Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-12-30


After al, in estimating the merits of any
we must never lose sight of what
is the end of all govcrnment--the comfort and
happiness of the people. It may safely be ai-
mittcd that it scheme could be devised for
cmbodying legislature of wise, virtuous, and
men, with an executive council of
capacity, integrity, hrmncss, removed from po-
pular CONTROL animated with the desire Of fur
thering the public good, and consulting, in the
pursuit of it no will or authority but their own
Judgment, much purer and more
noble Government would be constituted than
any that owes lis origin to the public choice,
and acts under the peoples superintendencc.
But unhappiy, experience has proved that any
legislature, and any executive body, removed
from all control, soon forgets the object of its
creation; and instead of consulting the good Of
the community at large, confines all its exer-
tions to furtherlng its own individual interest.
descent of angels to undertake the management
Of our concerns. Till then there is but one se-
curity for the community--a watchtul superin-
tendence and an efficient control over its repre-
scntatives and rulers The experiment may be
coarse and clumsy; it may be attended with
evils OF very serious kind; it may give rise
to an unfortunate influence being exercised by
classes of the people who are neither very re-
fined nor always very honest nor even very
well informed as to their own interests Me-
Vertheless, as human society is constituted in
the choice Of evils this is the least; it admits
Of many comPensations it gives the prospect
Of much dihinution as knowledge and as virtue
advance; whereas any system that excludes the
popular voice must needs lead to n thradom
and to abuses which admit Of no compensation,
and, instead OF wearing out in time, only ga
thcr strength and acquire increased malignity
with every year that revoves.
The worst of all the features in the Union
Lord Sydenham has no doubt passed entirely
over-the disgiaceful preiudices against me-
gro emancipation. But even these may yield
to circumstances, and give place 10 more raa
lional as well as more humane views Of nation-
al policy, provided free government contin-
ues to bless America, and no catastrophe hapa
pens to destroy the Union. Lord Syienham
indeed is thoughlless enough TO view with a
kind of eXultation the prospect of negro insur-
rectoa as consequence of the United States
daring TO wage a war with England. Misgui.
ded, short-sghted man and ignorant, oh, pro-
fcundedly ignorant Of the things that belong to
the peace and happiness Of either color in the
new world negro revo, in cur islands.
where the whites are as handful among their
sable brethcrn, might prove fatal to European
/ life but the African at least would bcsecure, az
/ far as security can be derived from the success
/ ful shedding of blood. But on the continent
where the numbers ofthe two colors are evenly
balanced, and all the arms are in the white
! mans hands, who but the biterest enemy of
/ the unhappy slaves could bear to contemplate
. their wrctchedncss in the attempt by violence
to shake off their chains Then again he feels
/ quite confident that the northern states must be
utterly defeated, and easily defeated, as soon
as they draw the sword against England. Pos:
sbly: and yet this inference has not been very
logically drawn by Lord Sydenham from the
history otthe former American war Wher
the people of the colonies numbered less tE!n
three Millions they defeated The best trOcps OF
/ England possessed as she was of all the strong
holds of the country, and sweeping the ocean
with her fleets, before the infant republic had
Rag floating upon the seas. That twenty
/ four millions, with entire possession of the land;
and formidable fleet at sea, should be over
/ whemed by the Canadians and Nova Scotians,
/ is certainly possible event, but that il is az
much a matter of course as the Governor a
these petty settlements complacently assutes
himself, may reasonably be doubted My, it
seems barely possible that some notion should
creep into the minds of the Americans, as how
war might lead to the very opposite result Of
Canada joining with the United States, and tor
ming an additional! member of that Great Gem
fcderacy
They, however, who are the best frefds Of
both countries, must be The least willing to in
dugc on either side in such specuations. The
Americans will, i. is to be hoped, not be tempt
ed to form such perhcous projects by any no.
ton OF a hostile feeling towards them prevailing
in this cOurtry. They may be well assured,
/ that lar from regarding their government as IA
bubble" and trusting that il soon may burs, the
Universal sentiment in England is the hope that
It may long continue ~ exhibit the prord spec
tacle OF papular fro oeJOm, and even posuar