The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-14

"na' ia'd Inc foundation OF British liberty and
"hal has perpetuated it That liberty without equality
winch is peculiar TO the constitutional system OF Great
nh'an' and which has done much in fostering free.
aa IN its infancy and growth from the earliest dawn of
modern civilization Some have said that islanders and
'no mhaoants oil mountainous countries nhae The breath
OF freedom from their bth-that the ilmilable ocean
ana the vast of the vision from towering mountains
open The mind to large conceptions and exalted principles
awaken noble sentiments of and his destiny and pro-
auce impressions oil The arrogance, teness sophsty and
oaseness Of those who usup authority and Cypress
Their ellowmen. Without entering very infinitely into the
curious ana inte resting question, how lar the influences
Of external Nature operate, by stimulating feelings and
ideas, IN forming characters and regulating our con-
duct history and experience show that TO some extent
his assertion is phiosophcay just Doubtless the sea
IN its reckless freedom, vexed by stormy winds as one
mighty wave alter another plays upon the firm rocks and
islands OF the coast and whose wild roar many leagues
away breaks upon the like multitude OF voices of
Invisible Spirits inspires greatness OF thought and noble
ness OF character Or the islander standing on some
tall Gill; watches the huge ship heaved from its ocean
oea on 'e crest OF mountain and tossed to and fro
as lhe whirlwnd spots with the dry leaves of autumn
or as he sees the in spring. tide rushing over lis
accustomed limits, and despsng all the obstacles that
man has placed in IFS way-there will be awakened
N The mind sentiments free the action OF the
waters, and force OF will irresistible as The food
tide. And it is well known that the occupation of
islanders or those living the coast, fishermen sea
men, or boatmen gives to the character independence
bravery, hardness, which love liberty aud revolt at
oppression. Also, the inhabitants OF mountainous re-
gonsas the Swiss and other people of the Alpine chain
the Highanders OF Scouand the ancient Parthans, and
now modern Afghans, occupying part of the Himaleh
range the Ccassan and other tribes OF the Caucasus
and others that might be noticedare celebrated for quail
ties which the people OF the great interior plains do not
possess in the degree they more independent
hrnva fvaa ..,I
nesses are natural bnwaks In scouting the independence
of nations but. besides this, the vasnes the grandeur
the subimity, and the wild freedom of scenery, with
which such nations constantly familiar, impress the
mind with love of liberty and stamp the character with
courage to defend it.
II has been urged that climate and the nature OF the
soil have an influence the moral nature and, as
consequence, on the political character of people
We know that where the climate is severe, and the earth
nggard requiring great deal OF labor 10 raise the neces-
saries OF life men more industrious, frugal, and per-
severng and that hot climates, where Nature Yields
abundany without labor, with very little labor men
become idle, luxurious, and efeminae. But though the
moral character be affected by these circumstances and
the political character Of people be determined 10 great
extent by the moral II is not safe to Judge pre-
tend do. the capacity Of people enjoy freedom by
the latitude they live in. All we say is that people
of higher latitudes less impulsive more tenacious
and generally moral, and therefore more likely to
maintain freedom; and perhaps it is this peculiarly in
the Anglo Saxons which with the nature OF the
southern nations of Europe that has contributed
in some measure to the maintenance of liberty in Eng.
land
But race and language do than locality in deter.
mining the social and political character and destiny OF
people. These however modified in some respects
by geographical position. Much depends upon fortuous
circumstances An event, apparently OF no importance
at the me changes sometimes the whole current OF
nations existence. History affords such examples II
would be curious and useful investigation, that OF
searching profoundly into the history of naions order
TO show what has been the relative and comparative in
uence OF each and all these in the development
OF liberal ideas and institutions For this purpose Eng
land would be pre-emnenly interesting because the
English people really enjoy much liberty. because
that liberty has been OF such slow growth, and has
become an indestrucble element in all the institutions
OF the country and because, existent with liberty
ample and complete liberty OF thought Of speech, OF
ton, and OF the press-herc is the great and painful
anomaly OF the most Illuminating inequality, and OF a
greater amount OF paupersm than in any other country
Society is divided into thousand classes The arlsto-
cratic feeling pervades the very lowest as well the
highest class. The artisan speaks condescendingy, il
he speak at all, 10 the low mechanic. The domestic
servant Of the squire psrson is far gentee, and
entirely OF another grade than the servant OF the trades
man or farmer; and even in the same house there
often among the servants three or four distinct classes
no, merely for purposes OF order and arrangement, OF the
work, but distinct and separate in their social standing
out of the masters house, well in II. No people,
especially the country laboers, in such abjecy
serye condition | instance these cases in the most
humble spheres OF life, because such spirit would
TO be more paringly ridiculous there; but the same
spirit OF servili,y and nunky ism OF assumption and
submission found in all classes In Russia there
is more free and more friendly Communications
healthy and natural social the different
grades OF society," and between the employer and the
poyed Our own slaves are much more kindly treated,
and have less 10 offend their sef-eseem their inter-
course with their masters than the working people Of
Great Britain In no country is there much poverty
40 much ear-rendng dstress--as in this free, great
rich and fourishing United Kingdom. Witness those
prison work houses and that nghtul extent OF pauper
ism which one OF The most difficult ssbjects iha, gov
eminent has to Neal with witness the illpaid half
starved populations Of the ces,hc emaca,ed skeleton
forms OF Indebtedness which one everywhere and
stare one in the face in the mids, OF unbounjed luxury
and wealth: witness these scenes. and the fact-ibe
anomaly-s established beyond all question, that great
liberty and great starvation exis, together and
that freedom and very DEGRADED social condition are
found side by side in England 1t is the exiscSce of
gate the subject OF British liberty would be curious and
useful I, however. shall but advert to it's birth and
growth, in order to show what is the foundation and
what is the character OF the constitutional government OF
Gre, Britain and how far il Is applicable to the present
wants oil society.
We do no, find in the early ages OF English history any
able adaptation Of the Saxon mind character for
the enjoyment of freedom The reign OF the great AL