Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-04-12

side by side under their Characteristic systems
which cling with great ienaeiiy, to the princi
pies Of ihes1, and which arc remarkable foi
the vgor with which they represent their ef
fecis. At the outset, South Carolina war
about four times as large as Massachusetts
terriiorially, and is still but this advantage
is partly compensated by the fact, that Massa.
chuseits began with about one-lhird more total
population. Massachusetts, however, was dem.
ocratically organized into a system of separate,
and almost independent townships, each cen.
tire of government in ITSELF while South Caro-
lima, from the necessity OF the case, was cen
,rally organized into parishes, having little OF
no local authority, and, for the mos, part, de-
pendent on the principal, or state government.
The people Of Massachusetts have retained Iha,
organization, and with It, the mos, entire free
dom Of every inhabitani while the people Of
South Carolina have also, with slight modif-
cations, retained their system, and with it the
seryitude Of nearly the whole laborinv class.
Now, what have been the effects, on the pros
perity Of each, Of these two contrasted consti-
lutions
The elements Of national greatness, in their
uluidl
are universally summed up, under the heads Of
population, productive industry, the diffusion Of
wealth, International improvement, popular ed
ucation, and social order. But who, that has
ever Travelled over the two states that we are
considering, or taken the pains TO compare
their statistics, as given In the usual authori-
lies, can have failed 10 remark their broad and
striking differences, in all these respecisl--
Supposing their social systems equally well
adapted to their respective localities, and the
genius of their people, there is a notable dis
parity in the practical results.
On the one part We behold considerable
progress but on that Of the other, a prodig-
ious one. On the one side. we behold large
aud fertile soil, under delicious climate, thin
ly peopled and poorly cultivated; and, on the
other, barren soil, under inclement skies,
teening with towns and cities, and cultivated
to the extreme. On the one side, the indus
try, though productive, is. in many respects.
careless, thrifiless, and improvideni, confined
10 few branches which increase slowly !;
while on the other, The produciivenesss of the
industry exceeds that Of any Iart Of the globe,
excepting few sugar and coffee estates of the
torrid zone, and is richly varied, and advancing.
On the one side is slender commerce and on
the other, commerce which sweeps the seas
On the one side are bad roads, and few ofthem
while on the other, is chevanx De frse Of
railroads On the one side is puny anG un-
prolific intellectual activity and, on the other.
an intellectual activity which leaves no child
uniaueht, and scarcely inan unleilered. On
the one side is a society irrevocably divided in
TO castes, where a debased aud inferior race
grows In numbers and strength. to the inereas-
ing embarrassment Of the superior race, and
amidst the derision Of the civilized world
while, on The other, is homogeneous society,
where every man enjoys the means Of the high
est culture and the sccuresi happiness, and
the future expands and brighieus, with new
prospects Of social achievement. Every year
is plnnging South Carolina into deeper troubles
and dangers, from which her most sagacious
and even hopeful minds see no escape but civ
IL war while every year is lifting Mass achu-
sets toward more secure and benignan, emf
nence of Christian civilization.
Our argument does not mean to assert that
South Carolina ough, to adopt the institutions
Of Massachusetts,, because we have no occasion
10 go into such an inquiry here bot wha, il
does assert is this, that if high degree of
prosperity be desirable to nation, il a thriv-
ing population, if universal industry, il the
rapid increase, and equitable diffusion Of wealth,
If general improvement, if education and re-
ligion, in short, il a harmonious growth and
widening prospects for the future, be the tests
of that prosperity, then the institutions Of Mas
sachuseiis are vastly better in themselves, aud
in respect to all communities in which they are
practicable, than the institutions Of South Car
olina. We say, that the experience of these
states has shown, inconiesably, the superiori-
ty Of the free condiiion of society, and that we.
as honest patriots and Christian men, are bound,
by all human wisdom, and all divine law, to
prefer those institutions, where either may be
adopted, as in our new territories. We are
bound 10 secure 10 our friends and descendants
in those regions, to which, under our guardian
ship, they have removed, every highest guar
aniy aud facility Of future well-being.
But the superiority Of free society, so sig
nally exhibited in the contrasts Of the two
great and powerful states We have named, is
confirmed by the experience of all the states.
The relative position Of the free states, com
pared with the slave states. is accurately de-
no,ed by the relations Of Massachusetts and
South Carolina. Free society is always on
the lead and one Of the established principles
Of political economy is, that it mnst be So
that il cannot be otherwise that God would
be forgetful of the laws he has implanted in
the human constitution, and in the universe, If
he did not render freedom the most benignant
Of all conditions. Mr.. Henry C. Carey, in
most valuable book Of his has shown, by
rigid induction from the statistics Of four ma
tions--India, France, England, and the United
Siales--ihal in everything which involves the
success, the happiness, and the moral elevation
of their people, their eminence is in a precise
ratio 10 their political freedom. He proves,
specifically, and beyond a doubt, that, in re-
specl TO the security Of person and property
in respect to quantity and quality Of work in
respect to the profits Of capital, and The wages
of labor in respect to equable distribution Of
wealth, and exemption from taxes; in respect
10 l.. Il n =.