The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-04


are nearly synonymous, the increase through
out the civilized world. The recent bold and extra
ordinary policy of Sir Robert Peel may be pointed
to one of the strongest facts in illustration That
Minister was appointed, Immediately after the defeat
of the Wings, leading question: the chief cause
being the Corn Law billiard yet, notwithstanding
his majority in the House Of Commons was and is
very large, he that he could not stem the popu-
lar current without yielding something to the princ-
pie of reform; and thus he determined to tax the
rich by way of revenue to reduce the duty foreign
about half, and further, to diminish the inn
port duties nearly all other foreign articles Sure
ly this must be regarded an indirect triumph on
the part OF the great masses, and an indication that
no ministry be sustained in England against the
will of the people, even under the present limited
plan of suffrage.
But we must not forget the article in the Review.
1t aludes pcnently enough ollies but does US
justice in its general features 1t describes proud
of our institutions Of the general wealth and ntelli
gence OF our population, OF our rapid rise and vast
prospects The writer nevertheless much TO dis
approve in tho institutions of America regards them
better fitted for her earlier than her present con-
don, but STILL prefers them to those of any other
great country, except his own. He gives us very
fair hit in the following passage:
"Again, we may think that she boasts too much OF
the happiness and intelligence of her people. we
may taun her with her three millions of slaves, and
with the mobs of her towns, and the rufans OF her
borders But no great community must be judged by
its least fortunate psrtions Ireland is a sample
of the British Islands, nor Connaught OF Ireland
And after making all the deductions from The general
average prosperity which required by the vices and
miseres of comparatively small portion, We must adj
init, that the fourteen millions of AnglO-Amerlcans
form community enjoying more comfort and more
intelligence than any other equally numerous popula-
ton. The rapdity of growth on which America
dwells with much complacency is statistical fact,
supported by unquestionaole evidence. The reason
ableness of her anticpations of further and proper
tonate advance, is Of fair subject of contrO-
versy. If her numerous States, differing they do
in many respects to their institutions their feelings,
and their interests, should presesve their union;
neither war; faction, resistance TO taxation,
should destroy their credit and arrest The improvement
of their vast but imperfectly subdued terrtoes-if
slavery he gradually extingushed, or confined within
limits much narrower Than those over which 1t now
extends-if all these contingencies turn out In her
favor the progress OF America may be rapid and
great as she anticipates Those who are now living
may hel possessing hundred millions of people,
irresistible in her own hemisphere and match for all
that could be opposed to her in ours"
He repudates the doctrine tina. America is not ade-
quatey appreciated in England; says that it is
neous-,hat England thinks highly of America, al
though she disapproves of many of her Institutions
England he adds, "admires the energy of America,
her perseverance, her courage, her skil-n Short she
admires character naturally we may say necessarily
in many respects resembling her own. There is
country with whom she is DESTROYS to keep on good
TERMS and certainly none with whom she would so
much dread And with ample reason. No
two countries are useful to another in peace,
| or could do another SO much mischief in war
with the additional misfortune, that all the damage
the one inflicted the other would recoi on her
self"
He remarks further
"On the other hand England is naturally intole-
rant of all faults which differ from her own. She is
little accustomed to swagger to bully that she
views such exhibitions from others with mixture of
surprise and disapWobation. What America means
for spirit, England sometimes considers rudeness or
| rusticity. When America thinks that she must be
admired for the courage with which she vndicates her
rights, England wonders that she should think it
worth her while to quarrel about trifles If America
cared less about the opinion of England, or did not
look for in the columns OF newspapers or know bet
ter how respect is TO be obtained-if she knew
that the which most prize equity, inte
gritty, and moderation, she would have avoided some
of her disputes with us, and diminished the length
| and The danger of some others.
| Compared with most OF er nations, America is not
ambitious. She desires, indeed to increase her pow
er, but rather by the increase OF her wealth and the
spread of her population the vast wilderness of
which she is the undispu edd owner, than by the
tension of her influence the enlargement of her
territory. We have alreapy stated that not
consider parts of tho public conduct of nation
the Unauthorized enterprises of portion of the
munity The invasion of Texas, the attacks on the
| Canadian frontier, and, generally speaking the
croachments from Name the disputed territory,
| were aClS VI tils kinu Hey WeIe epeCuld-
tons for the purpose of individual gain That they
not more ef.ctually repressed by the American
Government is proof OF its weakness, and shows
deep-s seated defects in her institutions; but it is no
| proof of ambition"
| " Now" proceeds the Review, " America is one of
the ieat Empires Of the world with only civil
LIKED nation superior to her in territory, and only four
superior her in population, she ought to feel how
improbable it is that any other power will wantonly
offend her. She ought TO exhibit, and trust that
she will exhibit, the magnannous candour and for
bearance of conscious strength. But though Ameri-
ca is irritable she does not bear malice defeat does
ranke in her mind subject of revenge at the
distance of half century"
| We like the spirit of this article 1t is manly as
well liberal, and will do good both sides of the
water. We lheerfuly admit our faults and only de-
sire true position and character be understood.
| pool Standard, and such empty boasjngs as those
recently made by Sir Charles Napier in the House of
Commons while they may rntate few minds,
should be regarded with due contempt and scorn by
the nation generally 1t is rather too late in the day
| for Great Britain any other European power to
speak of this nation in other than respectful term
and while xous for the preservation Of ami
cable relations with the Old World generally, and
especially with England it is but and proper to
regard the mission of Lord Ashburton and such ex-
pressions of sentiment as have copied above in
liberal and magnanmous spirit, and endeavor by
conduct our example, and the fulflment of our obi.
cations to maintain the high character of which so
many of us delight in Boosting
| From the Lo,ceH Courier.
Mr.. CLAY, in reply to an invitation TO partake of
public dinner by bis feow-cltizens of Lexington, KY,