Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-08-05
OUR GOVERNMENTAL PROGRESS.

In tho last LiJcrator, Parker Pillsbury contrasts
Che improving condition Of the British Government
for the last half century, with the march of our
own towards des1otism during the same period.
Tho contrast is more truthful than nattcring.
lie says;
One thing is certainly iruc for the last fifty
Ncars, the government Of this country has been
growing gradually better. This is true of the
character of the sovercigns, and of the making and
executing Of the laws. William the Fourth was
infinitely better than George the Fourth, and Vic
toria is certainly preferable to either. Then, in
their time, we have seen n constant Improvement
in the government itself. Fifty years ago, almost
any crime was punishable with death now, capital
punishment is almost wholly abolished, except for
murder in the first degree. Then there has been
the abolition of the foreign slave trade then laws
were enacted for better systems OF education among
all classes Of the people. Afterwards came Cath
Ollie Emancipation then Parliamentary reform ex'
tending greatly the right of suffrage. Next came
the abolition of slavery; then followed the rcpeal
of the corn laws, and other acts tending to a gencr
nj system of free trade. Every step in the gov
crnment has been one of progress, and those steps
have not been short.
But in the United States, what have wei to exhibit
In our Chief Magistrates, we began this ccntur,
with an Adams and n Jefferson; we boast a jackson
too. But we descend to n Tyler; we degeneratet
to a Polk we were dishonored by a Taylor, anC
disgraced by a Fillmore. True another has sue
cccded but he is utterly incapable OF restoring
the dignity of the office, and the office is alroad,
beneath contempt. A Roman Emperor might
again appoint his horse to fill it. Then, the acts
of tho government have been the legitimate fruits
of a tree wholly corrupt. At the bchcst of slavery,
ee lave murdered multitudcs of Indians, and in
violation of solemn treaties, VIC have seized their
lands, burned down their wigwams, and ~ploughed
IN the graves Of their sires. We have dcspoiled
Mexico of her territory for the same reason, and
sent Il hundred thousand of her inhabitants unbid-
den up to judgement. We have added half a mil
lion victims to our scourgcd slave population IL
every ten or twelve years. We have enacted q
Fugitive Slave Law that shook the Union to it
contro, and sent shuddcrs of horror among the ma
tons. Aud now, by the passage of the Nebraska
Bill, VIC have given a whole new empire up to tn
dominion of slavery, from which that internal in
s%titution had by solemn treaty been excluded, a
we supposed forever. .
Such is our progress. We may he republican i
theory we are surely despotic in practice, bcyon
all former meaning of that dreadful word. Grea
Britain may be monarchial in name and form bu
surely, We have got to repent of our republcanisl
an age, ut least, before our virtues, even, Will /
SETTER than her faults. l am ashamed 10 acknow
edge my nation, ever in this land of dead and l'
ing monarchs. Ilungarians, Italians, Polanders,al
here and they receive the honorand the sympathy
every Briton who loves liberty. | am here a
American, and in all decent society, | have to avo
my anIi~slavcry sentiments, to be entitled to dccel
respect. Thank God, can do it with honor an
honesty and not in that sneaking and hypocric
manner in which it has been often done, by clerg
men and others, who have visited this country.
But | have wearied myself, and lest veal
YOU, will close by subscribing myself, in all ear
estncss,
Ever. your friend, and humble co-worker,
PARKER P~ILLSBYRY.