The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-10-01

east 10 absolute power. Take a man
from the borders of France aud rn1l aug
the line OF liberty decreases a. ynn
proach Asia ; II was from tins Land : "i'-
fy hrst eame-may it be ever exil.I :,
ther or rather may it be banj.hed IN. ~
universe The
The constitutional division Contain. :,
great mandatory Of human cj,il;ya,'h me
the masters of all the sciences. tbe sr,a.
models OF every species of ind,,s,r,.i eie
companied b. the attractions of ,l;;.' ar
and social enjoyment. The desnotic n.
SION VIII require long time To equal H.
privileged division; for many ages to ca s,,at
1t will only initiate at a distance and ,,t t.'e
IS beyond human power, it will meyer ma ,'a'
sess the climates and productions of n
first division, the moral superiority ofwb;ae
will ever be beyond computation.
But this division itself although ala.
under the constitutional system. is disc
liar IN thousand other respects. WI,
rs complete IN one place, is only beona =
another; in some places they assemhIa'
every year, IN others, only every two o.
three years IN some they speak aloud :.
others, in whisper; in some they assena,la
IN several Legislative divisions. in otbaa'
only in two, or even in one only a lo,,,1i'
enumeration would be supernnons n.
disagreement is the course only in Eurona.
instead of presenting the appearance of !,
perfect building, IT exhibits only an i'm.
mense lumber yard, in which vast quaint.
ties OF materials await the hand of tba
workman to class and place them IN regn.
lar order. Social Europe is still sur l..
chantier.
There Is therefore yet only provisional
Europe: defntive Europe, the result of
the great springs of civilization, beIonos 10
later days. We have seen the kim or
Sweden lately desire the legislative BODY
of Norway to revise the fundamental law.
this prince vino shows himself as consuroI
mate IN the art of maintaining himself I'M.
| on throne and guiding a nation, as NJ
commanding an army, has by this act.
| commenced those successive alterations
which general changes in every country
from whence the uniformity Of the ,on.
! stitutlonal whole viii result and govern En-
! rope.
1t is inevitable, for the cause is uniform.
and always acting, and this power is civil.
Zatlon, which reveals to men all that occurs
IN the midst them, and creates the desire
to initiate and appropriate to themselves
every thing that can be useful or grateful
Civilization will act on governments. az
1t does on the arts, sciences, and com
merce; every thing that is found good
or useful or beneficial, or agreeable in one
country is adopted and reproduced in ano-
| Their.
Does not civilization find the means for
the arts' and why should it not do the
same tor the constitutional system Who
could prevent it? Has man no appette
but Tor illusions, or for things merely ma.
terlal, and none for the means bv which.
most of all things he desires, his happiness.
to which liberty is essential, can be alone
secured? This cannot he SO long az there
remains one human heart and mind. Thus
then the regularity Of the principles Of the
elective system, which though as yet only
liked IN theory TO an imperfect extent, and
which are yet much disGgured and abused,
by those who have them as well as those
who would not have them must prevail
ana continue to improve, and the sincere
execution IN some countries, will at length
render all other forms of government
irlshtiul, | may say ridiculous, and then
abolition will III short time be iueyila-
BILE.
Admire o, man this boon of civilization.
be careful ofit-be thankful for lido not
suiler yourself to abuse your only means
OF perfect security and true happiness,
and learn to obey tit brings men near
er To each other, it keeps them in con-
unuh state OF reciprocal comparison, and
OF instruction, nothing which these princi-
pies have stamped with reprobation can
be maintained nothing that il sanctions
and has legaized can be rejected long, or
perish. BY it, every door will in the cad
be closed against evil, or open Itself 10
good.
The whole of Europe will at last reeog-
nze 1t Ms present state is merely proW-
si0aal time Will correct defects. and bring
1t to dcfultive limits every science follows
the track of the exact sciences Of anatomy,
OF chemistry; successive experience will
reveal errors and establish truths and sue
ce5sve alterations and amendments will be
adopted by wise nations one after the o.
thef, and reciprocaiiy.
Previous 10 the revolution, England was
the only monarchical country in Europe,
IN which the principles of social order were
recognized and proclaimed the only one
IN which the rights of social man were pre-
scrbed in the public laws, and served as
rule for legislation. Since the declaration of
rights and the revolution of 1853, the lprin-
clples have been recognized aud ascertain
ed participation Of power has been APP
portIoned to each, and its principal basis
firmly laid; that basis to which every
thing relates, which was long buried under
religious and despotic preiudices that
which expresses this fundamental truth Of
social order and human nature.
Society is the source of all power; eve