The southern press., 1851-05-14
For the Southern Press.
Relies of Scraps and Musings-NO. 3s.
A GREAT POLITICAL TRUTH.

GREAT POLITICAL TRUTH.
The reverend and very able author of The
History of Modern Europe" ibculcates SOL
emn and important lesson to the people OF Eng
land. as we'll as of the United States. The for
mer are at this moment experiencing its appli-
cation in full force the latter are only beginning
to feel it in anticipation He concludes his ac-
count of the reign Of Henry the Eighth, with
the following reflections:
but the history of this reign yields other
lessons than those of a speculative morality =
lessons which come home to the breast OF every
Englishman, and which he ought TO remember
every moment of his existence. IL teaches US
the most alarming of all political truths-thdt db
soluie despotism may prevail in STATE, and yet
The form of a free constitution remain Nay,
IL eren leads us 10 a conjecture still more interest
ing 20 Britons, that in this country an ambitious
ruler may most successfully exercise has tyranny
under The shelter of those barriers which thai con-
stitution has placed as The security Of national
freedom Henry loaded The people cith oppressive
tares, and he piiLaged them by loans Dtich 'oas
knoDn he neuer meant 10 pay; but he nerer at
TEMPTED 10 abolish The Parliament, or ersn 10 re-
french anu of its doubtful privileges. The Par
Lament ,oas The prime minister of his tyrdnnicdl
administration. IL authorized his oppressive
tares: IL gape IFS sanction 10 his most despotic and
oppressive measures, phich Of himself he dura
not have carried into execution; or which, u sup
posed 10 be the result of his oDn arbitrary ,oiA,
,ooud haze reused fhe spirit of the nation 10 assert
the rights Of humanity, and The principles Of a
free people"
Every clear-sighted, sagacious observer of
what has lately passed, and is now passing in the
United States, must see that the like danger is
lowering over the people, and that Congress Is
every day acquiring nearer resemblance to the
corrupt and slsvish Parliament of Henry the
Eighth The patronage of the President is
bonrly increased by the creation Of new Offices !;
by the increasing resources and expenditures of
government and his influence UNNECESSARILY
extended by being the great instrument for exc
cutting laws involving the expenditure of mil
lions of money, and the distribution Of millions
of acres of land At this moment, any Presi-
dent. though he may be in minority among
the people. has Il in his power, If not TO carry
fayorite measure, at least to paralyze or defeat
any obnoxious one, not merely by his veto, but
by the influence Of his patronage alone. twill
not probably be long before he is as despotlc IN
Congress, AZ Henry was in Parliament; and we
shall then realize the most alarming OF all po-
litica truths--that absolute despotism may pre-
vail In a State, and yet the form of free con-
stitution remain ana mat an hmoluous IuleI
may most successfully exercise his tyranny un-
der the shelter Of those barriers which that con-
stitution has placed ms the security Of national
freedom The wise minister Of Queen Eliza,
beth. Lord Burleigh, truly said, that England
could only be enslaved by a corrupt Parliament"
The same may be asserted Of corrupt Con-
gross Of the United States.
ECONOMY.
I perceive by an advertisement Of the clerk Of
the House of Representatives, that the members
will require during the next session, 2,S05 reams
of paper $50 dozen pen knives--about adozen
FOR each member--of which, 100 dozen are re.
ouired TO be four bladed, pearl handled, and OF
fhe highest finish and best quality and 100
dozen Of two blades, pearl handled, and OF the
highest finish and best quality; looo csrds o.
assorted metallic pens, and 2s5 gross of other