, 1844-11-16
American Honesty.

i"e u"teS'y OF a people IS 10 De
properly measured, no, by what is
honest simply according to law. but
what is honest from their spontaneous
action. The one kind of honesty,
though practical, may have no spirit
of truth. but may merely spring from
fear of punishment; the other arises
from conscientious motives. and de-
termlnes the existence of the princi-
pie itself. We hear a great deal of
the infideli,v of Americans to their
pecunlary engagements; the cry has
been Iterated and reiterated until ma
ny people have come TO the belief
that their countrymen suffer in a
comparison OF integrity with the rest
OF the world. This scandal origina-
ted in the English and French iourn-
ais, and in the books Of insoIpnt for
eIgn tourists. If we look TO the fact
that the law regarding the collection
OF debts Is so much less rigid in this
country than abroad. we shall find
that the superiority Of honesty be-
longs 10 the Americans who are not
forced IN the same degree BY legal
enactments 10 meet their engage
ments. We have long been Of opin-
ION that the more left TO the discre-
ton OF individuals bv the govern
meat the better. the general safety
beng considered; and. according to
tins theory, tie collection of debts
beng left TO private management.
they would become debts of honor.
and would be incurred and paid ac-
c"rdMely. But a reliance on the
power OF government 10 collect them
IN case or necessity. intcri-res with
,'e ',e'd""' Vf action. essential. IN
the development OF honest principles.
In reconsideration of the fact Of
the existence of American honesty
IN a pre-eminent degree. notwi,h-
standing the extensive denial given
TO it. We will quote q few foreign au-
thorities.
One Of the house OF Earrings, Lon
don, recently stated to an American
dining with him, that the Americans
were the most honest people in the
world; for during the whole Of his
long experience, with the innumera-
BILE credits on their house that had
been granted to Americans. not a sin
gle case had occurred of an improp-
er application of the money.
Captain Marryat, in his travels.
says. while in New York. that there
is no legal mode for compelling the
payment ofdebts. Afterwards. while
IN Buffalo and Rochester. comment
lng upon the size and appearance OF
the shops, he states that everybody
obtained goods upon credit. The
Edinburg Review, commenting upon
these two passages. SAYS that they
must be an extraordinary people.
where everybody has credit. altough
debts cannot be recovered by pro
cess OF law. So it is. The best evi-
dence of honesty among a people is
to be found in the existence Of cred
it, as no n parts with his goods with
out expecting to be paid for them.
The difference between the official
honesty Of England and the United
States is shown by the following:-
Here losses of money by the post
are of occasional, though of rare. oc
currence. There. Colonel MaberIv,
Deputy Postmaster General. saws, in
his evidence before a committee Of
the House Of Commons, that ga let
ter posted with money in it might as
well be thrown down into the gutter
as put into the post office" 1t is
stated that the money contained in
the dead-letter office sent to Wash
ington monthly is $1,000 strong
ontrast to the other. and yet our
offices are scattered over the wilds
OF this immense country.-CLedger.
The FARMER.--It does ones heart
good 10 see a merry round-faced far.
So independent, and yet so
free from vanities and pride.--So rich
and yet so mduStrious-so patient
and ~persevering in his calling, and
yet so kind. social and nbIiging.--'
There are a thousand noble traits a.
bout his character. He is generally
hospitable--eat and drink with him,