The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-19
For the Union.
RevIew-ssNotes OF n Traveller"

For the Union.
Revisw-"Notes OF n Traveller"
Rarely, if ever, has it fallen to lot 10 be permitted
to perlse book oil more excellence, more interest and
containing important and valuable facts than the
one before us, and which purports TO be "Noes OF a
Traveller" the social aud political state OF France.
Prussia, Switzerland, Italy, and other parts OF Europe,
during the present century, and is from the pen OF Sam
ue Lang esq who is fayoraby known the author OF
journal Of a Residence Norway" and Tour IA
France" MIR. LANG is philosophical, thinking and
any now extant He does not fill whole chapters with
tedious details OF the of landlords the attrac
tons OF chambemads nor give pages OF growing on
poor inns, coarse and rough stages, smoky and dirty
rooms bad beef sour bread beds filled with Jerusalem
travellers itchy coonzers, with the numerous 81 ceeds
which generally occupy the grave attention OF silly VAN,
and fopPlsh travellers On the contrary, Mr. LANG has
employed HIMSELF in the countries through which he has
passed in observing the habits, manners customs laws,
and the actual political and social condition OF the peo
ple-the masses--the proetares
In this high department he has been emnenuy sue
cessfu and in his "NOtes" has embodied vast deal
OF practical information, which cannot fail to be
instructive to the nqurng and reading community In
our happy country the laws OF prlmogenture and entail
do not exist; and II is glorious condition for the people
that property to any great amount cannot be accumulated
and perpetuated in particular families. The European
economists to the abolition OF those feudal
laws, which, in their operation, detrimental TO the
welfare of the masses, for the benefit of a few.
In 1859 Arthur Young said OF the law OF partition,
that smal properties much divided prove the greatest
Of misery that can possibly be conceived, and has
operated to such degree and extent in France, that
idp ought certainly to be made 10 render all diuison ae
GAL" This declaration shows that even highly gifted
men, and who may be regarded as Conscientious may
be far operated upon by surrounding circumstances,
and the condition OF the society in which they ye as to
pomugae opinions which are contrary the dictates of
nature, and adverse to the rights of man.. Mr. Youngs
opinion is striking exemplhcaton OF what we have
Just said and we at this day living witnesses OF the
benign influences OF political system which does not
recognise the legality OF pimogeniture entail The
laws of entail and prmogenure were the offspring OF a
selfish arsocracy They abolished in our country
by the revolution of 776 and abrogaed IN France
BY the adoption OF the Code Napoleon
Mr. Lang justly observes that, Unnatural affection, hu
many, reason, relgion-f all that distng fishes man
breast the obligation of one duty than OF another,
that OF the parent providing equally according to
his for all the beings he has brought into exist
enee and added to society leaving none OF them to want
and distress he can help it, or to chance for preca
rous subsistence or to be supported by his neghbors out
of their aims, paupers or out OF their taxes, useless
ment and bread from others" Our traveller very prop
erly inquiries: g Is not this moral and ret,gionsdmy?
Is ii not the dearest duty Of the parent, not only to he
egpreg he has byogghtinto erienes dg, 70 The soeia!
body Of tcdich he and they mem6ersf We say most
emPhacaly, is the duty Of every citizen to provide
far he for his offspring; and this cannot be
done in countries where the laws OF prmogenure and
entail are in force. To preserve happy equality it is
essentially necessary that people should guard their
liberties with unceasng vigilance and they must repe all
attempts to create monopoes of any kind they would
the endeavor to revive the odous laws of pmogenture
and entail.
Manufacturing monopoies are not to be sanctioned
by either the State or the national governments and while
we resisting all Entertainments upon free commerce.
we must take care Of the disposal of the public lands,
and prevent their falling into the hands of landed specu
ators, who would in fact be absolute lords over de-
pendant tenantry.
Again Mr. Laing has judiciousy remarked, that it
is the duty OF every inquirer into political and social econ
omy to raise his voice against attempts to educate peo
pie into the support OF any social political system
Every right minded man must in these rational
sentiments and what, ask, are we to think OF men
the people into belief OF the saluary benefits of par
tal systems and monopoist associatons' The great
principle OF equal justice and equal rights" IS either
morally wrong or il is morally right; and believe
them will have the hardihood at this day to call
into question its truhfulness. ..t,........ 8
Equal justice is opposed to granting partial favors to
great Masses but the ederasts constantly demand
ing, on the ground OF expedency, favors OF specific high
and restrictive duties, and the sale of the public lands to
spectators and monoposs Therefore, the lederalsts
il is clear, are wicked in their movements, and
stantly violating great moral principle when they aim
at chartered privileges and exclusive legislative grants
The laws of prmogeniture and entail, restrictions
commerce, and chartered monopoes belong all OF them
to the order. They have their origin in the
source and they all spring from that selfish propensity in
man which, if not checked by countervaing Influences
will operate to the attainment of exclusive privileges at
the expense Of humanity, equal rights, and Justice.
In speaking of the French character Mr.. LANG pays
Ther self command, their upon-honor principle, is very
remarkable, and much more generally diused than among
our own population They are, ] believe, moro honest
people than the British The beggar who is evidently
hungry respects the fruit upon the side within his
reach, although there is nobody to protect it. Ropery
much respected in France; and in bringing up chdren
this fidelity towards the property of others seems much
carefully nculcated by parents in the lowest class
in the home education of their children, than with
This respect for the property is closely connected with
that respect for the feelings of neghbors which con-
stitues what is called good manners This is carefully
ncucated in children of all ranks in France They
taught to do what is pleasing and agreeable to others
We apt TO undervalue this spirit tending merely
to superficial accomplishments to empty compliment in
words, and unmeanng appearance in acts But in reai-
y this reference the feelings of others in all we do is
moral habit of great value where il is generally diff
fused II is an education both of the parent and child in
morals carried on through the medium of external
ners," a..-vf. 4.. ,,.s -- ~ s..s--.....
OF the general respect for property held by the French
people, the author, among Others gives the following
striking instance:
al once (says Mr. Laing) forgot my umbrella in a
diligence going TO Bordeaux, which travelled far
as Tours. My umbrella went on TO Bordeaux, and re-
turned TO Tours in the corner OF the coach, without
being appropriated by any of the passengers
work people who must have passed through il on so
long Journey, and have had this stray unowned article
before them We hardly think that an umbrella would
travel far either in Great Britain the United States IN
a stage coach or railroad car, without quickly being
found by some honest Briton American, who would
appropriate il without ceremony remorse
The society of moral reformers will find in the Notes
of Traveller an abundance of matter for serious reee
infnr ad NJ