Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-29

thn -
A"'"1 @ h,s surnasscd Lord Broughan in devotion I"
;.. nv "" ond science. To linn, Lord jeffrey, LORD
Wurraw and Sidney Smith IL due the credit OF cstab
i;i,;n; tbe Edinburgh Review. Sidney Smith was np-
pointed editor, and proposed us the motto ior the Ne
'''"' Ienui musa,n meditdmuc
We cultivate literature upon little oatmeal. But
this saws Smith, too near the truth to be admit
tod and more grave motto was selected. The ar
t;res contributed by Lord Broughan to this celubra-
ted periodical, will, learn, be collected and ein-
bodied in complete edition OF his works, the ear'y
publication of which has been announced ln many
readers in our country, his Discourse OH Na'ni"'
Theology his lives of Men of Letters, aud hls liis-
toricn sketches of statesmen who hourished III liic
time of George the }rd, familiar. Ills sketches
Washington, Jefferson and Franklin evince i'ncia'
| mind elevated above vulgar preIuuces, anu u',,
fuenced by past NATIONAL differences. AT inc c"iciu
sion of his remarks on the character OF NapoIcHli'
| Lord BrOugham thus proceeds-"lio" Gr"'c'u '.i'
relief which the friend Of mankind inc lover Vi
tue experiences, when, turning from Tic c"n'e"P
ton of such character, his eye rcStS "Py" '
cs, ma, of ovr arm or anu age; the only ono upon
whom an epith.t SO thoughcssly lavlshou py mem
to foster the crimes of their worst enemies 'i"y W
| nocently and justly betowed Aiter leietiiHs "
Washington's "proiound sagacty' I,"Se lawn.
d;ness of uurpnse" "seif-denal, exclusive ue'u
tion TO principle" and other characteristics lou D.
observes that If these things can constitute R,.a
character sthen surely Washington was lhe g'eu'e'
man that ever lived i'll the world uhhSpltou ~
vine wisdom and unsustaiheu " '"f
| tue" ,, s ,,o vnr;ous
| The contemplation of the structure o 'i'e ru'i""
| for,ns of government which have PreN"'c" !" I
and modern times can hardly fail 10 graliiy hose
reflect upon the tendency OF p"htic"l iis' II was
| advance or r.tard the happiness Oi ihnhklhu' -, :,
with the view of making the science vi S"> q
more generally understuud and ot c"rrect'iS NV ,h
| rors which the violence ot cohh'c''S y" Pt,, .,.
| zeal of rival theorists have propasa'eu ~ n' ~ ;,,
cry are and country, that Lord pi', pr"uSi In This
| tnlIf
wnrL he has examined the fundanenlal ptinc l.' @ w
royernmcut-discussed the question 0l PT.I''e" P p
| ti,s and the necessity OF Checks anu p"" ; u-
planned the essential features I'll liie ,h;r
archicnl md democratic forms OF gnreriho"t M
| soy.r,I combinations and mOdihcatuiis
the constitution of the Roman ana utccl". ;Mrn,,n
-the Governments of the severhi "l"'' -, W. ,;,i
during tho middle ages and down w i;i.J % S,n,,s.-
| and siso rho political system ot the oa'e" c' Il
IT, ,o,r. wrr, devoted to this conlprchch"'e '"sN'
That his three volumes are entirely "eNou :" ,,o
!, ,ronij N. idle 10 assert. That they eAhot "Ac',
y arcb and are written with ability, VIII haru,
| ~ no denied, although many A"'efe"n 'e"N'' 40
| dissent from some Of hla "pihons. .L
Sari,,iv. writers have widely differed "a 10 IN,
o.d;n If royerumen. Locke and others maintained
,ha Joctrne of the "originsl contract, Wh'ch sup
noses all the citlzensto nave lohcu III wi
,nnnity and making contract win eac'i o'Hei' sFe
;Se n tc duties and rights OF the people, rs wen Us
,bGse Of their rulers. This theory was geheraiS heu
hv rho,e who brought about the English revolution
| in 1855 On the other hand, Sir R"ocr' inner n.
ia yo,lous advocates ot monarchy maintained thi'
nnrcbv comes from Heaven-i+ established by dl'
vim. RIGHT and founded on IN Sinal ttie paramount
m nil human considerations and exempt from ever!
ripht of control by man. Two centuries ago he "se
III Racon affirmed that "kngs are mortal gods "l
aortb" INTO whom "the living Gsd hath lent his own
name as n great honor" Nor WAS he ignorant ol
the crimes and frailtics Of Kings Tor he mas else
where said see essaysl they are, OF all men, they IA
whom God is the least bchnldcn-he doing the most
| fr theu and thev, ordinarily, the least Tor hun. -
Times have changed, and many dclus"n' have been
swept away. Few if any iii Europe, now reverence
Kings and believe in their divine right: Lord DrouS'
ham urotests against the a0surdty, and acknowledges
the truth by admitting "that the people Is tie real
source of all power the party for whom government
exists and for whose good alone 1t has any rght u
exist"
| cicnt Rome and Greece have never been devoid :"
interest When wo reflect that preceding ages had
shed but little light the path {" the 'irerks ana
Romans-that the art Of printing was then unknown
hooks scarce and the of the people uneducated
VIZ can feel no surprise that they did not make greater
prorress i'm the science at government
| Among tho conird-racira of antiquity. the Tn"s'
considerable that of the iirecclnn Republics Ms
sn,;st,d under the AmphyciInlnc Council. The mem
! her, retained the character of Independent and So
y-reirn States, and had equal votes III the Federal
! Council This Council hnd Il general authority e
propose and resolve whatever II Judged necessary Ton
the common welfare u Greece; 10 declare war; to de-
cd. nil contruv crsics bcw cen the members, &c. II
f. a prey to the ambition and Jealousy OF lts most
| powerful members. The Acliuan league was another
union more intimate in its character anu wiser III lt'
organization. The Amphyctionic Council probably
suggested to our revolutionary statesmen the idea o
our former confcdoracy, to which, Mr. Madison said
.'it bore a very instructive analogy.
In modern times, exemption from personal restrant
and security Of property regarded IL the great
os.cntlas Of freedom. Constitutions are considered!
A created Tor their protection. In the Grccian rcpub
lies the individual and property were both looked
| on M belonging 10 the Stntc The State WAS every
thing and through it alone could the individual be-
come important. Perfect equality pcrfec; bcr-
tv-bpnce the introduction nf the princp Of chooa-
ing not only magistrates, but even generals anu ora
tors bv l0t The institutions nt Greece, although n'i'
fitted for education, were favorable TO the develop:
ment of great activity aud energy. Athens could
boast of more great within her limits than all the
rcst Of tho world While We there learn the value OF
tho Democratic principle we there learn the ncccssI-
ty of restraining Democratic pnssiOns In comparing
| her institutions with our own, we will more hlghly
appreciate the importance OF representative legisn,
lures and the blessings Of IN able, independent anu
upright judiciary.
or the several forms of government, Lord Br0ug-
ham prefers the mixed government OF Grent Britain
TO any other and congraulates himself by the "ppn-
rent sanction Of Cicero, whom ho quotes AS saying,
81 hold that government Ia be the best which is com
posed of the rcgnl, patrican and popular powers mo-
derately Blended l."rd Is. Expresses the op'nioh'
that the prevention OF rash councils il most surely
obtained from the conflict, rather the mutual couli'
ter.acon of different independent powers III ono sys-
tem-that the mixed form Of poy has more stability
than any other, and affords secure protection
for the whole community. While thinking thus IA
yorably of his own government, he has too much
rood sense TO contend, that any particular form oi
government is best adapted for every country
There are countries i'll which it would be III ab-
srd to establish popular government Us to dispense
with all discipline in school, or to abolish all re-
strans in Penltcntary. Burke vudlcated the poll-
CIV of church establishment, sustained by the inu-
ence and power of government, and Lord Ii. enter
tains similar views. He does not, however, approve
of the law of primogcniturc, the law OF entails
both of which had their origin in the JOINT nhnchce
of monarchy and arstocracy OF tlelaw OF prinnge-
niture he remarks: The making little monarchy III
each houscis the object Il" hisrule which erIchcs me
eldest son and makes him idle and overbcarng' while
il leaves the rest Of the family dependent upon nn'
and renders them obscquious TO him. The law Oh ell,
tails is the abuse OF the law of prmogeniture, ana
their consequences ara prudcal to the happiness ni
families as well ~ to the wealth and commerce OF inc
country" He adds, that in Scotland IRON ihirG
IN half of tho whole land ia undcr this absurd and
pernioious restraint" VOL l., page 36Ol
In tho days of Wapole, ministerial corruption, N, was
openly avowed and extensively practlsed. ine'o
we're but few men in Parliament, i'll the Caoinc''
who wero above bribery. Hence Walpole's remark,
thnt .'every man Ind his price" Macaulny thlhKs
lMscellanies, vol.el that Wapole governed 6y cor
rup,on, because i'll his time, it was impos.ioir u: 70
onyeru otherwise" The augmented power OF public
Sunon, and the Publicity given tn Parliamentary pro,
ceedngs of late years. hive elevated the standard o
mornlty among the public men of Great Brltan.-
While Macaulny and Lord Broushan-b"tiI "t whom
have served in Parliament and the latter tor more
than 30 years-bear their high testimony to inc meg
rty of members of Parliament and the Cahihet iol
some wears back they acknowledge and dcplore the
prevalence sf bribery among candidates and v"ters
Bribery hns not bccomo extinct, but s theatre l &C
ton has been changed. If it has retired from taria
men it has sought refuge and found welcome III ~. i
country where It'll practised without shame anu i a
rio secrecy. 1t is as immoral to buy the vote OF .hs
constituent n. to buy the of the representative
The candidate who gives s. to tho freeman ior NJ;
,bn vote of the representative. Bribery of voters D!
candidates during the most corrupt and degenerate
| IL,