Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-07

measures they will call upon these their ministers and
wsen men, Come curse me this people, for they mighty
for me Their statesmen will be dumb But the spirit
of truth win answer, 'How shall ersewhom God hath
not cused3' /"
That such prediction this should have been sobery
uttered Of handful Of men, who at that moment
fighting for their very existence nation must be
counted among the miracles Of political foresight The
boldnss of the prophecy is equaed only by the extra
ordinary precision of the fuflment
OF the of the Americans, deprecated by
Sheffield PowSALL speaks thus at time when Britain
was mistress of the
The American will come to market in his own ship
ping and will claim the ocean MS common; will claim
navigation restrained by no laws but the law of nations
reformed as the rising crisis requires
On the subject of emigration to this country he is
equally shrewd and felicitous in his predictions
America viii every day to approach nearer and
nearec to Europe. When the alarm which the idea of
going strange and distant country gives 10 the home
ly nCtions of European manufacturer peasant shall
be thus out thousand repeated repulsive feelings
respecting their present home thousand attractive
tiyesrespectng the settlement which they will look to in
America, win raise spirit of adventure and become the
irresistible cause Of an almost general emigration 10 that
rorid
ssThere is nowhere in the European part of the old
word such greatness of interviewer and combined IN
tere communicated through such argeness Of territory
as that in North America.
lone finds every thing united in it which greatness
of dominions, amplitude and growth Of State
How immeasurably PowNALL was ahead Of all his con-
temporares in his conceptions of the spirit of political
and commercial enterprise in this country may be seen
by what have adduced and by the general tenor Of
his speculatons on the growth of empire in this hemi
sphere Nothing clearer to his understanding than
the fact that the States formed great who with
munty of interests and power Of combining in system
which could embrace all British America In the follow
remark he certainly up the level Of the ideas
of the day that is passing over heads:
Whether the islands in those parts called the West
Indies naturally parts of this North American Com
munion is question in the detail of it, of curious specu-
lation, but of no doubt as to the fact"
Pownals and sound political knowledge did
fail perceive the defects of the old confederation
He that the States could get onward this
loose system Of general government after the pressure
external hoslites should be taken away. No dis
cerned clearly that very early day the necessity
of that perfect union which the federal constitu
ton afterwards established
If the true spirit of liberty above described and
the genuine spirit of government does not act by the in
terna attractive principle of Union strongly and perma
neny in proportion the external COMPRISING
confederation is removed the Americans will experience
the fate and fortune, and be driven by the same
miseres the runous distress which the States
Greece and the city of Rome had wretched experience
Sufficient and adequate provision not made for the
representing of the majesty of the people, the sovereignty
of the United States for the efficient administration
of the interests and powers of the confederation Gem
era Government. From lingering doubt of them
selves-from of distrustthe people to
have been afraid to establish supreme magistracy
The general confederation the General Government
wants something to ensure in all the obe
enhum of all the States. Congress seems to be
formed on the idea of senate debate, Of council
advise, and there to be necessity of distinct
branch of magstracy for administration"
He is therefore most in his entreaties the
hl;cb
cure them effective nationality, or in his own words
q lift up standard to the nations"
1.-THE Memorial will now venture, in the words of the
Prophet Isaiahfor this prophet true patriot
deep politician he sound divineto say TO the
sovereign Government Of America
Arise ascend thy lofty seat,
Be clothed with thy strength;
Lift up on high standard to the nations.
Actuate your sovereignty. Exercise the powers and
duties of your throne. Let the supreme magistrate
magistrates be visby clothed with the majesty Of the peo
pie and be armed with the efficient powers of adj
ministration."
Various other points of advceare urged with admirable
sense and sagacty and the memorast assures the Ame
rican people that by following this counsel they viii be-
come
e A nation TO whom all nations will come; q power
whom all the powers of Europe will court to civil and COM
mercial alliances people to whom the remnants Of all
ruined people will fly, whom the oppressed and injured of
every nation will seek for refuge The riches of the
will pour in upon them the wealth Of nations flow in
upon hem and they must be populous and rich people
The enlarged mind and generous sympahies of this
markabe unusual feryor as he contemplaes
the glorious desnies in for the people whom he
knew and loved well. The peroraton of his work is
eloquent and aecOnate aspiration Heaven for their
prosperity.
Gov PowSALL sat in Parliament during the American
war, and distinguished himself by his speeches against the
ministerial measures. He was accomplished scholar
and antiquarian and published several works archie
ology, and various other subjects He died at Bath
England in 1906, at the age Of eightythree town in
Maine and another in Vermont have been named after him.
but the rmest monument to his glory to be found in his
writings, which exhibit him statesman unsurpassed
for sagacity, penetration and oresght the political
who looked further than all other Of his time into f-
turity-the true prophet of American greatness
TO THE EDITORS
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 3, 1852.