The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-09-05

gate OF tue WOTlQ commerce anu Sed-
men has been greatly increased, the
aggregate demand Of war, for that des-
cription of men, has been diminished
at least one-half, leaving surplus,
above the acquisitions Of war, still to
the peaceful pursuits of commercial
navigation-a fact, which must greatly
lessen the former interruptions occa-
stoned by war, to the commercial inter-
course of all nations. 1t follows, there
fore, that England has lost one-haif of
that relative advantage, at sea, which
she before enjoyed over other nations,
by her superiority in that description
Of force, with which the money of 9TH
ers could not then, but now can, fully
supply them.
Butagain, have said that steam nav
igation had diminished the relative ma
val power of England, also in this: that
it had rendered her more assailable at
home. This, too, is equally applica-
BILE to the whole Of her colonies. For
if, as have shown, her relative power
at sea, has been so diminished, to that
extent ale diminished her means of
seif-defence, as it is upon that descrip-
ton of force alone, that she must rely
against the dangers Of invasion. Yet,
this is not all, for, aided by steam, her
enemy on the continental side OF the
channel, may now select his own hour
OF the night for the passage may make
it quick and in silence, regardless Of
those winds and tides which formerly
rendered such passage impossible for
a large armament, without daylight
publicity, and infinite peril.
These were the circumstances which
compelled Napoleon, even after all
things were ready to hesitate, and post
pone his attempt, up to the moment,
when the advancing armies OF Austria
and Russia drew him off to the conti-
nent. And, sir, it was an incident in
nowise unworthy OF remark, that an
iIIustrious countryman ofour own, Mr..
Fulton, about that very time, suggest
ed to Napoleon the idea of steam navi-
cation, an idea received with indilfer-
ence by that wonderful man, whose
mighty genius, ranging through all the
elements of nature to find the means Of
reaching the shores of his enemey, re-
iected that only element, which rem
dered his object possible. Had the
gunius of France but needed the inven-
ton of America, the fate of the world
might have been, probably would have
been, different, and perhaps for the
better. But fated was it otherwise.
Still, sir, | am not done with this con-
trast of the two countries. But here
again, as proceed, shall find myself
compelled to dispute what others have
affirmed. Many are the writer's and
The readers, of all times and of all ma
tions, who have united in declaring the
monarchal to be the form of Govern
ment most powerful, especially in war,
because, as they assert, in that form
are 10 be found the greatest permanent
cy, steadiness and unity Of action.-
And here. sir, should admit the rea.
soning to be true, if the assumption
whence it proceeds, was not utterly
false. But false it unqueslionably is,
as applicable to the British monarchy,
in comparison with the American Re-
public. This shall proceed to show,
by contrasting the points and periods
of stability in the councils Of the two.
And first. as TO the Executive pow
er. In England, that branch of the
public authority is vested, nominally,
in the King, but really in the prime or
first minister Of the crown, appointed
for life, if so long he is sustained in his
policy, by coincidence of opinion on
the part of the House Of Commons.
When, therefore, that House disagrees
with him, and not till then, he retres,
and change of ministers and councils
ensues. In our Republic, the Execu-
tive Chief has four years assigned him
by the forms of the Constitution, and
never more than eight by the practice
ofre-election. Taking, then, the dura-
ton of the Executive power in the
same hands, as the test Of stability in
the councils Of the two governments,
and how stand the facts9 They stand
thus: From 1854 to 1895, period of
eighty-one years, England had no less
than twenty-four prime ministers. OF
these, nine held power each less than
single year; but five of them held it,
each, over four years, and the aggre-
gate time of the eighty -one years, divi-
ded by the aggregate number OF the
twenty -four ministers, will prove that
the average time of each minister in
power, was but three years, four
months and fourteen days.
Our Government began in 1889, and
from then to 1914, period of fifty-six
years, we had but nine Presidents, and
the aggregate of the fifty-six years, d.
vided by the aggregate Of the nine Pres
idents, will prove that the average
time Of each prnsidnnt In no.uar ,unc