The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-04

mace no Oleguke OF Wndt my opinions upon slavery
were, are, and ever must be, but II would be un-
candid TO deny that the planter in the southern
States has much more in his manner and mode OF
intercourse that resembles the EHglish country
gentleman than any other class of his cOuntrymens
he is more easy, companionable, the germ Of coun-
try life and out Of door pursuits. I went wtha re-
markably agreeable party to spend day at the rice
plantation OF of their chief proprieors; he had
the credit of being an excellent manager, and his
negroes. young and old, seemed well taken care OF
ard looked AFTER he repelled The idea-not Of edu-
catirg rh6m, that is penal by the law Of the State,
hui 81 letting them have any religious instruction.
] was told by others that there was considerable
improve ment in his resp.c'. Many wnOm / met
Ell ertaned Lo doubt that slavery would subsst
amorg them for ever; others were inclined to
think that II would wear out
EN- sure that am not wanting in respect for
the operstive classes of this district, but cannot
conceal from myself that the appearance of the fe-
male factory population Of Lowell presents some
POINTS Of favorable contrast Among the more
opult mt portion Of socety, an idle man, without
guar profession or fixed pursuit. Ia the exception
which excites observation and surprise The pu-
riy of the female character stands deserve dy high,
aud society has been deemed by some 10 be
dtred less agreeable by the rigid devotion OF the
young married women TO their households aud
nurseries. II is some thing 10 have travelled nearly
over the whole extent of the Union without having
entountered single specimen eiher OF servilty or
lIciVllity OF Hanner-by the last intend TO denote
Intentional fadeness Elections may seem the UNI
versal business, topic, and passion Of life, but they
are, al least with but few exceptions, carried
without any approach to tumut, rudeness, or dis
order; those which happened to see We're the most
81 date, unmpassoned proce sse j can imagine. In
the tree States, III least, the people at large bear
active, and, believe on The whole, a useful part
in all the concerns Of internal government aad
practical daily life; men If all classes, and espe-
cialiy Of the more wealthy and instructed take
Jealous share in almost every pursuit OF useful
vt IS and philanthropy; they visit the hospitals aud
asy Iums, they attend the daily Instructions OF his
schools, they give lectures at ycaums AM Institutes.
| am glad TO think tn It may be tTeadng in their
footsteps on this occasion / have already mea-
toned with just praise the universal aiilusion aud
excellent quality OF popular education. as es'sn
lshed especially in the States Of New England,,he
pow eTtul Empire State of New York. aud may
add the prosperous and aspiring State of ONO
Without venturing to weigh The preponderating re-
commentators or dehciesc of the voluntary
system, may fairly ask what other communities
are amply supplied with the facilities of public
worship for all their members; the towns, old and
young, brsle with churches; they are almost al
ways well filled; the Sabbath, in the Eastern and
Northern States, at least is scrupulously Observed
and with the most unbounded freedom of con-
science, and nearly complete absence of poiem-
ical strife and bitterness, there Is apparently clos.
unity of fee cling and practice in rendering homage
TO God. Though 1t would appear difficult, aud
most certainly be upgracous, To paint the reverse
side ofsucn country and such people, severe
observer would not be long at faux With respect
10 their scenery itst II, while he could not deny
that within lis vast expanses il contained at times
beth sublimtty and beauty, he might establish
y,
in mtnse conlinulties of the same surfaces,
whether OF hill valley, wood, lake, or river
the straight unbfokea skirt OF forest, the entire
abseLCe Of single trees, the square ptra-
lelcgIsms Of the cleared Spaces the uniform
line of zlg.Zag fences, the staring square.
ness If the new wooden towns. ali powerfully
cobuibue. In regard TO climate, without dwell
il such partial IL flu.nccs The m ilara, which
desolates the stun ed pine brrens of North Caro-
Ina, end haaishes every white native OF South
Carolina from their rice plains during the entire
SUMNER, the hot dsmps which festcon the trees
on the southern coast with q funereal drapery Of
gray moss. the yellow fever which decimatcs hs
quays of New Orleans. und The feverish agnes
which line the banks of the Mississippi, II would
be impossible 10 deny the violent Alterations of
temperature which have a more general preva-
lence, end II Is certain tn al much fewer robust
forms ard rudy compile xions are TO br seen than
IN our own more even latitudes Passing from
The phyeicsl TO the moral atmosphere, amidst all
the Wanted equality of the American freemen,
there seemed To be a mere implicit detersace To
cusiCm, mere passive sub pisslsn u what ID
assumed TO be the public opibion of the day or
hour, than would b. psraleird in many ars,o-
cratic or evea defpoiic communities This quiet
scquiescerce in the prevailing lone, this cumi-te
elntgation Of individual senumeai, is ntnralIy
m0st perct pubic IN the ~ main OF poliucs; b1t
thought TINT II also ~ % icon siderable degree.
ltTvaded the social clfclr, bassd the decisions Of
The judicial bench, and even infsc,d the sol-ma
teachings of the pullt. To this source NAV,
iohahly. in some sure, be- traced the remark
able similarity in the manners. department con-
,eIsation, sId tone al feeling, which has gene
rally struck travellers frcn, abroad IN Am .fican
society Who that hes sten, can ever forget, the
slow and melancholy silence Of the couples who
walk sru.n-srm TO the tables Of he great no els,
or At The uusocial groups who gather round the
grtesy meals OF the steamboats,, lap up the five
minutes meal, come like sh adows. deptrti
One OF Their able public men made an observation
TO me. vhich struck M as pungeni, aud, ,rh4ps,
true, that II was probably the country IN which
there was les misery and less happiness than IA
10 Of he ~ ofh iagz ,,F
manners on which am not inclined to date. hut
10 " hich il would AT least require time 10 be recon-
cil,d may just Intimate that their native plant,
tobacco, lies at the root Of much that we might
think Objectionable. However ecessary AMI laud-
able the general devotion TO habits Of nfustry and
the pfGcticei business Of life may he, and though
thee are families and circles IN which no grace.
no oharm, no accomplishment ia wanting, vet It
cannot tc denied that among the nation ~ large,
the empire a dollars, cents, and material inter-
esis, holds very preponderoting sway; and thu
eft, and all it's trnin ct humanitiea, exercise ~
present but an enfeeb,d and restricted iniu.
tDce. II we ascend from GoGisl TO political life.
and frrm manners 10 institutions, we should tiod
thst the erdlefs cycles of eleciioneering pre-
Iaratiops and contests, although they may br
carried On for tie most part without the rio'ous
turbulence or overt bribery by which the, are some
times but too notorously disgraced among our
selves 3, still leave no neriuss0u tor repos. ~ the
pull Tic mind; enter into all the relations Of exist
tnce; subordinate Ia themselves everv 9th r qres.
ton 81 internal and foreign policy lead their pubic
men, viii not ssy their hest, but the average 81
them, 10 pander to- the worst rrciudices. the mean
est tastes, the most malignant rtsentnents ~ IN.
people; ateaCh change of administrator incile the
L.w rulers 10 curry the spirit Of prescription i1'o
every department of the public service, fism th~
minister al gre az fore gu count to the postmaster
Of some half bsrharous outgost-thus tepaiug to
r'nder those whose functions ought to Withdraw
EN- the mcst completely rom parry Influences the
most unscrupuluus persisans; and wou'd make large
nats, welcome war; and ewes acqaiesce N rum, II
u eWeaisd that they could thue coun'eract the
aIaEt MET tactics humilistr the rival Leader, or
remotely Influence the election uf the next prtsi-
dent II is elready painfully felt that far the
universal choice OF the re ople WAS relied 60 Sc
cure for the highest CiiCe ~ the state the most
commanding ability or he mos, signal merit. IL my
be pfsnouuced 10 have fiicd There may be
l,ss babilusl and actual noise in Congress than
in our own Pdfismtn', but the tine of the
House 81 Rcpresen'aJvss. not without cost
to the constituent body which rays for their
services, Is continuously taken ~, when not