Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-09-10


to invite communications from my pen, upon an.
subject Knight select. Having recovered my health
thanks to the pure air of the country and the nyg
Grating pursuits of agriculture, venture again T
open books, and occasionally even to indulge in pol
itics, and now offer for your columns some of my
reflections upon reading Macauley's History OF Eng
land, book anxiously waited for and gloriously
heralded two or three years SINCE and now set IN it,
place among standard works in every good library.
Upon closing the last volume, and bordering or
what we have Just read, there are two facts which
seem to claim prominence in our mind First, the
eagernesS with which have devoured the book, the
interest of the narrative and the beauty OF the style
hurrying us on at the rapid pace of novel-readlng
Indeed reading at the same time Dickens Bleak
House. of the best novels of the best living nov
eiSt, we have been unwilling when Harper would
arrive to abandon the characters of history TOR those
of fiction Charles the End living his life of luxu-
rious ease before the dew off the grass playing
with his Spanies, or feeding his ducks among the
trees of ST. James Park, or later flirting with his
three Sutanas and listening to the vocal pertorman-
ces of Hortcnsa's French page, having most I'M
kngly dislike to business of any kind, forms strong
contrast to the cold intellectual and moral William
of Orange-both to the reader highly interest
ing characters, though most opposite in their ma
lures The faults of either set off by contrast with
the unmitigated bgotry and folly of the dethroned
James, who shared the lasciviousness without the
good nature of Charles disposition and the harsh
ness without the ability of William. There are oc-
casionally in Gibbons decline and fall of the Roman
yet the unfaggng and constant dramatic effect OF an
historical work has before been so well sus-
tanned as in this one of Macauley's The materials,
it's true were good yet the hand of master work
man is every part of the edlflce.
S. The second fact which the book forces upon the
mind is that is the offspring of our own age, and
of man who is imbued with the spirit and versed
in the queries of the 10Th century The question of
the divine right of Kings is treated as it is
garded as obsolete absurdity, and not labored
by Hume open question. On the contrary the
very subjects which now agitatc us, conservatism
and progress, are handled in manner which would
stamp him with some cold Fogies as Fiibuster
The book abounds in opinions and discussions
subjects which divide the American mind. Let us
take them in their order.
First then, upon the subject of the Union we have
an instructive lesson. Not until the 18th century
does Macauley date the history of the English
ton. "The history of preceding events, " says he
g is the history of wrongs inflicted and sustained by
the various tribes which indeed dwelt on English
ground, but regarded each other with aversion such
as has scarcely ever existed between communities
separated by physical barriers; for the mutual
animosity of countries at with each otheri is lam
guild when compared with the animosity of nations
which morally separated are yet locally intermingled.
In country has the enmty of race been carried
arther than in England in the time of Richard the
irst the ordinary imprecation by Norman gentle
nan was, MAY become an Englishman?" His
ordinary form of indignant denial was, "Do you
axe for an Englishman?"
Not to so great an extent but to some degree, the
lifferent portions of country entertain the
,rejutces. Just the sectional feelings of the
country are soothed and at rest, but not many
months have passed since twas customary for North
I'm to sheer at the Incidence, ignorance and i'm
moral institutions of the South, and for Southern
nen Indignantly to exclaim, Do you take me for a
-ankee?" We are mostly of English descent, with
IL the courage, prejudice and obstinacy of the Eng
sh, and in of civil war no imagination has con-
eived or conceive the misery, bloodshed, devas
alton and cruelty which would be witnessed
The Union which Washington and all succeeding
atriots considered inestimabe is indeed the pallad
I'm of our liberties and happiness, and to any man
ccustomed too lightly to estimate its blessings the
art of vol. LIST from which the above extract was
aiken is highly instructive.
To those, too, who would confer upon the general
government the divine right of Kings joining with
he Tories and Church of England under the Stuarts
n declaring resistance to established government
nder no circumstances justifable or to be endured
here are lessons equally instructive. Indeed, pal
liable and great are the advantages of our Union so
manifest the evils of dlSuniOn the danger to
ry rather to be looked for in encroachments
# the federal power than in popular anarchy. Com
nerce is timd and wealth is selfish, and while great
r evils are threatened lesser will be submitted to.
50 much is this the Mr. Macauly, regarding the
noveable wealth of England alone does not hesitate
o declare that resistance must be regarded
ure more desperate than any malady that can af-
lict the State" and consequently rejects revolution
IS check on tyranny altogether. On this view he
hus lays down the duty of the patriot: Gas
lot without the risk of evils from which the magi
nation recoils, employ physical force check on
it is evidently wisdom to keep
III the constitutional checks misSovernment in
he highest state of efficiency to watch with jealousy
he first beginnings of encroachment, and never to
uer Irregularities when harmless in themselves
o pass unchaenged, lest they acquire the force of
)rcedentS."
Now, we have an immense movable wealth in
titles and towns, and trade second only to England,
md it would seem that those who regard resistance
o federal encroachment a cure more desperate
han any malady that could aict the country should
It least be found among the strict consructionsts of
he constitution" keeping all the constitutional
hecks on misgovernmcntint the highest efficiency and
lever suffering any irreguarty to pass unchallenged
however harmless" But such singularly is not the
ase; those who most strain and imply the powers
f the general government the loudest against
esistance to encroachment-th admirers, too,
f whatever is English. 1t is therefore to be hoped
hey will profit by the advice of of the best and
visest of Englishmen.
Then comes opinion upon question which
With is somewhat yet debated, but which upon the
Whole may be regarded pretty well settled, viz:
he efficiency of the militia in battle Says Macauley:
yer brave unable to stand their ground against
eteran soldiers, whose life is preparation for the
ay of battle 1t is felt that tn, defence of nations
an longer be safely entrusted to warriors taken
rom the plough or loom for campaign o. 40 days"
With the small army of the United States as nu-
leus, the training and capacity of our West Point
Ulcers, and the superior intelligence and patriotism
people, the ability of defending ourselves, and
ven of conducting offensive campaign gloriously,
Without large standing army has thrice been tested
nd proven; but no other country could bring the