Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-10-07
FF,gg. tAs Boston ciroa,.ls qaa Patr.ot j

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FF,om lAs Boston Chronicle qaa Patr;ot
LETTER X.-oN THE PRESENT STATE OF
LNeLhED.
4agrirg ie!o lie iH&iral4ts situation oisae English
!AeT JresGoA, iAOra'sty and Happiness u. Il fer-
e. truA EaCSe Of ne Otae,' jeliaoi RdtioaS.
Ike only plausible argument that is ever mr..
cHd N defence at the character OF the British
Constitution AMI Administration. is. the
supposed prosperity Of the English people,
- IS constantly asserted by ENGLISH writer's
ana often repeated by these OF oYiier com
tues, that OF all Tie people upon earth
tue E.ngi,h ENJOY, in the greatest periec-
Ton, tile advantages that civil society iSiutend-
ef 20 aHofd-Niz: The most perfect combna-
Icon OF security OF perSOn and property. with
liberty otsreech and action. propose at pre-
Heut 10 examine the correctness OF this ouiDi-
o.. lhe subject is somewhat more extensive
h'3n the mere effect OF the domestic admins
tFation OF the Sovernmeni-Dut this will form
one branch o. the inquiry, and will be comside-
!ed with more convenience IN this connection
than IN any other way.
The present moment is, as | have had occa-
sion 20 state, ~ some of these letters 4 Deyiod
OF real anu singular individual distress in En-
giand ana this situation may be reasonably
considered the result OF vicious political ipstt
SutiolS' aad consequent vicious Administrations
81 rs also probable, that this state of THINGS win
poFtant alterations ~ these political institute.
ons. Stlii II would be improper in consderiur
ther ehect on the general happiness, TO CON
fne our attention exclusively TO the preSent
niomeHt-especay as this has been already a
sn0Ieci Of separate consideration. Shallnow.
without reference to present circumstances
proceed 70 inquire whether the English are as
- sup losed, thtJrtsSt ana hdpPieSt, and lie most
e;fHols people rpun earth.
We have 10 be sure, on all these points, the
direct and UnequivOcai testimony OF nearly all
thelr writers, who agree IN this opinion, what
ever tlIelr dlperenceS may be IN other respects;
* rs most OF our nOtienS 81 foreign affairs come
70 us thro English channels the same idea is pret-
~ cnCral ~ this country. itought. however 10
be observed, that the opinions OF men, or bodies
oi men respecting themselves, is not admitted
as evidence, either IN law common sense
Al u agrees with other Information, II is useless
LII not, 1t IS not entitled any weight / we
permit tbs sort OF self evidence TO be ureed in
iavor OF England, We must permit i; also to be
brought forward in favor OF every other nation
on the globe for though the English are some
what remaTkable for the extent To which they
carry this natural prejudice, il is well known
tbat every either nation pdriakes of il IN great
er or less degree.
Tie naked Negro, painting At The linz,
bOasts OF ms s1den sands aud paiiny wine
TASKS 10 the glare, stems The tcpid wave,
Ana thanks bis Goes for all the good tie, gave.
with what contempt The vain, good humOrcd
Frenchman regards the frOwns of foreigners
ANUt tpiitc 10 iits ttIlid 10 tdltn MS manner,
learn his Language, and enjoy his luxnries -
How inferior TO himself does the italian coIsi-
dcg the baTbriGuS btyoad The 4'ps. How the
German eXutS 10 see the rest OF EGTope halt
. century behind him IN philosophy ana science.
Tie Spdniaid,i in the bosom OF superstition, ig-
and slavery, retains all tie pride Of
that period when he governed the WOrld-aud
the representatives Of the y. States had nearly
declared this country by vote the freest q most
enlightened nation OF earth. The extent Of
this pTejGdCe IS byIiO means in direct proper
ton 80 actual superiority. The VUvk has no
hotter term for the Ingenious and coli ,htened
European, than Christian dcg--and CHINA that
has stood for ages 10 the porch Of the temple
of improvement, without having spirit enough
O. OPEN tho door. regards herself as The phNsi.
cal centre, and the sovereign OF the universe
while the philosophers ia every country, tho
not iuscBsI5c to Tie value Of political institu-
tlODs, and tie superiority OfSOme nations over
others, place theta all, Ia many important par
ticulars, upon u level. When, therefore, the
English assert them Give, TO he the )rePst. the
happ5e1 and most r5ftu0ey nation upon earth,
we must look TOHnd Tor some better evidence
than this assertion, before we receive the opin-
ion indisputdDly correct
Z. 4bt frceSt nation i, the one that enjoys, al
the ltasf e1pcace, the security Of person and pro-
perry, which constitute the principal advanta-
ges Of social nni0n. Freedom, therefore, in
cudes two cOusidc ratiOus-- the degree in which
the secuTiy OF person and property is enjoyed
ana tue eXpencc at which the enjoyment is OBJ
sftfGts flIsis theUs III WHAT NCgiee 40 The isu-
giish ENJOY this security OF person aud proper.
tyl Property in England is divided upon fcu-
sal principles bui the division, such as It is.
IS secured by tie Law and in contemplation Of
law. tie poorest man is equally protected in his
small possession, as the r.cHest landhOlder IN his
iarse domain Now, as the whole mass of pro
perry belongs 10 tie nation as CORPORATE bo.
dyr u any pOfuDHo o. u appropriated in an ar
biiFary manner 90 Oue portion Of the nation.
fhis must hc viewed as q sacrifice made By tie
people ~ large iDr tle security Of the rest
Bdt, on feHGdl principles, uIs division was no
Otftr alan apprOpriatuig the whole properly
10 q few uC1ics, an3 leaving nothing 10 the bo-
dy Of iie people. The harshness OF this diyi-
sion has bees iB e considerable degree softened
y, iie riigatons and alterations Introduced
into tle ieudai system By the progress Of i'm.
Proyemeni. bui itsiii forms the radical feature
an the distribution OF property.
Z Doc case o. not peculiar to England, but is
colnnoii 20 al countries where property is di-
va q Dn leIdai principles and u is pCrleotly
Cifar imt n ail snc. COugttles. supposiug she
OiaFri 81 social union o. be she secure enjoy.
meni OF ilie AID property, the pcOuie go Ike tie
aDf n q a;d incredible sacrifice Oi giving up the
tn'rg fseN, 60 obtain the secure enjoyment of
%, au.d as ifras the icnial principle enters in
20 social DESTINATIONS in ii"ir more itnprovsd
jDriHs, - ifr they are tainted with tue same
aDsusdity. Tie iaev, 90 He sure, /, sad Go sr-
cure tie poor as ven Us iae rcn in iae cujoy-
mont 81 tbeiT rights. TIE operation Ut 10, how.
ever, ~ practice, has besu wei Illustrated ~ q