be increased when he daily witnesses thousands of emigrants continually pouring upon our shores, attracted by the wholesomeness of our laws; the purity of our government; the humanity of our citizens, and the luxuriance of our soil; leaving their countries, their friends, the companions of their youth, or the solace of their age, to partake with us the blessings of Providence, and enjoy in peace the sweets of civil and religious freedom.—The proudest days of Rome were those, when, through the mildness of her laws, she afforded a safe asylum for the oppressed, and became the protectress of the persecuted of surrounding nations. Like Rome, America is now looked upon by the inhabitants of the circling world, as a safe retreat from tyranny and oppression. Hither they are fleeing in countless numbers.—Bursting asunder the tender fibres of consanguinity, and hazarding the dangers of the ocean, they seek here an asylum, which in vain they have sought for in the old world. France, the last defender of freedom's ensign in Europe, is subdued. The last vestige of liberty in that devoted country is destroyed.—The supporters of superstition, tyranny and the perpetuation of human ignorance and debasement, have triumphed over the advocates of toleration, freedom and the enlargement of human intellect. The "magnanimous" allies, who have labored with such success in this vintage of confusion and blood, still continue to devastate her country. Ecclesiastical and feudal tyranny stalks predominant through the country; a powerful and bigoted priesthood, under the mask of the religion of Christ, and armed with the shield of his name, are exercising the sternest oppression; and anarchy is beginning to rear its hydra head It is from scenes like these, that people are flying; and to America, happy America, they bend their flight. Here their persons and property are protected. Here they can enjoy, in common with our citizens, the blessings and privileges which our republican government guarantees to them. Here there are no nobility to support; no tithing men to demand a tenth of their labor. Here we have free toleration; freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of elections.

At no former period has our country been more prosperous and happy. Commerce and manufactures are in a flourishing state. The produce of our farms command prices heretofore unknown: the husbandman is amply compensated for his labor; our farmers are growing rich and independent, beyond precedent; and in short, all classes of our citizens feel and enjoy the general welfare. Are you willing, then, Americans, to exchange your present happy situation, and your proud sentiments of liberty, for the chains which hold captive every other nation? Are you willing to put on those fetters which shall place you beneath the rod of some mighty madman or fool? We answer no. We believe the great body of the American people know and duly appreciate the blessings they now enjoy. But that there are men among us who have conspired and are conspiring against the general welfare, and aim at usurping uncontrolled power, is a fact which the veriest skeptic that ever existed cannot for a moment doubt. If evidence be wanted to substantiate this position, it may be found in the New England opposition during the late war. It was in that time of peril and danger that this malignant party erected their baneful crest, and hoped, through the aid of Britain, and their united efforts, to gain their long wished for ascendancy. To this end their cunning and ambition—all their talents and sophistry, were put in requisition, and forcibly directed against the administration. These panders of faction acted upon a written system—a digest of treason. Every measure of the government they indiscriminately condemned, as either weak or wicked. The characters of our rulers were libeled, and the vocabulary of Billingsgate ransacked in search of declamation against them. The war waged to vindicate our injured honor & violated rights was declared unjust, unnecessary, wicked & unnatural; when it was a well known fact, that, previous to it, our commerce had been arrested and stagnated: our most valuable and sacred rights invaded and torn from us; our citizens murdered and impressed, and held in bondage; and our sovereignty as a nation trampled upon and despised by G. Britain.—

When from unforeseen events, our enemy had quadrupled his force, and threatened to bury in indiscriminate ruin our flourishing country; when with the sword in one hand and the flaming torch in the other, he had commenced the work of destruction; and slavery with ghastly exultation was extending her chains, what was the conduct of this faction? Instead of obeying the generous call of freedom, and unsheathing the sword in defense of their wives, their children, and their invaded rights; instead of giving energy and support to the measures of government, and seconding their efforts to expel the barbarous invaders, they were striving to disconcert its measures; to depreciate the public funds; to foment sedition and treason, and finally to produce a civil commotion. These are not the whims of fancy, nor the ravings of distempered imagination. That we have such men among us, is a truth which challenges refutation.

But the return of peace gave a death blow to their designs, and restored prosperity and happiness to our bleeding country. And whilst a fond love of liberty continues to animate the breast of our fellow citizens; whilst an honorable struggle against aspiring demagogues is a prevailing feature of their national character; whilst a regard is manifested for the welfare of their innocent posterity, and a due respect cherished for the valor of their fathers, they will duly appreciate the blessings they now enjoy, and transmit them unimpaired to succeeding generations.