The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-04

test portions Of country, and facilitating the
operations Of government, de6es all calculation,
Who shall say, therefore, TO our federal system,
one of the greatest political discoveries of the age,
"Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther" We
have already enlarged the boundaries of our coun-
try, TO great extent, since Mr.. Madison penned
this l4th number. We have extended our system
over Louisiana, and Florida, and Texas. We are
stretching our to the west OF the rocky noun
ains, and eagle is dipping his wing in the waves
Of the Pacific ocean. In few years Oregon Will
be almost as near to Washington, in many I'M
por,ant relations, as Boston was in 1853. No
discovery could be so we'll calculated to enlarge the
limits of our federal system those "new improve
ments," which even the eage-eye OF Madison was
unable to penetrate, when he made his prediction
Butte the extracts which we promised from the
| Paris letter.
"The number Of the Edinburgh Review for this
quarter il superior To an average. Parliament and
the courts is disquisition instructive for legisa-
tors and lawyers. Shakespeare in Paris is pleasant
and true. The ideas and hopes Of the reviewer TO
the contrary Notwithstanding, let me venture the
opinion that the French will never understand the
British bard. Many passages and
be accurately and happily rendered; but many
J
comprehensive and untranslateable here. Speci-
mems, and very interesting ones Of felicitous
sion are produced in the review; no entire drama
could be cited Legislation for the working classes
10 article TO be read In the Upted States. We
find the usual errors with regard to the American
s-Featherstonhaugh the authority. McCul-
loch has said; The emancipation Of the slaves in
America would cause an entire abandonment Of the
culture Of sugar and cotton The condition Of the
working clusses in Great Britain is well shown in
the facts, and illustrated by the theory, Of the
viewer. That now almost trite subject the Ger
man Catholic church, is ably treated in compare.
lively small compass. There plausible opin-
ions and accurate information. | prefer, however,
the article in the Westminster Review issued last
month, entitled German IheoiOgyj it is an earnest
| skfu exhibition and yindication, apology; the
admiration and praise are those Of a sincere enthu-
sast; it comprises a full account Of Ronge-the man.
his doctrines and undertakings his final triumph is
| predicted. The most important portions of the
Edinburgh Review are the articles on Lyell's Trav-
els in America and European and American
State conederacIes. The writer admits the favorable
opinions and rectsls of Lyel but detracts as
much as possible from the force Of them; the
Review speaks OF the loose morality and
low civilization characteristic of so large a por
ton Of the American Union The false idea
is repeated, and this observation follows: while
the migratory habits continue, no material adj
vance can be made in the higher departments Of
civilization: the national mind can acquire no firm
ness Of tone and dignity Of character The compo-
siton and conduct of the migratory bands, and the
general progress of the American people, prove the
reverse. To what district of our UHoa however
remote, could the following description, which
tract from the same journal, edinburgh Review,
No LAG, lS45, } be deemed applicable:
"'We know not how the may be in other
countries, among a more quiok-wiued people but
in England it would hardly be believed 10 what
degree all that is morally Objectionable in the lowest
class Of the working people is nourshed, is not
gendered, by the loic state Of their understandings
Their nfsntne credulity to wha, they hear, when it
is from their class; their incspacity TO observe
what is before their eyes; their inability 10 compre
bend believe purposes in others which they have
not been taught to expect, and not conscious OF
in themselves, are the known characteristics of per-
sons Of low intellectual faculties in all classes But
what would not be equally credible without expert
ence, 10 an amount Of deficiency in the power of
reasoning and calculation, which makes them insen-
sibe their own direct personal interests Few have
considered how any one who could nstil into these
| people the commonest worldly wsdom-who could
render them capable Of even selfish prudential cal
cuations-would improve their conduct in every re-
iation oflfs, and clear ths soil for the growth Of
right feelings and worthy propensities.'
"a few months ago the London Times said: In
many parts Of England the people have absolutely
little power, that they will endure almost every
thing. The laborer is subject to unexampled
wreichedness. The English laborer has been
these eleven years rapidly descending in the scale
of comfort, independence, and intellect In fact,
the institutions Of Great Britain-the monstrous in
equaes and 6ctions belonging to them, left 80 lit
tie power Of independent judgment and voiton in
the masses, that they were unable to perceive how
far they were wronged, oppressed, and debased;
otherwise they would long since have risen in their
might and abolished the hereditary privileges and
| huge monopolies. The agitation of the league has
| cd hnd pf Ipoe. he etrlr-
ton Of one monopoly is ominous for the rest; the
language of the speakers and the press concerning
the dukery, threatens the whole privileged aristoc-
racy; the spirit apd the views of government and
society which prompt it, must likewise envelop the
throne.
sin the article on European and American state
confederacies the reviewer must have been puzzled
to discover any real affintes. The Zol-Verein and
the German confederation are instructivey sur
veyed. The Swiss confederation is particularly
well handled in its present aspects and perls. The
European is better understood than the American.
At page 1872 our constitution is mistaken in mate
rial point. The powers of President much ex-
aggerated. You will find the city of Washington
(page 1857 styled the miserable struggling village
to which the members Of Congress are banshed
&C. The most absurd of the reviewers complaints
is that the American political system has not under
gone, in sixty years, any material change, while
Fl every country of Europe has changed its form and
cast of government Thus the original and ade-
Quatc excellence OF our system Is maOe reprOach
It is boosted how many changes and improvements
have been effected in the British isles. Certainly
they were needed, as they still in every coun.
try in the world except the United States. All ouI
: | constitutions have been amended or modified as
they seemed to require revision and how easily
and safely, and purely, in comparison with the
I olutions on the European continent and with the
motives of improvement concession where some
little has taken place without sanguinary convu
I sions To what may not the present fement in the
: British isles soon leadi Look at the canton oil
Berne or the provincial States of Prussia, struggling
in vain to obtain organized regulated liberties
louisiana with her constitution Just quietly and
: nationally modified is very different spectacle
Page l4 is the most remarkable of the number, OF
account Of the view taken of our internal commu
nications and the practicabiity of the safe indefinite
extension of our system
"1t grew up fixed opinion among politicians
first, that free institutions could only flourish il
4. countries OF limited extent and population sec
ondly, that-the energy and action, even Of despo,
governments, were weakened by extensive domin