The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-03-19
Communications.
For the 4" Spirit.
Adam Smith and his Philosophy.

For the "Sprit."
Adam Smith and his Philosophy.
Mr. EDITOR The subscriber has often
both in the columns of your paper, and in
private conversation, expressed esteem and
admiration for such writer's as Adam Smith,
Jean Baptist Say, and the Rev. Mr.. NAL
thus. Confessing, as L do, to a little
spice Of human vanity, inherited in COM
mon with all the other sons of good old
mother Eve, it was with feelings of m
mixed pleasure, that ''in the course of
my mornings reading" l found my own
opinions amply confirmed By witness SO
very distinguished in the walks of liter
atu-e as Sir James Macintosh l shall
proceed to give his testimony concerning
Smith without further preface:
"The great name of Adam Smith rests
upon the inquiry into the nature and
causes of the Wealth Of Nations; per-
, haps the only book which produced an
immediate, general, and irrevocahlc change
in some of the most important parts Of
the legislation of all civilized States.
The works of Grotius, of Locke, and of
Montesquieu, which bear q resemblance to
it in character, and had no inconsiderable
analogy to it in the extent of their pop
ular influence, were productive emily of a
general amendment, not so conspicuous in
particular instances, as discoyerable, after
a time, in the improved condition of hu-
man affairs. The work of Smith, as it
touched those matters which may be num-
bered, and measured, and weighed, bore
more visible and palpable fruit. In a
few years it began to alter laws and trea-
ties, and has made its way throughout the
convnlsions of revolution and conquest
tofa due ascendant over the minds of men,
with a far less than the average Of those
obstructions Of prejudice and clsmer which
ordinarily. choke the channels through
4 which truth flows into practice. - FORKS
] Of Sir James Aackiatosh, page l IS, Ed
ton ef ls4s.
d No doubt the opinions and feelings Of
!, the eesreats party haseeecn great
/ " influenced by the writings of such men
4 as Smith aud Say and Fox and Bentham
4 ON one side of the water, and of Jsffor<
Il son and Madison and their illustrious
compeers on the other It is an abiding
consolation to the humb!est democrat in
his obscurity and privacy, to reflect that
/ wherever extensive learning aud brilliant
r genius have been combined with refined
taste, and liberal sentiments, they have
! leagagcd with ardor in the Illustration and
defence ofour democratic principles. Oh,
4 if / could condescend SO low, would
J like, for q little while, to fight our politi-
cal opponents with their o1rn weapons
I l would like to enquire gentlemen, where
!, you get your narrow principles, your high
tariffs, your restrictive system, your maxi
mum Of prices, your paper money, your
; small note circulation Where do yen
get your prejudice of race, your religious
-
intolerance your prosecuting temper. your
settled aninosity' against our Catholic
neighbors? Come run over the bead-roll
, .of your illnstrious names. Who are
they ? What chair of moral or natural
f philosophy or political economy now
t teaches your old worn out, narrow nc
tions :? Unless you can meet these qucs-
tions fairly and answer them successfully,
your assumptions of "all the decency y
4 and call the knowledge" will pass for
e what they truly are, a vain, dishonest
, boast.
l would like to ask those watering
Il democrats, who have lately shown a. dis
position to leave our ranks, who have
t lately learned the doctrines of national
= hye and religious bigotry by the minis
J tration of uplawful oaths, ia dark and
= secluded phces, what they have to hope
from their NV connections? Why not
+ return and rejoih the innumerable com
pany Of the enlightened, the good, the
!, generous and the benevolent, lin one life
: long effort. for the grestest advancement
: and the highest happiness of mankind
: Ono. consideration ought to be decisive.
n The democrats are now the only national
party, the only party capable of admin
istering the national government for a
moment. Our political opponents with
I their intense .sectionalisnl could not pos
!, sibly administer that government through
a full and change Of the moon. Their
elevation to supreme power would be
. neither moro nor less. than national sui
eide An Obscure and worthless roliti-
cal adyenturer, whom partizan bigotry at
! Columbus, has within d few days past,
elected to represent or rather to misrep-