The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-18
FOR THE MADISONIAN.
WHETHER THERE ARE ANY MORE SLAVES
IN THE COMMONS OF GREAT BRITAIN,
THAN THOSE WHO ARE NORMALLY
SLAVES, AND HOW MANY

THAN THOSE WHO ARE NORMALLY
SLAVES, AND HOW MANY
To regard the substance of things, and not
the shadow, is assuredly TO act the par, of wis
dom, whether such determination and course
of policy be the choice OF a nation or of lndvld-
uas. 1t may be well therefore for US Americans
10 INQUIRE whether the zeal of Great Britain 10
give nominal freedom 10 the blacks of our con-
tinenl arises from the extraordinary efforts she
has made substantially to ameliorate the condi-
lion of her own population at home, and in her
vast possessions abroad. If she has made such
efforts really and truly, they must appear in the
condition Of her subjects. By their fruits we
shall know them, was maxim given for our
mon. If Grea, Britain has done this with res
pecl 10 the great masses under her care. we NAV
reas nably believe in the sincerity Of her NH
idnthropy by which | understand not some
isolated favor 10 particular object, from obvious
connexions IT has with our immediate interest,
but some pervading friendship for the interests
OF mankind at large running through general
course of policy. II in a particular case berate
five slaves, that may cure the better the ODE
dlence and command of five hundred, who would
not otherwise be easily or effectually control
ed, am aciuaicd BY regard TO my own selfish
interests, and cannot call with propriety on
any body 10 initiate my example unless can
show them that their individual interests will be
10 like manner aLspicously eff, cted, as cacu
late mine will be. The radical principle Of my
conduct is s,ll-love-not universal benevolcnce
and under different circumstances from those
in which am placed, the dictates Of selflove. |
might lead TO an opposite, or widely variant
conduct.
In arriving at solution of the question which |
heads these remarks, we naturally advert to the |
form of Government in Great Britain, and con
slider how that form Of Government is likely TO
operate on the interests Of the masses what
scope it is likely to give to their exertions what
prospects it holds out TO them OF changing for
The better the condition in which they are born
And on asccrlaining the facts we End that so
ar from the widest scope being given to enable
he masses to improve their situation, the Go.
'ernment is an aristocracy, organized with pc
'ulIar strength IN tie arts ocratica parts of il,
aud fortified with an exclusive right ,
n the eldest son'or heir to the land ID prope,ty
'ut so far as one-the most powerful branch of :
he Legislature is concerned-enyiro1 ed with U
he additional security The hereditary power off
ngisIauon 50 that no great measure can be
aken-nothlng done with respect to the whole
state, and the entire organization Of the f. Il
ances, army, aud navy Of the kingdom, wheth- !
T al home or sbroad-in Hindo,tan or in =
forth Brltain-on the terra frma If China. 6
I IN the Mediterranean sea, without their a
occurrence 1t is by far The greatest and i
lost potent aristocracy in the world, seeking to al
ontfol the world do not say, Of course by mil {;
airy force, Git has too much discretion for hat) a,
ut by arr where force cannot be applied, and 70
nth the eminent cxerton Of the ars celare ar ,,
M. OF this afistocracy, the monarch i only br
e great connecting link. The aristocracy 50
r the most part controls the monarch. either ~
! adroit combination, with open display of its Ii
rces or by secret agency Of lis more dexterous Pl
unset This aristocracy consists of about Sc ~
N hundred persons-I mean men grown 10 ma. dr.
re years. The Lords are about one half of le
their powerful retsiners in the House of II,
ommons the other half The Lords coulj let
1, indeed. prevent the passage of the Reform ~ !,
t. because considerable portion OF them ira
ere Its advocates. But although interest divi.
q Them on the question Of its passage-iure- " 49,
IT modihed tina, bill in the provision, il adopt 70,