The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-08-10
FOR THE vIRGINIAy.
European Opinions of .lmerica.

FoR THE vIRGiNIAS.
European Opinions ot .4merico.
W. have had n-ldeiablr cause for dis
gust with The views taken of our countr,.
by travellers who have lately visited us
from abroad II Is exceedingly difficult for
them to lay ASIDE lheir prejudiers aud Judge
of Us dlspassionately one class of them
beng sloutly resolved 10 see nothing
prais, orlhy in our Institutions, and others
scattering their .ncoIRlums with little Judy
meut or discrimination.
One fact, however, stands forth in sfrbng
relief IN the Iptdst of THIS nenale, OF co.
tradlciioDs. Our country has been, and -
at This moment, excllIng powerful inter-
est IN Emope Attention is fixed upon
the graod experiments making here. II i,
OF comparatively liuIe moment 10 rs To
ascertain what preJudlced travellers, aud
politicians yet more deeply prplndicpd,
may think of us. The journalists, aiso.
and irtling reviewers, too often display a
partisan splut both in their praises and
eensufes of THIS country and 10 both we
may with propriety be Indifferent. But It
IS Hn important enqlIry-what sediments
prevail among the learned of Europe, on
thr subject of our literary. religious and po-
lilical institutions? The men who take the
lead III the departments of learning and
science there, whose FITTINGS arr found ia
the school aud study US we'd as the psrloar,
and exert a noiseless, bit neil ugh ire.
sistlbie sway over public opinion-wha
do they say Of our national character, con.
dtIon and prospects?
In the great geographical work of
MALTE-BRUN, recently published Ia Paris,
aud now reprIntlng in tins country, fud
some opinions expressed relative 10 The u.
States, that deserve Ia be universally known
among Us. Alate- Brun is regarded az the
irst geographer Of The age He is in fact.
The oily writer who has ever searched out
with such diligence and arranged with such
rider and skill the various elements of this
particular department Of study, as 10 ren-
der 1t worthy of tie name of d SCIENCE
Wy dolly obircI, Messrs. Editors, IS to pie.
-ent you a lew of his staten, uis.
His description of the United States is
commenced with the following eloquent
md glnwlpg senteUcrs =" We now ap-
t5roach a more geuial climate, where the
rests put forth IA vigorous vegetation, aud
tbe fields arr covered with abuudant bar-
,tsis In this region, man Is every where
occupied in budding houses, in founding
cltles, IN opening new lands aud IN sublu-
eating nature. We hear. on all sides The
"iOws of the Ratchet and the blasts Of the
'orge: we see ancient foress delivered to
the fumes, and the plough passing over
Their ashes. We observe s.aing cities,
tpples and palaces rise up within short
distance ofcablns inhabited by indian say
ages. We nov tread the soil of federal A.
merica, the land of Liberty, peopled by
numerous colonies whom oppression and
Intolerance forced to leave the British Isles,
and the other parts OF Europe
This great body of the people are SUI
perlor to those Any European country,
In every thing relating either ~ morals or
conduct. Their situation denies them re-
hnement; but they never betray that Glow
nlsh and downcast air, which marks the
degraded condition ef the peasantry of the
old world. They are better informed, and
more active in their habits, a. well as more
Independent III their circumstances they
have that reliance ON Themselves which
gives 10 their n,anner+ the charm of being
and natural. and that manli-
ness of character aud self respect which
elevates then above mem practices and
degrading vices. An American artizan or
labOnrer does not feel that rank. office or
wealth is necessary 10 entitle him 10 open
his lips he never folgpts that hp is a nan,
and that those around him are nothing
more"
Speaking Of "the principles of these
harmonious and beautiful republican insti-
tution-," as he ealls hem, of nhlch A
m,rlca is justly proud Malle-Brun OBJ
serves it cannot be denied that the
wisdom of American Statesmen and the
Tree spirit OF the people have realized
system of poIlty more economical, orderly
and rational, and more conducive to Amer.
Ican Improvement, and TO matt nal prospe.
r'ty and happiness, than any that has yet
existed III the world II affords indeed an
encouraging Jew of the future fortunes OF
mankind to observe how much more snre.
y meh are conducted to sound concIu-
SONS on all questions of practical impor-
tance, by The general progress of know
ledge aud the instinct of self Interest, ope-
rating on society at large, than b, the spec
nlatlons of the philosopher. Plato, Sir
Ihos. Moore, Harrington and Hsme, h. :,
all exerted their ingenuity IN framing { \
plan IT perfect Commonwealth. IN Whcf
TIE fullest measure of liberty should be con-
joined with order, justice, good govern
,oent, aud pure morslly in private life
But what they looked npon as an ideal
good, rather to be desired than hoped for,
and what they merely endeavored to APP
proach to, by an apparatus the most REIN
ed and complicated, by institutions calcn-
lated to force nature, and by impractIcable
schemes of molal discipline, has been redt-
,'ed to an extent far beyond their hopes,
ny mechanism infioi,rIy more simple and
natural than what they proposed, and i'm
nIttly more certain and constant in its op
Grafton"
The opinions advanced by Matte run
in regard to alterations Of our Constitution,
are Jodicions and meishty. This admit
rahIe ~SonirIvanre, says he, "keeps The
pubic institutions in harmony with The