The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-15

defy the Republic TO produce any passage in Mr..
RHErr's speeches, that would furnish even re-
spectacle prstsxt for Ascibing such declaration
to him.
FIR tie Southern Press.
Rsltos Of Scraps and Musings. Mo. 40.
ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES.
The government Of England has attempted to
usurp the attributes Of Providence. II leaves no.
thing to be regulated by infinite wisdom and pow
er through the ministerial agency Of great univer-
sal causes, and its entire policy is directed to the
vain and impious attempt TO counteract the de-
crses Of heaven, by reconciling opposite extremes
through human contrivanoes. It's whole System
is one of artificial expedents; legislation is the
sole panacea for the cure Of all diseases; and an
act Of Parliament the great expedient to counter
act degree Of fate. Nothing il leh to the salu-
tary influence Of time, and the great principle Of
reaction, which never fails to bring abou. an
equilibrium in the affairs of the world, and all
the shor-sighted energies Of man are brought into
perpetual requsiiion to remedy the mistakes OF
infinite wisdom
Under the influence of this system Of artificial
sxpedients, the government of England has be-
come cumbrous, unwieldy, complicated ma
chine, laden with all sorts Of Legislative trumpery,
ing everybody in its way. Statesmen, like quacks,
are perpeually administering some infallible spe-
ci6c for some real or imaginary disease; and COM
munities are the patients onvwhom they try their
experiments. The body polite is first brought to
death 3 door by one patent medicine, then raised
up by some temporary excitement, until finally it
ceases to rely on healthful exertion and whole
some alimsnt, and seeks remedy for all the evils
Of life in the grand panacea Of legislation. The
universal necessity of individual exertion, the
laws Of nature and divine Providence, which, af-
all is said and done, shape the destinies of man,
are placed in allegiance before the consummate
wisdom of men, who, because they have become
legislators. imagine they are qualified to perform
impossibi'ities and achieve in day what has
baied all human efforts ever since the creation of
the world.
In truth, it seems to me that not only the gov
eminent of England, but that of the United States,
which is rapidly following its lead, has become
exceedingly vexatous and oppressive. Instead
Of combining themselves to their exclusive and ap-
propriate functions, the protection ofperson and
property. they seize every plausible pretext for
meddling with the proper business of individuals,
directing their private pursuits, interfering with
their labor, and approprating as much of its pro-
fits as possible to themselves. They have fallen
into the pernicious habit Of fostering one branch
Of national industry in preference to others, which
cannot BE- done without injustice to all; and, in
short, of making laws to regulate what alone can
properly be adjusted by circumstances entirely be-
yond their control. Nothing is left to that easy
and harmonious adjustment Of the great interests
of the State, which is invariably produced by ac-
quiesence in the laws Of nature and the DEGREES of
Providence, which keep the universe in harmony,
| and il not counteracted by the short-sighted pre-
sumptuous vanity of man, will quietly do their
work without the interference oflegisla,on. They
never wait till the fruit 10 ripened by the sun, but
resort to the forcing system, and fancy they have
wrought miracle in producing sickly plant
which, If left to itself, would little later have
grown to vigorous and lasting maturity.
Legislative interference is now substituted for
individual exerton, and every private enterprise
is sought TO be sheltered or sustained by govern
ment becoming sleeping partner, and bearing
not only all the risk, but great portion Of the ex-
pense. Thus, by degrees, all the greater and les
interests Of the country are brought into a
state of dependence on the public bounty admins
tered through the process Of legislation; and the
government becomes irresiktable through these
continued affects to private interests. When the
pressure of one Of those great reactions and re-
WILSON'S which are the invariabe concomitants of
a complication of artificial expedients, instead of
depending themselves to get the cart out of the
mire, they call on Hercules Parliament, or Her
cules Congress, to come to their relief. The land
lord, the tenant, the merchant, the manufacturer,
the farmer, and the pauper, all look to govern
ment for relief, and instead of having themselves
manfully to meet the exigency, meanly solicit
aims from their rulers, thus sinking into abject
dependence on their will. Such government
will assuredly become despotc, whether it be
called limited monarchy or free republic. The
difference will be only in names and outward
forms; the substance will be the same
five look towards England and Europe, from
whence we are taking examples, it will appear ev-
ident that governments have departed from the
great ends Of their CREATION and no longer admin
lister to the general happiness of the people by
whom they were originally instituted. 1t is too
plain to be denied. There exists in every one of
them a mass Of discomfort and disaTection, which
can only be kept down by vast standing armies,
and which clearly proves to my mind that this
great combination Of sentiment and feeling could
only have been produced by causes equally power
full and universal. These governments do not an
swer the great purposes Of their creation, and no
longer deserve or receive the attachment Of the
people, who are reduced to Il condition from
which no mere political revolution, no change Of
masters, no new dynasty relieve them, unless
accompanied by new distribution of property.
They. want bread as well as liberty. Hence the
progress Of socialism to which they look for such
nd xyh, h., L~r al