Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-06
STATE OF ENGLAND.

The Liverpool Chronicle of Nov. 9th, in refer
cnce to the proposed popular meeting in White
Conduit fields, near London, compressed by tue
military preparations of Conveniently speaks in a
most interesting strain of the present condition of
England. 1t impossible to doub, but that
England is on the brink of mighty and radical
Revolution. An oppressive Hierarchy and Aristo-
cratic privilege cannot long survive the enlirhtcn
ment of an entire people. Reverence for Antiquity
and its institutions, is capable of powerful resist
ance to innovation, but this age shows a thousand
monuments of the truth, that tho advance of man.
kind is onward, and that the Spirit of Improvement
Will sweep before 1t all institutions whose founda-
lions do not rcpose reason and general utility.
"lhc state OF the country is one of great and
dangerous excitement. This cannot bo doubted:
1t has been proclaimed in characters of fire and
blood at Bristol, at Derby and at Nottingham
anu now soon we may have repetition of such
scenes' Is beyond the power of man to determine
IL is not, however, IN these commotions though vi
olent and fearful that the greatest danger lies
ihese, when they occur, may he promptly put
down, wherever vigilant gsiracy is it's post
and ready to perform its painful but necessary tu-
ty The true view of such circumstances is that they
| are indications of n state ofthngs which must be
terminated by some means, or they will increase to
general confusion and irreparable mischief. For
IN addition TO that restless feeling which waits
only for the opportunity to riot in plumber and
bloodshed, there is the settled disafection of
great mass OF IN, lower classes in the larger towns
and more popuious districts, perverted by pausi.
bic abstract theories, artfully taught TO consider
their snferings privatons of every kind us Gu.
rabe only by the overthrow OF existing Institutions
ana thus prepared either reject the Re-
form Bill with contempt, to accept it
SIMPLY as step towards the accomplishment of MI
terror designs of change and overthrow. Those who
reason on the present state of things among u.s. as
analogous tn that which existed in the davis of Mr.
Pitt Just subsequently, to the French Revolution
n \ :
fatal, The pressure of taxa ion is now more Sc.
Vcrely felt than them the state of CONNIE rec is not
satisfactory or improvable the condition of the la
boripg classes is more anxious and in manv MIA
ces distressing. These are predisposing causes to
sedition and tumult, But this is not the whole of
the case. 80 great body of the people were not
then led away by visionary notions on governments:
The power OF prejudice in favor of old and venera
Die things was not SO completely brokcn the sedi
tious press had not carried on its corruptinp agen
cy so long and SO widely. Newspapers were not
1.-THE so numerous. and education had not then
so prepared the people to read Them There was
In word, less information, and more passive con-
tent; the voice ofdemagogues operated upon much
smaller masses; and the bulk of the populace
remained under the influence of their supe-
riors. The change in our circumstances in
all these respects, is too great to be lost SIGHT
OF by the consderate politician, and it dictates
different treatment OF the evil. Nol have we
| reached the extent of this serious view of our
condition
The example of the effect of clamor i'm forcng
the Catholic Relief Bill is strongly remembered
and has become a principle of action, and the sue
cess ofthe populace of Paris, in effecng revolu-
tion' absurdy and VIGOROUSLY applied to our own
circumstances still fatters the disafeced part of
the lower orders, with overweening notions oftheir
| own strength All this is crowned and completed
by criminal attempts to form what are called politi
| cal unions, which aim at no less result than TO
bring the mass of the middle and lower classes OF
society into one great confederacy, to dictate to
| King, Lords and Commons what laws shall pass
and what laws shall be repealed and, in word to
usnrp the whole legislative and executive govern
ment. q plan, not on paper merely, but carried in
part, into effect and promoted With all zeal and in
defatigable industry, under the auspices of many
men of name, and by journals of the greatest ia
| Tents and influence. 1t may indeed be said that
the still more recent scheme, adopted in London
and pushed on by the most violent and disaffect
ed party, form union on republican principles in
opposition to all hereditary distinctions and on the
principle of universal suffrage, and vote by ballot,
Will serve TO neurralize the other. This ought
indeed, TO be the effect 1t shows that the tendency
OF every thing is downward; and it warns every
man, who is not disposed to live under a mob 60
Vernment, to STOP ere he sanctions the more plau-
sibe project of political unions in mildcr form
should he heretofore have been inclined to accede
| to them.