The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-10

cnange IN thelr nhDt Oi IRE, ana that thclr mis-
sion is either to conquer or die. Such are the
Amszons Of DahOmey, in whose chastity we may
readily cOn6de, on rejecting that the extreme ex-
ercise Of their fierce passion, or thirst for blood,
must necessarily obliterate, pro rata almost all
other senses.
The superstitions Of this strange people aid
greatly in the work Of rendering this military
force the most effective among the native tribes
Of Africa On entering the service each Amazon
is supposed to become instantly a sacred being,
on whom the eyes of the traveller may not gaze
without committing sacrilege They are thus
in great measure debarred from joining even in
conversation with the opposite sex. When in
Gezos capital they are lodged within the precincts
of the Royal harem, and when abroad they share
the public honors accorded to wives Of the King
Death, instant and terrible, is the penalty Of
frailty on their part her head and that Of her
lover being the forfeit of an indiscretion.
His Majesty Of Dahomcy keeps two hundred
wives around him constantly. Human skulls and
bones form all the ornaments about his tents and
palace, except those on the persons of his gaudi.
| iy attred courtiers and wives The business of
fall being officers of the COURT are paid only &C.
cording to the pleasure of the Kings bounty to
give All crawl on all-fours when in his pres
ence, and practice the most disgusting ceremonies
| by way of showing their abject devotion to his
authority and person. Rum, of course is the
great enjoyment of such a people, though their
| laws exact heavy penalties for its abuse They
believe GEO to be the greatest monarch living
and - Victoria of England next But re-
| greet that | cannot pursue description of this
extraordinary people, who realize more clearly
in their character habits tastes, &c, the effects
Of military despotism upon nation. But must
rest here
We have news from Europe to the 22d ultimo.
Lord John Russell's ministry are still in office
holding on only because it has been found that
no others can be induced to step into their shoes.
| The reader will recolect that the Ministry, not
the Monarch, constitute the responsible Govern
ment in England and that heretofore, when the
party in power found itself without a working
majority in the House of Commons, its instant
resignation of the seals of Office followed. But the
progress of the last half score of years has mater
ally changed the condition Of things in Britain.
Popular opinion has become almost the sole element
| of political power there. Members of Parliament
| are now forced to represent the views of their
constituents Thus, those with considerable num-
| bers Of Roman Catholics in their districts are
forced to consult their wishes, as they we're not,
| before the enactment of the reform bill placed
| Roman Cst&shcs cnsNssllSAcai footing witRo,S~a>
| citizens So too, in the matter of Radical con-
stituences SO fast increasing throughout the
United Kingdom. They already SO influence the
| action of the House of Commons as TO render it
certain that neither the Wings nor Tories can
ever again flor revolutions do not 20 backwardsl
be in majority. That having been the tenure
| of office, the system upon which it is held there
| must be changed unless the Radicals may have a
majority at the general election to take place
| which is an impossibiity, cannot conceive what
| are to be the new terms on which the Ministry in
| England are destined hereafter to hold power
| But we shall see
| The arstocratic interests in the realm evidently
dread the appeal to the people which crcumstan-
ces are SO fast tending to force on Victoria. Yet
thank God they cannot escape it. And the people
| will rule in sending up a new House Of Com.
mons-that the progressive policy of Sir Robert
Peel must not be stayed or in any manner him
dered in the completion of it's work. How differ
ent his Tory craftsmanship from that of his Whie
successor He forfeited Office as the penalty fol
advancing ahead Of the progress Of his party
Lord John forfeited place, on the contrary, for
essaying to retrograde into reactory policy, re-
pugnant to branches of laborious followers. Thus
sympathizing with the mass of the laboring of the
Kingdoms, Sir Robert struck down restrictions on
! commerce, taxes on the neoessaries of the poor
with the full knowledge that, in so doing, he was
giving mortal offence to the wealthy and infuen.
tal class Of aristocrats and landed propretors to
whom he was actually indebted for the very power
to work the ruin Of their fortunes they believed
him to be perpetrating. They turned against him,
and he was forced to resgn-the Free-Traders
and Radicals, almost his only other supporters
| not being strong enough to sustain his ministry
1 Y - Ii -
\ great Measwre to the steadiness with which tbs
Irish members adhered to his policy. The Papal
aggression question, (his policy on it, however
has caused his Irish and English Catholic friends
to desert him, leaving him literally without re-
liable support in the Commons outside of the Es
tablshed church, and Of the many scions of the
dozen Wing families' in the Government, mem
bers of which fill Office everywhere and hold
thirty or forty seats in Parliament. These latter
are with him. because they are well paid for it
The Church Is with him because, and only be-
cause, he proposes legislation against a rival
church establishment Therein he takes the
back trackn He outrsges the liberal spirit OF
the age in which he governs, and, in so doing,
finds himself instantly deprived Of power to gov
ern longer. ! am unwilling to give the Roman
| Catholic interest in Parliament credit for the
stand it has taken, on this question-for loaves
and fishes the mere interest Of the pocket of their
own hierarchy, prompts their course No other
division Of the Commons has 80 steadily opposed
every reform mooted as that mean since the
Roman Catholics were admitted to seats there.
They cry aloud for liberalism only when 1t pro-
poses to extend their privileges and they strug-
gle as fercely against placing the Jews on foot
ing with themselves, as did the Established
Church against the original admission of Roman
Catholics to the full enjoyment Of political rights
So, you will perceive, that they are fighting now
only for their bread and butter, without the least
thought of conservation Of the great principles Of
civil and religious liberty involved in the contest
which, with you and me, invest 1t with all its i'm
portance The measure over which Lord John
Russell lost the support of the Irish and English
Roman Catholic interest-the ecclesiastical titles
bill-proposes to punish oil who may assume ter
rtorial titles in Eogland at the dication of for
eign Power, political or religious However much
against the spirit Of the age IL may be, you will
remember that 1t is but doing by Rome ne she
does by all others. Were the Presbyterians of
the United States, or the Church Of England, to
send eccesiastcs into her territories for the gen.
eral administration Of clerical functions, instant
expulsion would be the mildest punishment they
might expect. So | am without sympathy with
the Church claiming In this case to be prosecuted
But, after ALL the main chance, dollars and cents,
Is at the bottom of the trouble.
The bill proposes 10 forfeit TO the State all be-
quests of property for church purposes, to which
persons who have such obnoxious titles are in any
manner parties
One leading feature Of the policy of the Cath
Ollie church is to induce persons IN eztremis to will
large sums to them. ! presume not day passes
in New York, even, In which money Is not willed
to the Roman Catholic church. which should
rigbtfully 20 to the next of kin of dying bigots.
In England, this nuisance Is far greater than
here There, il Is no uncommon thing for a poor
devil to be persuaded when on his or her death
bed, that the only hope for escape from justice at
the hands Of God lies In bequeathing all the
dying sinner has--at times half million Of dol
lars-to the Church.