The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-07-29
From the Saturday Chronicle.
HUMAN GOVERNMENT AND
LIBERTY.

iNA'
HUMAN GOVERNMENT AND
LIBERTY.
The relative proportions which Republi-
can forms of Government bear to those ofa
monarchal or dospotic character, have ever
been a subject of enquiry amongst politi-
clans, philosophers, and historians of every
age; and tracing the rise and fall of en-
plres, with the progress of Republlcanism
from the earliest ages of mankind to the
present day, would afford ain admirable view
of the march of human freedom. We much
regret that the synopsis from which we
have made the following liberal extracts, in
Illustration of the present state Of the differ
ent governments of nations, has never been
published with the name of its compiler.
1t would have afforded us pleasure to have
awarded to him in our columns, the credit
which is emnently due for his able re-
search and developement. 1t will be seen
by reference to the subjoined statistics,
that the human family, is, as yet, only in
the infancy of progress towards the en-
ioyment of the natural and social rights of
man. We begin with
REPUBLICS.
The only countries possessing a republi-
can form of Government, or system which
acknowledges the people to be the source
of power, recognizing ne self appointed, or
hereditary authority, are the following
l. The United States of America, the
freest, most enlightened and prosperous,
which has population ofabout l6, 6,6sO,0O0.
2. Mexico, whose population is $780,
900. 3. Colombia, 100000. 4. Boil
via, j 100000. 5. Guatemala, 100000.
6. Peru, 100000. 7. Chill, 100000
Embraced in the continent of South Amer
| lea.
8. Hayti, population $4,000 (blacks.)
9. Switzerland, population 100000.
| 10. San Merino lin Italy, population
about $4,000. IL. Cracow, 10000.
! We would further remark, that with the
exception of the United States and Switz-
erland, very few of the above nations can
boast population sufficiently rational and
intellectual, to be enabled to appreciate the
nature and blessings of Self Government.
LIMITED MONARCHIES.
The countries possessing government
in which the hereditary sovereignty of one
Chief Magistrate or King, balanced by a
legislative representation Of the people, upon
constitutional principles and greater or less
extension Of the elective franchise, are the
following
/. Great Britain, the freest, most iuteli-
gent, powerful & prosperous of them, has
a home population of %, 100000; in Hano-
yer ,O00,OOO; in British India, 1885, ,352,-
! 600; i'll Canada, N. American and West
Indian Islands, 3,l00,000; in the Ionian
Islands Mediterranean,) 2O9, 900; in Cape
of Good Hope, and other colonies, I,000,-
OO0--in the Island of Ceylon, 1000, 900
The whole population Of the p-''''H E''ii-
| pire is thus 10, "SS'ooT: -,
eral infusion of Republican principles.
This is particularly remarkable in the Gov
ernment of Great Britain, in which all sup
plies are granted by the House Of Commons
or Representatives Of the People. AS far
as payment goes, therefore, the crown, al
though hereditary, is quite under the re-
straint of the people. The ministers are
also held responsible for the public acts of
the King, they being his good or evil coun-
sellors. If the ministers recommend or
bring forward measures that are obnoxious
or injurious to the interests ofthe People
they are not supported by the Commons,
and necessarily dismissed by the King.
The three great principles Of human
Government, which have subsisted from
time Monarchy, Aristocracy
and Democracy are said to be combined in
the British Constitution. But it is remark
able, that the more Republican reforms
have been introduced, and the nearer thf
popular branch of that Constitution has ap
| proximated to the system of the United
States--the nearer also, has it approached
towards rational freedom and perfection.
We now turn to darker side of the pic
ture, and quote
DESPOTIC GOVERNMENTS.
The countries in which the will of tho
sovereign is the supreme law, but in which
there are various codes of subordinate laws
and governors, are the following
l. Russia, which in Europe has popu
lation of SO millions, and in Asia 3 millions
40 thousand.
2. Egypt 4millions. 3. Denmark 2 do
A. Prussia 5 millions.