The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-29
From the { 7fentoa) True american
LIBERAL VIEWS OFTHE US. BY AN
INTELLIGENT FOREIGNER

DR. AKIN, in his Z" Geogratiicai 2el;nea-
tions," speaks cftbe S. in a manner which
does honor to his nteig nee and candor, and at
fords striking contrast 10 the liberal and pre-
JUDGED language which most British writers
concerning this country hole. -
8 TAe Nezu Woria (says this author) pre-ents
nothing equally Interesting to the philosopher
and statesman, ~ the spectacle of vast terrific
~, capable of almost unlimited increase, pos
sessed by people of European origin, and par.
tcipating of all tbs. rights and knowledge of Eu-
rope, under system OF Government more favo
rable to Civil aud Religious liberty, and conse-
qusstly 70 mental improvement, than, perhaps,
the world has ever seen, and making y rapid
progress IN population, wealth, and political con-
sequence" ''Ther form of government was
riginally borrow from the mother country, bal
isreDdeFed more Republican by giving MUGS
less power to the executive branch and fund
ing the whole upon p pisr election The A
ynertca0 Constitution = me G:iy complete model
OF u Representative e. 1vrrnncnt tEat has ever
existed and there seems no reason to doub of
its STABILITY ard sdcquncy TO every useful pun
pose The system Of avs is III general copied
from that o EBglaTd, with such imp, owe ments
and alterations experience mas dctated.--
In come of the states particularly in Peunsylya
MIA, capital pun ''ments % I'VE been restricted TO
very few crimes, and the object Of reforming
criminals has been pursued with much humane
aild Fls- policy"
which has tended greatly to obviale many of the
evils AM disseotions o. the governments in the
OLE WSfld, ina, there is no predominant religion
that IS there e1ciRSiVeiy nlainfdinsd 6y tte
slate and OFFERING particular rights and Irivi.
feees its professors" " This beyfeot 6rfeao,,,
qeHh respect to teIgioY doctrine and 7sorshfb has
produced its natural eH CT vi fostering a greater
number oi religious sects and pers,asions in the
territories fthe u. S. than, probably, exists in
any other country III the world but this variety
is not accompanied with the smallest tendency to
the breach Of peace and good order The com
mon board OF citises, issfound fully suf Sent to
secure that agreement by which civil society is
held together OF the diffescnt foCFps of reIp
Gus ASSOCIATION, those seem to flourish mos
which IN their constitution are most consonant
10 The popular principles of the civil goyernt
ment''
&" 10 compare the Americans, with respect to
thor taste Tor literature and the arts, with the
nations OF Europe, Astounding in men of wealth
and leisure. and possessed Of excellent models
OF every KIND, would be unjust but it may e..
ali H,I, ti'A. ,aeir nWnGrOd, institutions tor II
beral educNt on argue want OF attention to
this point md ~ macy Of the states the know.
ledge and The love OF letters to certain degree
are widely dflused Some original works haye
been produced III the ". 5. which certainly pos
sess the merit OF correctness and elegance To
meclianicat inventions and the useful sciences
they seem to brse peculiar aptitude"
g inNio'nestic and pabhc virfue the People OF
tne U. >. nceinOt s"uH comp tit,on with sRy PEI
pie III Europe and, upon tie whole, there is
solifiU N their pJ.iOnSl cbarIeter which may
justly tie hope, tbit as il carried .hen, with sue
cess and reputation tbrO' their bsrd struggle for
liberty and thro' subsequent difficulties, 50
IT Will enable them to preserve the s4n-
gular civil advantages which they possess, and
make them wort'.y Of The title of free people ~
Vtile A,pgiea1s indulge q laudsble pride in
bong aus i..v'rsply represented to the world by
gfp,ghtened iUreigocrss It should simulate them