The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-26 00:00:00

Al

the impulsive movement. When they were
conscious that the torrent was carrying them
away with it, they sought in vain to retrace their
steps. Some ranged themselves anew around
the Throne; some emigrated."
We draw no parallel between the French
Revolution when set in motion, and the present
state of England, nearly at rest. But we know
that, whether at rest or in motion, the only security
for a State is in principle. This is the foundation
of the building—the axle on which the State
machine turns. Remove or damage this, and all
real security is gone. Such statesmen as
1111aanizau and PEEL forget this. Differing,
as Frenchmen and Englishmen often do,
in private character, both were "of the
earth, earthy." It is of the former that
LAMARTINE says —" Of all the levers of
" a great man, he lacked none save honesty.
" The people were regarded as his instrument ;
" Posterity was his Faith, and Glory his God.
" Himself all for time, no immortal sign makes
" holy his thoughts, his deeds, or his character."
Such a politician could create nothing ; he could
not even save anything.
Liberalism—the scheme of politics which the
Standard would fain assert to be ours—is the dis-
solver and disorganizer of everything. Yielding
to such politicians as Mr. BRIGHT and Mr. MIALL
all the credit that we can, as sturdy Englishmen,
it is impossible to hear or read them without
feeling that with our old English system they
have no sympathy. For Lords, and Prelates,
and Sovereigns, and Courts, and Palaces, they
have no liking. But their system—the
American—and the English, will never coalesce.
If we are to have Liberalism, beginning as the
Standard recommends, by the concession of Jewish
claims first, and of Church-rates next—we are
abundantly warned by Mr. MIALL himself that
all this is only a commencement. Of what is
to follow, there can remain no doubt. Is it not
written in the histories of 1640-1650, and of
1789-1795? If Liberalism—i.e., Democracy—
the waywardness of a pampered people—
is to rule, then it will be prudent for our best
and highest ones to bethink themselves before-
hand; to provide themselves a fitting refuge; and
not to wait till they are pulled from their seats.

THE LATEST FROM THE " SOUTH."
THE State of Alabama, in the southern division
of the United States, is, according to a popular
American ditty, a remarkably pleasant location.
The inhabitants are reported to be easy, well-
to-do people, occupied on their cotton or corn or
tobacco plantations, of a reflective and econo-
mical turn, but sanguine for the most part, and
disposed to make everything agreeable. Like
Georgia and Carolina, and other neighbouring
States, the State of Alabama has long enjoyed
Southern institutions.

In consequence, however, of the intrigues and
jealousy of the Northern States, those institutions
of late have not worked so well as could he
wished; the planters have had, to combine in
self-defence, and considerable yearly expense has
been incurred by them in simply protecting their
own interests. The land is excellent, intended
apparently to supply civilization with the raw
material of its usual garment; the locality pe-
culiarly favourably to commerce; a vast foreign
trade open; the only want which the State
suffers is a want of labour and population. Under
these circumstances, and in connection with a
few other States equally indigent, the Alabama
planters have formed themselves into a Conven-
tion, and appointed a Special Committee to report
upon the best means of remedy.
The Report, which fills four closely-printed
columns, is at present before us, and its state-
ments are so candid and its admissions so credit-
able that we have extracted some of them for the
benefit of the public. The report was made to
the Southern Commercial Convention at Mont-
gomery, in Alabama, which met in May of the
present year.
The Special Committee on the Revival of the
African Slave Trade has chiefly turned its attention
to two economical topics—the present uncivilized
and unproductive condit ion of the negroes in Africa,
and the present consumptive want of civilization
in the Southern States. There is a glut of negro