Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-10-12
A DISCOURSE
BY c. J.INGERsoLL, ESQ.
ON THE
IMPROVEMENT or GOVERNMENT.

soPHicAL SOCIETY, held October LIST, 1924, at
which their. associate, General LA FAYErrE,
was present, the following, communication was
read oy MIR. CHiRLEs j. ING ERsoLI; and was
resolved, that a copy be requested of him for
immediate publication By the Society.
VIM. ID. KEATING, Secretary.
2 The last half century, prolific in the mate
riais of history, Is most remarkable for those
cha1ges Of government which practically began
with the American Revolution. The spirit of
conquest, succeeding that of chivalry, was fol-
lowed by that of commerce, which gave way tn
the spirit of independence that prevails, and fun
danentally affects all political institutions: Not
those only, which are Immediately under its OPP
creations, but all the rest Commerce and the
press, rapidly disseminate improvements, and
add great influence 10 Intelligence. Thirty
millions ofeducated people, now in Europe and
America, more than there were few years
since, aud their number increasing in geurnotri-
cal ratIo-al intensely studiOus of political phi
losophy--create another empire within every
state. continually seeking asccndancv. And
this empire, though separated throughout many
nations and By intervening seas, Is nevertheless
one AMI indis isiblc in its views and sympathes.
Public opinion, no longer spent i'll the vacuum of
oral tradition, g,rt with omnpotcnCe nv the
Independent press, whose piercing rays sane
tuary can keep out. Superstition aud igno-
rance are fallen into obScurity. Organised So
ceties, OF ali sects and nations. are IN victorious
u
must soon be free. Already laws the pop,l-
lar will, even when otherwise o,tcnsbly cnIct-
cd. Divine right To passive obe,iicuce is scarce
~ asserted. Elnat1y Of Individuals and of ma
tons the advaut scs oi usi' cstraincd intercourse
the minchicls IL all superiluoris guvcrnance are
becoming established principles of international
aud OF a,inicipal law. Political economy, which
has remained till lately almost untlousht
at, since the suggestions of Plato on that subject
has taken an eminent place among modern sci
ences. labor aud economy are recognised as
the wealth of nations. Monopoly, exclusion
loo preferences, and iactitious counteraction
are FELT and treated as issues of calamity; and
but few parasites-utter the preposterous ilattery
t'iat private luxury, aud public extravaganza
lnvisorate cremation aud repenshment Po-
litIcat philosophy is almost as much improved
No modern Vnitaire would venture TO saw.
speaking OF eeieUn Elizabeth, that sstle people.
werehes c'iie iaYoritc: not that she liked them
indea, f,?' ,9so 'tses The peogie'''-or of Charles
the Second, sti,at he was the first king OF Enc
land who procured parliamentary influence by
pensions, q 0aet'roa IF abri.fgag difficulties and
pye0e,stidg Contradictions" Such sentiments
now would harll be entertained. Their
expression ia the page of history would
be as offensive as a literal translation of
the most indicate phrases of the ancient
ci,ss,cs. ihe people have come To be treated
%ith ii'e resPeci III other soycrcigns: and nubIic
Corruption IS at le,st-p,t applaudei. In A,ne-
RIA, lac names OF thing changed with
ter subs! tnce. In Europe, certain antiGuc
names. forms, and prcPesscssions, remain unai-
tere L. as Sort of equivalent for the substantial
captulations that have taken place. But all
ni.'rt universally t!:are IS s;i adoption OF many
c3rifna! a:Ieirirations, which cannot fail to stl-
perinluce cthersI and tits especially the power
full and controlling empires whose tendency Is
unequivocal to liberal IDEAS. The in dependence
OF the whole American hemisphere IS not more
obvious than IFS Influences m Throne H.,
. ropeaR recognition IS a mere commercial qnest;- =
on the argument o; which s,lipcts rather fayora-
bly, than otherwise the basI, of political aclxnoy-
ledgncnt. When North Atoerca can saw to
Europe, ''vou shall not reculonise South Ameri-
rca,n the matter Is settled.
Fox would not have retired discounted BY
Pitt, if he conlJ have said, '.withn twenty-five
years, your adhcrents will repeal millions of tax
es dis1dad buadrc4s of thousands of fighting
men, relax the system of pressure, that has
been continually drawing closer since Edward
IKE f!iird, opc.Iy di5avOw the wisdom of your
predecessors, and avow their conviction that
the true interests of Great Britain consist in
b6f'ilneni peace au1 forocaring legislation" II
is not m0restlIan fifteen years since The members
of parliament from I.ondon, liverpool and Bris
toi, ;enxiousy opposed the abolition oI the slave
trade as destructive of their conrnerce and ma
nv Of the ministers denounced it BY the still more
daniins COMPUTATIONS OF de'noCratical aIi,! is0r-
GaniSItlr: now the west india Islands
countei no consideration for refusing education,
TO African slaves. Meanwhile, more radical
chang IS are preached and amjiatcd; going 10 the
whole structure Of tue constitution; which, tiio'
vet repealed by seeIninfyl; nsurruountabIe aver
sion. nav sJou, Ike the abolition of the slave
trade, with the gatius at the age 10 pioneer
them make good their way to favor.
An opt,omnst FIN Is consolaiion for the fears
that vast A,i,tic r,nj.re, which regulates Eu-
rope i, abont SC crush all Liberty with its roT-
tentols ukases Tie in,eriil chief u that EN-
pre-, fortified with IN obscquio1s a!iiaacS. which
+. has taken ihc crcJeuti,ls of the ropcs wcu IN
tier pieDinic, With a Min IN of rieu nj arms in
peacc,aud colo;nos of solii3rs 20 reiufIrce them
with generations OF recruits, was, after all
bsugi,t ny IN The molain nurture Of piiilanttv0-
~ AMI popularity: AMI pIu:nes himself on the
Suppression of ignorance an:l vassalnges bg eiu-
eating fifty pliiions Of SUBJECTS. Tins lie 10.
really, nv the grace ofG,;i, TIC happy incident
which Najsu DE- 3rtel Gays re sty!ci himself
when spelitrig 10 h"r pf His tD2ic: and ind.pcn-
dence 'n1y o,nH,uaI with absolute power 50
+sS-o-sai. S.,snb-tautisNe iidaa5 are popular
eluIiI'y ai4 srsc r,.ig -. acknowledged in Rus
STA, tnt orjnptiJn, Instead Of bong % nDbit|
ap2r9 ,rifi5u. Is open tG ~ cb.nrati.or-: and so
d2citeliYis Tile ppbiiit, i'-eacor.i. fiiat none
a. miro public Distinction bat uu,o who earn II
,by Ju'c service.
Az Ill events, the ffln'u1 IS -a'e 1T tuto.:r.a:
not ,rly by ~ pwu po- III. 2il tf,a.,l h,G 81
50 b, tacit consent of tie lolr iiiiancc; Tor