The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-29

Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Is, 1857.
The Money Crisis Commercial Rer,Aisiorss in Ea-
rope and the United Stasss.
was much pleased with some editorial remarks
saw in the HERALD q short time since on the SUB eel
II the monetary crisis under which the whole country
ssufernc. You most truly say that such commissions
m trade and such general bankruptcy az sweep pc
ricdcalIy over our country cannot occur with the
nme violence, intensity and universality in England
Or Germany as with u.s. because their force is broken
aad their progress stayed by fixed properties in the
hands Of the nobility Il cannot quote your words be-
cause the HERALD is not before me.) You might have
added that the large number of fixed properties in
France, however small and with whatever evils at
tended had, at least the good effect of preventing
any great commissions in trade and in industrial pur
suits. However chronic the poverty of France may
be, human life there is sure to flow on generally
IN an even tenor, undisturbed by those pancs and
failures which often in America throw all society
cut of gear bankrupt the rich, arrest trade stop fac
tories and turn out hundreds of thousands of opera
tvcs to live precarous private charity, or to sarve
The French accustomed to economy, fugality and
poverty, and are happy and cheerful people, tor
sured by no eager thirst for gold, nor by any ap-
pfenen6iOn6 OF tOtdl utbttutlon. we SPEAK, Vi
course, of the masses of the nation, who are
all small andholders; for she has a prolstary class
abont her larger cities desperate and dangerous
~ any in the world.
Rich and poor, are less happy, a less satisfied,
and in pecuniary circumstances and social position,
less secure people than the French; probably than
any other people whatever for nowhere else il the
spirit and practice of trade SO Observation-Disclosures
else is all property set up TO be gambled for. The
consequences are that capital is centering in our
nd a w hHndc- AZ he
North in those cities-whiist at the South compa
lively few rich planters are absorbing the wealth of
the land. But we have a sagacious people whose
instincts unerring, and whose practice is ready
and bold. North and South they have felt and seen
She evils of social organization and legal and po
ktical institutions. They have done more-for they
have begun to apply the proper remedies. They are
ancboring fast small properties to them from
the aabsorbing malstrom Of trade and speculation.
They are condemning and destroying the banks, the
brokers, and the whole race Of greedy spectators,
by robbng them Of the pabulum which sustans
them, In a republican country government-nay,
society tsef-is safe only SO long as conservatism
Is the interest Of the masses. To effect this
properties must be generally dff.lsed, Sc
sure and permanent.ss Then, capital, held
by the many, becomes conservative element
Il society. Now, owned by the few, its tendency
u TO disrupt society and revolutionise government.
The legislation TO which allude, which will give
axity and security to property, and restrain trade
and speculation within healthful bounds, is the
homestead laws of the Northwest and North the
hws in the South exempting few slaves from exc
eution the laws becoming common throughout the
country excmpting implements of agriculture, tools
,f trade and small amounts Of furniture from exc
sutton and the prevailing legislation securing sepa-
rate estates to married women. | might add also
The laws aboshing imprisonment for debt. All this
legislation looks in the direction wisely indicated
,y the editorial in the HERALD We shall soon have
general system of small entails, like those estab
ished by Moses and Joshua, under divine instruc-
ion in Judea. 1t is the true democratic system,
IL tpnig euuaiiZp condition and To adj
,ance the greatest good Of the greatest number
When this is effected society will be harmonious,
sappy and secure, and government safe, permanent
md stable Men, seeing no opportunity 70 prey
upon and devour each other the tricks OF trade and
var Of the wits will cease and the natural love Of
nan for his felow-the social, fraternal, and phan-
hropic affections win revive These feelings and
Gections may be smothered for time by bad legs-
alton aud false political and social organization,
ut they are part of mans nature, aud never can be
Wholly oblierated. We see now the open hand of
harity ready to relieve the poor, when very often
IL the very hand that in the greedy race for
wealth, has oppressed and down-trodden the poor.
We propose no hasty legislation, no sudden or uni
esai change, no sociaistie or utopan schemes, but
gradual and experimental adaptation Of our laws
nd institutions TO the changing circumstances Of
ur country. We reverence the lessons Of history
nd Of human experience, and contemn q prtorf
regulations of philosophers. In new country,
;bare lands are almost in common. and there are
NV temptations to crime, laws should be few, go
eminent little and lax, and trade, speculation and
mpetitlOn almost u0hr0eni tapltal, skill anu
inning cannot, in such a country, Cypress labor,
ecause property has 81 become q close mo-
opoly. owned by the few, and the laborer can
eadiiy escape from the mastery of the capitalist by
ccupyng new lands. In such country free com
etition il healthful agency. which stimulates in
ustry and enterprise TO increased and remuneraiive
ction.
In the eastern portion Of the Union. however,
aptal il acquiring an undue power over labor; the
rcat wealth Of the few and the sordd poverty of
he many hold ont temptations to crime and gene
n REORGANIZATION: and hence more Of legal regIla-
on of penal enactment and of political government
re daily becoming necessary. We must haul
own our old flag, "The world Is too much
oyerncd," and run up In it, place IA our mot
}, The world IL too little governed Mobs riots
"a crimes Of all kinds, have been more frequent
,is year than on any former occasion; and now,
Monetary CONFUSION has arrested the course Of all
AIDE and business and almost disrupted and disor-
anized society The democratic party stands
the national helm, and il features. it, wiz
ON and it's courage, are fully adequate IN
,e periis and complexities Of the occasion. II
even pathological In ia practice, and conforms
principles and its action 20 the necessities Of the
mes. II Is always right, because II II continually
hanging its platforms its opinions and is policto
aapt them 10 the changing circumstances of
rowing country. IL Is now eminentiy conservative,
ecause the country needs vigorous rule and more
pose IL was radical and "iet alone" In its policy
hirty years ago. because then the nation needed little
law and much Of competition.