The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-14


cause which led to the act; but as the matter
will speedily undergo legal investigation, and
the truth be thereby elected, we refrain from
giving any of them.
For The Southern Press
| Relies Of Scraps and Musings-NO. 3S.
GREAT POLITICAL TRUTH.
The reverend and very able author of The
History Of Modern Europe" ibculcates a sol
emn and important lesson to the people Of Eng
land, as well as of the United States. The for
mer are at this moment experiencing its appli-
cation in full force; the latter only beginning
to feel it in anticipation. He concludes his ac-
count Of. the reign of Henry the Eighth, with
the following reflections
g. But the history of this reign yields other
lessons than those of speculative MOI atty
lessons which come home to tbg STeast OF ev ,ry
Englishman, and which he ought to rem ember
every moment of his existence. IL teacl eS as
the most alarming Of all political trauhs--t at al
solute despotiSm may prevail IN SfaIe, az ~
| the form of a free constitution remain. Nay
IL eren leads us 10 conjecture still more int rest
ing 10 Britons, that in This country an anabit u,
ruler may most successfully exercise his tyranny
under the shelter Of those barriers ,ohch thai
freedom. Henry loaded the people Nth oppressive
tares, and he pillaged Them by loans aohich IL Das
k,oacn he nerer meant TO pay; bm he nerer at
tempted 10 abolish The Parliament or eUen 10 re-
trench any Of its doubtful privileges. The Par
lament soas The prime minister Of his tyrannical
/ administrations IL authorized his oppressive
tares IL gave It's sanction TO his most deSpotic ana
oppressive measures, ,ohich Of himself he durst
not hare carried INTO execution; or ,ohich, if sup
posed 10 be the result Of his oWn arbitrary ,oiH
oo1id hare reused The spirit of The nation 10 asser
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 y
lowering over the people, and that Congress is
every day acquiring nearer resemblance to the
: corrupt and slavsh Parliament of Henry the
, Eighth. The patronage of the President is
hourly 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 million,
: Of acres of land. At this moment, any Presi
\ dent, though he may be in minority among
!, the people, has it in his power, if not to carry
,f favorite measure, at least to paralyze or defeat
"a any obnoxious one, not merely by his veto, but
! by the influence of his patronage alone 1t viii
! not probably be long before he is as despotc il
70 Congress, as Henry was in Parliament and W,
shall then realize the most alarming of all po
litcal truths-that absolute despotism may pre-
vail in State, and yet the form of a free con
IS stitution remain; and that an ambitious ruler
ID may most successfully exercise his tyranny un
der the shelter of those barriers which that con
,. sttution has placed rs the security of nationa
freedom" The wise minister Of Queen Eliza.
u BETH Lord Burlegh, truly said, that " England
e could only be enslaved by a corrupt Parlam emit
Is The same may be asserted of a corrupt Con
n gress of the United States.
r ECONOMY.
| perceive by an advertisement of the clerk o
the House of Representatives, that the member
Is will require during the next session, 2805 ream
II of paper $50 dozen pen knives-about dozei
lie for each member-of which, 100 dozen are re
he quired to be four bladed pearl handled, and o
g the highest finish and best quality; and l0t
a dozen of two blades, pearl handled, and Of th,
II highest finish and best quality" 900 cards o
$ assorted metallic pens and 295 gross of othe
pens Of different quality $4,000 best opaque
and clarified quills-rnaking some $4,000 pens
and quilts 100000 note envelopes, plain and
embossed 100000 ditto of different quail.
ties 100000 self sealing letter envelopes; 90
b 600 self sealing note envelopes, &c, &C.
a Query? Is Congress going to establish a
wholesale stationary store at Washington II
may be said that these are small matters. But
many Titles make n mickle," rs the Scottish
proverb says and n similar prodgality in any
e department of government expenditures, will 90
far to account for the necessity of new loans
and new tariffs. The people should keep q
: LII, nh, ,hii OIL
: economy, by now and then cutting off hundred
or two dollars from the salary of poor clerk
is expanding tens, aye, hundreds of thousands
in four and two bladed pearl handled pen knive;
= of the highest finish constructive mileage; books
> which nobody reads, and which, as has beer
i; over and over again asserted in Congress, NAM
Il of the members dispose of at one-haf, one-thirC
:, and even one-fourth of the price charged to Thu
people for their publication; and in variou
q other modes, too tedious 10 mention. Let tn
y people look TO this. The legislative branch o
r. this government is by far the most importan
and powerful of all the others. II is the pecu
liar guardian Of the rights and property of th
people the sentinel on the watch tower, who
g it he sleeps on his post or betrays his trust
81, should be cashiered and drummed out of tn
or ranks TO the tune of the Rogue's March. When
:. ever Congress loses the confidence Of the PEG
y pie, or becomes an object of contempt or deri
mi sion, it will be all over with the republic. w
N, shall be obliged to fall back on the hereditar
he principle; recognize the divine right of things
n repudiate the absurdty of representative gov
eminent and return like the dog to his vomii
ei "PROGREss."
s. A young squirrel shut up in revolving Gag
"A sort of treadmill-was one day travelIin,
round and round at a prodigous rate, and fancy
a ing he was leaving all his fellows great wat
= behind him. "What are you about there y sale
70 an old squirrel, who was quietly sitting in
h neighboring tree discussing hickory nut
n "Dont you see" replied the other, II am making
great progress" tium"-quoth old bum
:, If you have far to go, il will be long while
y before you get to the end Of your journey, my
friend