American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-05-06
From the North american RerieU.
ON THE ADVANTAGES OF OUk Ma
TIONAI, CONFEDERACY.


powerful motive for mensal action 10 our po
lical system, Is that, growing out OF the peculiar
nature Of oar confederacy. This is as completely
novel. az any other feature in the system II IS
strictly con(ederacy of the people, as ihoisouais
COMPOSING one greas nation, and, at the same Time,
forming distinct governments among themselves,
each Of which enjoys the rights and privileges o.
sovereignty, within certain defined limits. ouf
transatlantic critics call this wheel within wneei
so it is but every movements regular, harmonious
and unilorm, without cashng or Earring con
frderacy like this has never before existed Inc
Grecian republics were bound together as States,
but not as constituting people, net as forming
union in which every nhabtant OF the several states
had an equal interest. The Amphiclyonic league
was composed of TWO representatives from each
city hence the people were not represented IN any
due proportion; and il would seem 10 have been
the chief business Of the Amphictyons TO supern
tend The religious OF Delph 10 provide iof
mutual resistance OF a common enemy, and 10 SCI
tie such differences arose between staes. ne
confederacy of the Netherlands was still more de-
fec,ye in its organization, although il embraced
wider sphere Of legislation and control. The prov.
jnces aud some OF the towns had elective govern
ments of their own. Each might send as many re
representatives. to the States General as It chost, Du
when assembled they could collectively have only
one vote in that body The resolution OF The States
General, in many cases, could not be carried INTO
effect ill approved by the provincial legislatures
ard even here unanimous vote was sometimes re
onired. The authority o! the Stakeholder, or Pre-
slAsn was greater than that possessed oy the heads
Of some monarches The principles OF llelvetlc
confeeacy are not less complicated and impel iect
To the peculiar nature Of our co1iederacy. there
fore, may look for the action OF new motives on
the mind aud character. As several small states
united by the bood oil common Interest, afford bar
rirr to the ENFORCEMENT OF power, so 10 Ike man
nsr they present facilities for the progress of intel
lect. Such union efIecually breaks down the
despotism of authority, which in all mnnarchicat
governments hes assumed pernlclous sway over
the mind, and has been the source OF the supersti
tons and false opinions, which have kept whole ma
tions in a state OF intellectual s5rvltude Tor many
ages. History exhibits curious examples Oh the ~
huence OF authority over nation, founded on the
opinions of sovereign and every one knows, that
the tone of public sentiment, and too often OF pub
lie morals, has been fixed by the fashion OF court
a remarkable instance now occurs TO us IN the case
of witchcralt, in the reign IF James the First Lhi-
prince early imbi5ed the notion Of The agency Of
evil spirits, in controlling human affai S. and before
he came to England, he had written his dialogues
on D9mon3lOgie, in the Scottish tliaect, and eX
palped at large the practices oil these Spirits arc
the manner in which they made contacts witt
witches He also laid down rules for detecting
witches, and urged the justice oi their being pun
ished. SON after James made King, his book
was published. and landed by all. as ID johnson
said, WHO desired either to gain pfelerment oil
not to lose it, Nothing was so fashionable as IL
believe in witchcralt, and admire the Kings grea
wisdom and depth of knowledge in discovering suci
wonders of the Invisible world Evil spirits wer
seen daily. witches multiplied, and the contaglo
spread to the Parliament by which in the first yea
OF James's reign, law was passed against the in
vocation OF spirits, sorceries, charms, enchanments
and the punishment of death was denounced on al
witches, who should be guilty of these practices
The law, it is we'll known, was frequently, and 10
many years put into execution. 1t in the gen
nine spirit OF the times, that Shakespeare brough
his witches on The stage. And we doubt not, tina
all the absurditles and cruelties growing out ct tn
decisions about wiichcraft, both in Great Britai
and New England, had their origin mainly in tn
diseased imagination Of this Scottish prince who's
luck it was afterwards to be King, and to becom
an object OF serviie flalery and limitation to his OF
sequious subjects.
Besides the tendency Of separate governments
small states 10 resist authority, and secure freedor
oil thought, this system contributes i'll the most d
rect manner TO add inciemenls to emulation
proof Of this is seen in the ancient Grecan states
spirit of rivalry sprang up among them. who
brought out great minds TO act with uncommc
vigor Tor the honor Of their native city, or PROVING
anu Which was eACeeulnSIy taVoIaoie 10 the grow
Of the arts and sciences whereas, in China, cou
try of immense extent and inhabited by a poop
not less shrewd and sagacious than the Greeks. b
ruled by absolute monarch, scarcely step h
been taken in any branch OF intellectual culiuI
from the beginning OF its history down to the pr
sent hour. AS the dominion of authority h
been long and stern, popular opinion has run in /
same smooth and undisturbed channel for thou san
of years.
The motives TO emulation, and the influence Of
ample, are peculiarly strong in small states, unit
on the principles of our own, enjoying republic
institutions, and all the preroga,ives of liberty a
independence. The wise laws adopted by one ST;
will soon be understood and received bv its neip