Palladium Of Virginia And The Pacific Monitor

POLITICAL
The following is a speech delivered by M. M. NOAH, at the laying of the corner stone of the City of Ararat, on Grand Island. It will be read with interest by all persons feeling a desire to become acquainted with the ancient and modern history of the Jewish nation.

SPEECH.

Brothers, Countrymen, & Friends:

Having made known by proclamation the re-establishment of the Hebrew government, having laid the foundation of the city of refuge, an asylum for the oppressed in this free and happy republic I avail myself of that portion of my beloved brethren here assembled, together with this concourse of my fellow citizens, to unfold the principles, explain the views, and detail the objects contemplated in the great work of regeneration and independence to which it has pleased the Almighty to direct my attention. Truth and justice demand that I should candidly state the motives that have induced me to aim at higher objects than mere colonization. The world has a right to know what inducements have led to this declaration of independence, and what measures are contemplated to carry the design into successful execution.

The peace of mankind, the security of persons and property, the changes incidental to the revival of the Jewish government, the progress and effect of emigration, and all those vicissitudes arising from change of climate, new laws, and new society, admonish me to be explicit in my declarations, and candid in my statements. I shall not deceive the expectations of the world.

Two thousand years have nearly elapsed since the dissolution of the Jewish government, and no period has presented itself more auspiciously than the present for its re-organization. Peace exists among civilized powers; the march of learning and science has been rapid and successful, and mankind are at this day better qualified to estimate the blessings of toleration and liberal views, and better disposed and capacitated to encourage and enforce them, than at any former time. Religion generally, though divided and sub-divided into various sects, assumes a milder aspect, and feelings of universal love and charity have superseded the darkness and bigotry of former ages.

The nations of the old and new world including the children of Africa, have had their rights acknowledged, and their governments recognised. The oldest of nations, powerful in numbers and great in resources, remains isolated, without a home, a country or a government.

The Jews have been destined by Providence to remain a distinct people. Though scattered over the globe, they retain their brotherly oneness of character the peculiarity of their tenets, the identity of their faith. In their prosperity and adversity, they have uniformly been the chosen people--proud of their God, proud of their distinction, and even proud of their sufferings. Bending before the tribunals of power, yielding to persecutions and fortune, tranquil in misfortune and resigned to fate they patiently endured not meanly surrendered, they bravely defended their rights and the rights of their country, and have never despaired of divine protection, or given up hopes of human justice.

Looking forward to a period of regeneration and to the fulfillment of the prophecies, the Jews have preserved within themselves the elements of government in having carefully preserved the oracles of God assigned to their safe keeping, and the time has arrived when their rights as a nation can be recognised, when in the enjoyment of their independence, the lights of learning and civilization, and the obligation of industry and morality, they can cultivate a friendly and affectionate understanding with the whole family of mankind, and have no longer enemies on earth.

In calling the Jews together under the protection of the American Constitution and laws, and governed by our happy and salutary institutions it is proper for me to state that this asylum is temporary and provisionary. The Jews never should; and never will relinquish the just hope of regaining their possession ancient heritage, and events in the neighbourhood of Palestine indicate an extraordinary change of affairs. The Greeks are almost independent of the Ottoman Porte. The Turkish sceptre becomes weaker daily. Russia will march upon Constantinople. The Egyptians, are cultivating the useful arts, and are encouraging commerce and agriculture. The Turks driven beyond the Bosphorus, may leave the land of Canaan, free for the occupancy of its rightful owners, and the wealth and enterprise of the Jews may make it desirable for them to re-claim their former possession by and without the consent of the Christian powers, who more enlightened, and consequently more tolerant, may be duly impressed with a sense of justice due to an injured and oppressed people.

Called together to the Holy Land by the slow, but unerring finger of Providence, the Jews coming from every quarter of the globe, would bring with them the language, habits and prejudices of each country. Assimilating only in religious doctrines, and divided on temporal affairs; they would present innumerable difficulties in organising under any form of government, and the diversity of opinions and views would create factions as dangerous and difficult to allay as those fatal ones which existed in the time of the first and second Temples. It is in this country that the government of the Jews must be organised- Here under the influence of perfect freedom they may study laws, cultivate their minds, acquire liberal principles as to men and measures: and qualify themselves to direct the energies of a just and honorable government in the land of the Patriarchs.

Conforming, therefore, to the constitution and laws of the United States, there is no difficulty in organising and concentrating the Jewish nation. Originally we were a race of shepherds each man governed his own family, and to the enjoyment of domestic happiness they added the blessings of a pure religion. Israel, accumulating in strength, was led to Egypt, delivered from bondage and conducted to the promised land, by the illustrious legislator of the Jews and the great benefactor of mankind- The moral political, and ecclesiastical code of laws which the Almighty, through Moses, presented to the children of Israel, forms, even at this day, the basis of every civil and religious institution.

The victorious Joshua settled the Israelites in the land of Canaan, and divided it according to tribes. After a short interregnum of his death, the government of the Judges commenced, which existed 300 years until it was merged in the kingdom which, commenced with Saul and terminated after a brilliant epoch in the captivity. The government of the Priests succeeded and continued 438 years; followed by the Maccabean Kings of Judah, and the nation became finally dispersed under Herod the Idumean.

In selecting from the primitive, the judicial, the regal and sacerdotal governments, a form best adopted to the times, and also to the condition of the Jewish people, I have deemed expedient to re-organise the nation under the direction of the Judges,

The authority of the Judges extended to all religious, military, and civil concerns; they were absolute and independent like the Kings of Israel and Judah, without the ensigns of sovereignty. The Judges were immediately from the people, mingling in their deliberations, directing their energies, commanding their armies, and executing their laws. The office which was not hereditary, conforms, in some respect, to that of Chief Magistrate. and is in accordance with the genius and disposition of the people of this country.

It is difficult at this period to decide with certainty on the manner and forms adopted in choosing the Judges of Israel. Most of the distinguished men who had filled that station were raised up by divine influence. Their skill in war, and wisdom in peace, their valor and experience, their capacity to govern, and incidental and necessary qualifications calculated to excite public confidence, were passports to office.

Dispersed as the nation now is, and no possibility of concentrating the general voice, there can be no just power to grant; no right to withhold; the office must be assumed by divine permission, and the power exercised by general consent and approbation. He who assumes this power, who takes the lead in the great work of regeneration and judges righteously, will always be sustained by public opinion. By that test I wish to be judged.

Born in a free country, and educated with liberal principles, familiar with all the duties of government, having enjoyed the confidence of my fellow citizens in various public trusts, ardently attached to the principles of our holy faith, and having devoted years of labor and study to ameliorate the condition of the Jews; with an unsullied conscience and a firm reliance on Almighty God, offer myself as an humble instrument of his divine will and solicit the confidence and protection of our beloved brethren throughout the world. If there be any person possessing greater facilities and a more ardent zeal in attempting to restore the Jews to their rights as a sovereign and independent people, to such will I cheerfully surrender the trust.

I cannot be insensible to the many difficulties which may present themselves in the successful progress of the great work of regeneration. The attempt may be pronounced visionary and impracticable-the reluctance of some to countenance the effort--the timidity of others, and the apprehensions of all, may be arrayed against an enterprise extraordinary and interesting but always feasible. I indulge in no chimerical views. I know this country its soil, climate and resources, and confidently embark in the undertaking.

Firm of purpose, when the object is public good: I allow no difficulties to check my progress. Urged to its consideration by strong and irresistible impulse, the project has always presented itself to me in the most cheering light in the most alluring colors. and if the attempt shall result in the ameliorating of the condition of the Jews, and shall create a generous and liberal feeling towards them and open to them the avenues of science, learning, fame, honor, and happiness, who shall say that I have failed I asked the trial, and will abide the result.

The Hebrew nation, with its sublime Theocracy, its moral laws, its warlike character, and powerful government, originated in a family of shepherds. From an ancestry not more illustrious arose the heroes and sages of Greece, and to the neglected children of the forest was Rome, once mistress of the world, indebted for existence. From origins the most humble, and from projects the most doubtful, the world has been indebted for signal benefits and blessings. A few pilgrims, driven to our continent by European persecution have laid the foundations of a splendid empire. We have less difficulties to encounter. because we are surrounded by civilization; and a few Jews in this happy land, admonished by the past. and animated by anticipations of the future may increase rapidly, and prosperously and, under good government and wholesome laws, may fall back in time towards the Pacific Ocean: and possess, a country the most fertile as it is capacious and valuable. We have long been captives in a land of strangers, we have long submitted patiently to oppression;..we have long anxiously expected a temporal deliverance but throughout the most terrible periods of calamity. we have done nothing for ourselves. The Almighty, who has covered us with the shield of his paternal love, has given us moral agents, by which, with his divine aid we are to effect our own deliverance.

We have senses, judgment powers of self government, energy, capacity, and wealth. If, with all these great requisites, we will hang our harps upon the willow," we still cover ourselves with sackcloth and ashes, and do not make one effort for independence, how can we reasonably, continue to supplicate God for our restoration, who made man in his own image. and proclaimed him free? Why should the parent of nations; the oldest of people, the founders of religion, wander among the governments of the earth. intreating succour and protection, when we are capable of protecting, ourselves?

The time has emphatically arrived to do something calculated, to benefit our own condition, and excite the admiration of the world. and we must commence the work, in a country free from ignoble prejudices and legal disqualifications; a country in which liberty can be insured to the Jews without the loss of one drop of blood.

The present condition of our people throughout the world is not without interest and instruction. The rightful possessors of Palestine are slaves in their own territory, and the pious attachment of the resident Jews of the Holy Land, give them the highest claim on our charity and protection. There are several hundred families in Jerusalem, Hebron, and Tiberias, some of the most ancient congregations, in the world, and the number in the Holy Land may be computed at one hundred thousand- Those on the borders of the Mediterranean are engaged in trade and manufactures; those in the interior- and particularly in Jerusalem. are poor, and dreadfully oppressed. They are the great sentinels and guardians of the law and religion, and amidst the severest privations and the most intense sufferings, they have for centuries kept their eye upon the ruined site of the temple, and said. the time will come--the day will be accomplished. The Samaritan Jews which formerly were numerous, and scattered over Egypt, Damascus, Ascalon,and Canaan. are now reduced to a few hundred poor inoffensive persons, principally residents of Jaffa and Nablus As there is no essential difference between their doctrines and the rest of our brethren, the distinction between them should cease. The Caraite Jews, who are numerous are principally residents
In the Crimea and the Ukraine, and
are a respectable body of men. They
reject the Talmud and rabbinical doc.
trines, adhering closely to the precepts
of our divine law. On the borders
of Cochin China, we have a large col-
ony of white and Black Jews. Their
umbers are computed at ten thousand.
The white Jews reside on the sea
coast, and the blacks in the interior.
The blacks, who call themselves Beni
Israel, must have existed at the time
of the first temple. The researches in
the interior of Africa may, at some fu-
ture period give us immense colonies of
Jews which emigrated at an early pe-
riod from Europe There are on the
coast of Malabar and Coromandel.
and in the interior of India, a conside-
rable number of wealthy and enter-
prising Israelites: Measures will be
adopted to ascertain their force and
condition. Upwards of a million
and a half of Jews reside in the domin-
ions of the Ottoman Porte, including
the Barbary States. In Constantino-
ple and Salonica there cannot be less
than one hundred thousand. They
suffer much from the oppression of the
Turks-are severely taxed, and treated
with undisguised severity; but their
skill in trade and their general quick-
ness and intelligence, as bankers.
brokers, and merchants, give them
the entire control of commerce, and
the command of important confiden-
tial stations in the empire. The same
character and condition may be likewise
attributed to those numerous Jews re-
siding in Egypt and in Persia, they
have many wealthy men in Alexan-
dria, Cairo Ispahan, and the numer-
ous cities beyond the Euphrates.
From countries yet uncivilized, we
turn to those which, still withholding
the rights of man from the descendants
of the patriarchs, are, nevertheless,
more mild and tolerant in their meas-
ures, more liberal and generous to an
afflicted people.
The settlement of the Jews in Eng-
land was coeval with Julius Caesar,
the inroads of the Saxons and Danes
have obliterated much of the chronicles
and traditions relative to their early ex-
istence, in that country. William the
Conqueror brought with him a large
colony from Normandy, and, for a
stipulated sum of money, conferred up-
On them certain commercial privileges
and assigned them places to inhabit.
It was in the feudal age, that the Jews
of Britain were the most enlightened.
tolerant, and polished. Opulent in
circumstances, and enterprising in
the development of resources, they
gave an early impetus and direction
to that trade and commerce, which
has since successfully extended itself
to every quarter of the globe. During
the reign of William Rufus and Hen-
ry II. the Jews were favored and
protected, though always considered
vassals of the crown, to be tolerated
or pillaged according to the caprices
of the government. The cruelties prac-
tised towards them during the misguid-
ed periods of the crusade, caused ma-
ny of the most respectable to abandon
the country. Several families, howev-
er, returned under an invitation from
King John, to be again pillaged, pros-
ecuted, and, murdered, and for five
hundred years their condition under-
went no material change. Occasionally
protected, but too frequently op-
pressed, deprived of the natural rights
of subjects and citizens, it was not sur-
prising if the Jews in England, during
those periods, acquired wealth without
consideration, and power without res-
pect. During the reign of George II
a bill was introduced in Parliament
for the naturalization of the Jews. It
was supported by the ministry, though
opposed with warmth by the people,
and produced great excitement in the
public mind. It nevertheless became
a law; but such was the strenuous op.
position manifested on the occasion,
that it was considered prudent to repeal
it at the ensuing session. The same
legal disqualifications still exist in
Great Britain, but it is gratifying to
know, that the government affords to
the Jews certain rights, immunities.
and protection, and our people in that
country, in addition to wealth and in-
fluence: are rapidly advancing in the
career of learning and civilization, of
charity and liberal feeling.
After the expulsion of the Jews from
Spain and Egypt they joined the Sara-
cens and aided them in the conquest
of Spain: Favoured by the Caliphs.
and united by a reciprocal hostility to
war with the Christians, the Jews found
asylum and protection from the Sara.
Cen Monarchs, and the most brilliant
epoch in our history, from the destruc-
tion of the temple, may be traced to
this period. in the early ages the
Jews were enlightened and learn-
ed in the law, they were the foes of
paganism, the champions of idolators; but
it was under the Caliphs of Bag-
dad, and the Saracens of Spain, that
they cultivated the sciences, established
seminaries of learning, and schools of
literature and philosophy.
The revolutions in that country com-
mencing in the eleventh century, eventu-
ated unfortunately for the Jews, and
the war declared by Ferdinand against
the Saracens was the commencement
of their troubles and calamities. Dur-
ing the eleventh and twelfth centuries
many learned Rabbis appeared which
did honor to the age and country.
They were not only deeply versed in
cabalistical, allegorical, and mystical
interpretations of the law, but disting-
uished mathematicians, astronomers,
masters of the dead and living languag-
es, and natural philosophers. In Tole-
do and Aubalisia, they had colleges
in the most flourishing condition, and
the piety and illustrious talents of A-
raham Ben Esdra, Maimonides Kim-
chi Jarchi Haleri, Abravenel, and
others, attested the brilliancy of that e-
poch in Jewish history. The fury of
the Crusaders was perhaps more se-
verely felt by the Jews in Spain than
in any other part of the world, and
more of our people abandoned that
country than were brought out of the
land of Egypt by Moses. Under the
enlightened and liberal Moorish Kings,
the Jews lived prosperously in Spain
but the destruction of the Moors caused
their ruin, and to this day they have
been banished the country. Upwards
of a million of Jews speak the Spa-
-ish language, and will never cease to
regret the barbarous edicts which pro-
hibit their residence in that beautiful
but neglected part of the globe.
(To be continued)