The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-03
Democracy In France, Slavery In America,
and Pnpacy In England.

Prom the London Chronicle March III
II j. well for the political observer to keep firmly
in mind that the word republic will bear many
meanings rs n man may choose to give it-else the
contradictions exhibited by the two great extant
examples Of selfgoyerning democracy will be apt
TO drive him to despair. Only week ago, on its
being announced that infinitely small portion Of
the larisians intended to celebrate the birth day
of their present institutions by going in process
sion 10 church, and dcpositing some flowers in
cemetery, the funds began to stagger, and
some sixty thousand soldiers passed night and
day under arms. The day before yesterday we had
to record second burst Of panic terror in Pari.
casioned by report that the officers Of the National
Guard were to be elected BY universal suffrage,
cording 10 the letter of the constitution. The
evening the American newspapers reached u, with
accounts Of prolonged political disturbance, OF
which the feeblest vibration would have toppled
down one half of the European thrones. A
fugitive negro had been taken into custody by the
United States Marshal In Boston, under positive
enactment of the central legislature, sanctioned
by express provision Of the federal constitution
The news spreads. The official j. attacked by
mob OF colorcd people, and is compelled to release
his prisoner who h. forthwith carried in triumph to
the border Of n contiguous State, and thence. BY
new escort. conducted to the British possessions
in Canada. The bulk lof the respectable classes
APPLAUD. The newspapers frantic with cnthu-
siasrn. A procla nation Is issued by the Pres-
dent declaring that the law must be enforced,
and thousand tongues reply that human legis-
lation must be postponed to the dictates Of con-
trcme Of violence defended by the extreme Of
an,i-social doctrine Well you turn from the
disastrous columns, and, looking to the other
side of the page, you find yourself in q re
Iort of proceedings commemorative of General
Washing,on's nativity, with editorial comments
thereon. The leading men Of all parties have met
together TO consecrate the name which il in itself
n symbol ~ union, and 10 proclaim the eternity of
the heIo's work Every form ofsirong and sensuons
mcaJh or Is enlisted to express the strength, the
vigor the stability &c the republic. II l. an eagle.
II Is the sun. II l. Orion, with his belt Of stars.
II i the Pleiads, multiplied by three" II !. the
infant Hercules. u i a COLOSSUS seated on the
Rocky Mountains, aud bathing his feet in the twin
oceans. The very rhetoric smacks Of lusty and nm
chastencd youth, and seems 10 promise length Of
days, in form A. well ~ subject. Clearly, the e.
deration does not mean to 90 TO pieces
The connections at Boston point undoubtedly 70
q real and abiding danger, but they do not prove
that IL Is any closer AZ hand than il was before.
The tendency of the abOlitionist agitation to dcge
ncrate into disnnionist movement has provoked a
sort ~ reaction Iva favor Of the Fugitive Slave law,
which. obnoxious as II u, has been enforced with
unexpected readiness in New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio aud some 81 the Noythwcslern states. Two
attempts to compel the extradNion 81 negroes in
Massachusetts. have, on the other hand. proved
fTuitcss ard the last failmc took place under the
alai ming circumstances which we have just sketched
But. regards the popular feeling the subject Of
Slavery. there u considerable difference between
New England, and the free state which ia NINE
date contact with slave soil, or which receive u GER
tain proportion Of their immigrant population from
the south. An arrest under the recent enactment
-, ms H. strike the New Englauders more IN the
LIGHT Of foreign aggression than the egitimatc,
though oppressive, Interference Of q domestic au.
tLorify. There is much, indeed, in the accounts
we hayc perused, which recalls AMI i illustrated by
our own experience Of the last four months. Put
ting out Of the question such exceptional rrit ants
n the Durham letter, We may assert that The mo-
porery agitation grew out u conditions and com
biz ations exceedingly gemanc 70 the u the
fclmcnis In AIassachusctts We wcrc all u W told.
r. m our infancy upwards, that POpcry was perse-
cutting and usurpng The religions education Of
Engiishmen presupposcs such an article 81 belief.
But though an insignificant section Of the commu-
nity had always specially devoted itself to the cult
yatiou Of anti lomish sentiment, in the great mas