Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-07-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
MACGREGoR's REPORT.

MACGREGOR'S REPORT.
We perceive, in looking over our English hleS
received by the Hiberna, that MIR. Macgregor,
the Secretary OF the British Board OF Trade, has
prepared-gratuitously and OF his own motion
a very yolumnous Report on the Tariff and
Treaties Of Great Britain and the United States
By the Queens command the report has been
laid before both Houses 0, Parliament. Il is
said that the American portion OF the Report oc-
cupies over 400 pages, large part OF which
is chiefly statistical matter. The work Is spoken
oil as being very important one Some OF us
statements, however, have been called IN ques'
ton in Parliament, and denounced as inaccu-
rate. We presume the Report is put forward al
the presen, lime, to Justify The new Free Trade
theories OF the British government. From The
beginning and the end of Mr.. MacgregorS work,
we certainly shall not dissent
The report commences By observing:
ain comparing the Government OF the United
States OF America with those Of other nations, we
must remember that when the Anglo-American
colonies declared their independence, their moral
and physical condition was very different from
that Of all republics which had previously exls-
ted or that have since arisen. Inc people were
generally intellisent-,heir habits frugal ana IN
America, their ideas were Tree from the ihlaidoul
of religious intolerance.
The abilities Of the great men who conducted,
their assemblies, were solid rather than brilliant,
practical rather than theoretical. They had the
good sense and discrimination, Notwithstanding
their separation from the government OF the
mother country, TO adopt the constitution and
laws Of the then mos, free government on earth,
a. the groundwork OF theirs-making royal
hereditary chief magistrate, titled privileged
nobility, and national church Establishment,
the only remarkable exceptions
Their immense territory, with soils yielding
every production under heaven, and Astounding
in numerous navigable rivers, lakes and harbors,
fisheries, woods and minerals, placed all natural
advantages in their immediate possession.
Their language and education enabled them 10
enjoy all the benefits of English knowledge and
literature, without the labor or expense OF trans.
la,ion, or paying for copyrights. They had, also,
the earliest advantages ofdiscoveries in the arts
and sciences without restrictions as 10 The rights
Of patents.
With the peculiar good fortune OF being 60
yerned al that critical period by honest men, they
had the knowledge oil all ages and countries 10
guide them.
Possessing, therefore, such extraordinary adj
yantases. the Anglo Americans were enabled TO
avoid most OF The blundeIs committed by the
Spanish American republics. 1t was the mistor-
tune Of the latter TO have been previously TO their
independence, ruled or rather awed into passive
obedience, By the most darkening monarchlcal
and ecclesiastical governments; government and
hierarchy, that grew up, and acquired strength,
during centuries Of ignorance, tyranny, bigolry
and intolerance; under a government, and
church, that profted not by the march Of modern
civilization and religious liberty, but that enchan-
ed the liberty of written and spoken langu age,
and the expansion of the intellectual faculties
Neither had the history OF The Spanish colonies,
in their frs, settlement and progress, any ex
ample OF tina, perseverins, laborious, and endur-
ing character, which was animated and cherish
ell, and supported, by the spirit and the love OF
civil and religious liberty-and which 50 emf
nently distinguished the Pilgrim Fathers, the
Quakers, and even the Roman Catholics, who
first encountered and overcame all the privations,
dificulte. and dangers OF the American wilder
ness.
The character and conduct OF the conquerors
and colonists OF Spanish America, and OF their
civil and ecclesiastical government ever AFTER
wards, present a contrast, which, on becoming IN.
dependent of the Spanish Authority, rendered the
moral. Intellectual, and even physical character
of The people, and OF those who were called upon
10 rule Incompatible with the intelligent, tolerant
government-wi.h impartial Justice-and with
civil and religious liberty.
The Democratic form of the United States Co
yernment arose as much from necessity, az from
any prediction which the leading men Of The
time cherished for il. No person could claim so
yereign right The wealth Oh the country was
TOO equally divided to give any one individual ,hr
means. if it were possible either OF corruption, OF
OF an overwhelming share oil power.
The constitution and laws were Otherwise, as
nearly as possible, accommodated to The ideas o.
the people, and 10 the former order OF govern
ment.
The differen, States retained their representa-
tive governments, much the same as before the re
yolution, with the power OF making laws 10
their internal administration; but all The state
were united under one general government
This head, or supreme government was form
ed of three branches or estales-lhe President, IN
Senate, and the House of Representatives.
The problem for time 10 resolve was, whethe
this form oil government possessed within itsei
the power Of carrying into execution The laws
which are necessary for the security Of person
and property, and for the orderly maintenance
civil and religious liberty"
The report concludes with the following ADM
rable remarks: -.
stale, in posi,ion and condition 10 do each othe
the utmost possible good, or the greatest ,possio
eyil-such are The actual positions and actuf
conditions OF the United Kingdom and the Unite
States These constitute subjects OF serious COZ
sideration for the governments and ior the peoPi
of both England and America
Awful, indeed, would be the consequences,
those wild or foolish politicians, who, from ign.
rance, vanity, ambition, or with more danserou
and unprinciped designs, would involve the bf
fish and American powers in the certain calan
lies Of war; by misguiding the people and the ;.
yernments OF both countries Civilization
America and in Europe would, for the time, Q
paralysed; and not only the present generator
but succeeding generations, would snher Srlevou'
ly, by an interruption OF peace and intercouts
between the members Of a great family; wn'
though divided as 10 their governments, arr
nevertheless, in spite Of their respective preluo
ces, bound together as one people; by The inst
parable union of speaking the same language;
being educated in schools in which the same lei
sons are taught and trained at fresides, wher
the mothers inslil into their children the sam
virtues; by reading the same literature; by study
ing similar laws; protesting generally the san,
religion; by cherishing The same domestic assc
Citations: practising, from hereditary and commo
I.ape the same manners; BY having, until yer
la,e period. a common history; in Short BY il
bar,ine their vices and virtues, and their folly an
wisdom in common. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
/, has been the long and serious contemplate
of these grave circumstances, wn'cn mas al
times while in America, and while IN EuroP
ureed, and does and will hereafter urge, US 10 az
vocate and promote every measure wnicn mav !.
rally, morally, and honorably can strengthen u
ties that will bind and maintain IN peaeei1l nd