Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-07
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
POwNALL VS.. SHEFFIELD.


pers, The historian remarks of SHEFFIELD in his
The sense and spirit of his political writings have de-
cided the public opinion the great question of
mercal interest with America and Ireland The sale of
his Observations the American States difusive
their effect beneficial"
OF this work, so highly commended by the man
whose philosophic mind explored and brought to
light the causes of the downfall of the Roman En-
pire, the Intelligencer remarks, and with justice
s.We do not believe that any other made
many baseless assertions and unfued representations
In few short sentences"
But if Lord SHEFFIELD's book of unlucky pre-
dctons is likely to become of the curloslties OF
literature there is another work on the same sub
ject which we recommend to the notice of our
Washington contemporary likely to be, if it is
not already, much greater curiosity. This book,
which we regard as by far the most extraordinary
work of its kind that ever saw the light was pub
lished about the same time with Sheffeld's 1t
treats of the general topics, but the conclu-
sions are so directly opposite that one might fancy
the two books were written on set purpose to con-
tradct each other.
The author of this work was THOMAS PowNAII.
an Enghshman, who was in America seven or eight
years, from 1853 to 176l. He held the Offices, ut
I,
Governor of South Carolina, and Lieutenant Cover
nor of New Jersey. His book is entitled Three
Memorials, most humbly addressed to the Soyer-
eigns of Europe and America They pub
lished from 1880 to 1888. The author speculates
upon the future fate of the American States discusses
the character of the people, their institutions their
national resources, their peculiar political position,
and their inevitable destiny. On these points he
displays knowledge of facts correct appreciation
of causes and sagacious foresight, to which we
think no parallel can be found in the whole history
of political speculation. Pownall was no visionary,
no hap-hazard utterer of wild conjectures, trusting
to chance for their fuflment He had America he
had been familiar with the people and had studied their
character and although he left the country fourteen
years before the beginning Of the revolutionary struggle
his keen intellect enabled him discover work
which were destined accomplish porentous changes
With an instinct holder and clearer than that of Burke
or Chatham or Dean Tucker, the Bishop Of Cloyne,
who sung Of times nobles empire and the last Pow
nall foresaw the future greatness of the American Re-
public was also able forete the precise steps by
which she was destined to reach that great elevation
In contrast with SHEFFRLD's picture Of the poverty
small resources and doubtful growth of the American
States, we may place the following delineation by
PowSALL:
..North America has advanced and is every day adj
vancng growth Of state with steady and continually
motion Of which there has never yet been
any example IN Europe"
1t young and strong and viii struggle by the vigor
Of internal healing principles of life against those evils
and surmount them. Like the infant Hercules 1t will
strangle these serpents its cradle Its strength will
grow with its years and il will establish its constitution
and perfect adutness in growth Of state To this great
ness Of empire Il wH certainly arise.
We're ever words 50 prophetic 1t win establish its
constitution = and this was written in 1880 But fur
Their, under the date:
One may pronounce of America said Of Rome,
Cirtas, incredible est eoratu adptd h6ate, qaant9nr
6reUi creperit' y America will then become the
arbtress Of the commercial world and perhaps the me-
disrx Of peace, and Of the political business of the
world
These assertions which SHEFFIELD and most other En-
glishmen must have read with disdainfu ncredulity
PowSAL sustains by the clearest reasoning upon the
facts which had fallen under his observation while in
America. Let how clear-sghted he was on the
subject Of the character of the people Of this country
" In country like this, where every has the full
and free exerton Of his powers where every man may
acquire any share Of the good things thereof Of inter
est and power which his spirit work him up there
undated application of the powers of individuals and
perpetual struggle Of their spirits sharpens their wits
and gives constant training to the mind The acquire
ment Of information in things and business, which be-
necessary to this mode of e gives the mind thus
sharpened and thus exercised turn of inquiry and in
which is not to be met with did exist in any
other TO the degree unless in Of the ancient
republics where the people under the predica
This turn of character, which in the ordinary
of life is called iagispeness and which, when
exerted about tries goes even to degree Of ridcue in
many instances is yet in matters of business and
a most useful and efficient talent Whoever knows
these people and has viewed them in this light win
slider them animated in this world, if may so
express myself ir The spirit Of he philosophy. Their
system Of life is course of experiments and standing on
that high ground Of improvement up to which the most
enlightened parts Of Europe have advanced like eagets
they the first efforts Of their pinons from
towering advantage"
The keen dscenment Of PowSALL had already discover
ed the inventive genius Of the Americans their unceasng
mental activity and their extraordinary aptitude for the
industrial and useful arts It did escape his notice
that these people although pretending be manufac
tnrers, yet had singular faculty devotng fragments
Of time to such pursuits from which he rightly argued
important things of them in this department Of industry
He remarks that useful inventions had already
been made by the Americans than by any other people in
te world in the space OF time We doubt whether
there ten in England who believed this story
But PowSALL had the people Of whom he spake
Here one sees the inhabitants laborinQ after The
plough, with the spade and hoe though they had
idea beyond the ground they dwell upon Yet is
their mind all the while charging all its powers and their
spirit rises as their improvements advance"
The writer was sensible that this would not be Gre.
idea beyond the ground he dwels upon" that he found
il enforce the point by the following language
al hope viii misunderstood this as to take il