Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-12

W0oneooAy, Aornin8, 1nNSty -, 49,
British and American Institutious
The lass number Of Blackwood's Magazise con-
tains seathing Review Of a speech rccsntly made
BY Mr.. John Bright . member of the British
Hoass II Osnno1s. end one Of the leaders Of the
radical lssuocratio party Of the British nation
Blackwooa's MAgasiae 10 the recognised organ Of
the Hish Tory party Of England-and a most able
and eRcieut organ It Is. It's articles, written BY
thu LEADING sts,ssmen Of tho realm, command the
atlantic. Of The politicians Of the whole continent
of Europs-bsins .c les remarkable for the ele-
esncs ssA foros with which they arc written.
than sbr the sound principles Of Government that
they propesnd.
This stselins Magazine has heretofore failed to
notice. ssssps he casual way. that noisy. mod
ding impseti.snt spstart. Mr.. John Bright l.
has permitted him 10 eject his spleuetc complaints
and whinings upon the British nation without in
terupt;on. Ithas pernitted him 70 snuaciate his
radical Dsaocsatio dogmss, without interposins
to check hin. Enboldened by sense Of impuni-
ty, Mr.. John Bright has advanced step by step I'M
Ill hs hes as Last reached the very climax Of do
structiys rsaieaEsm. II ID at this moment that
Blsckwuod turns upon him, and demolishes him
ct sinsls blow. No wild beast Of the forest, en-
vslopsd in ths deadly folds Of the anaconda. was
ever % badly bruised. battered and crushed as is
Mr. John Bright; under the ponderous slcdge-
hammer Of logic and ridicule which Blackwood's
Magasins has brought to bear upon him.
The burden Of Mr.. Brights song CONSISTS of
complaints against the form of Government adopt
ed by the British nation. lie wishes to popular
ice and democratise the British Government, lie
wishes to assimilate its institutions to those oil the
Unitsd States Of America lie wishes to pull
down The landed proprietors and the aristocrncy
Of the British nation. and elevate the wcavers and
spnners ADD iron-mongers Of the cities over their
heads. In Short Mr. John Bright n cotton spin
ner himself proposes to revolufroisc the British
Government and turn everything upside down.
without considering what may he its ultimate ef
fects upon the stability and permancncy Of the
institutions of England solely with view Of eie
vstine himself and his retaness t. positions for
which they are qualified, neither by birth, nor
talents DOR interest.
We have prototype Of Mr.. John Bright in this
country. His name is Andrew johnson, and he
lives in the State Of Tennessee Not content with
universal suHrage-not content with comforting
this boon upon even unnaturalised Foreigners
Mr. Andrew johnson has, in his time, proposed
even that cur Federal Constitution he 80 amcnded
as to lut the election Of Senators Of the United
States. and Judges Of the Supreme Court, into the
hands Of the people lie would do away with the
intervention Of tho Electoral College. thus placing
the South completely at the mercy Of dominant
Northern majority lie woul give away. under
the Aagitious pretence of Homestead Bill, the
common property of the nation-tie public lands
to horde Of ignorant natives and foreigners.
No doubt these were pleasant dreams to Mr.. An.
drew johnson when he was impatcntly writing
at the foot Of the political ladder, and before in
trgue and dishonesty had procured his elevation
to the National Senate. With the usual nsincer-
ity Of such men, suppose he has now abandon
ed the most Of his destructive dogma, -.nce they
are no longer needed TO commend him to the tavcr
of the 'oi polloi' -bu. lie still clngs to the pro-
ject of distributing "homesteads' to the people.
Mr.. Andrew johnson is not ineligible. except in
respect Of capacity. to the highest dignity o! the
Republic-snd it is hardly to he wondered at that
one whose elevation has been rs rapid it has
been unmeritsd, should even fix his gaze upon the
topmost pinnacle Of American ambition.
Unfortunately, demagogueism in this country,
such Mr.. Andrew Johnsons, cannot be SO ca
silly crushed rs is demagoguei.m in England, such
Is is Mr. John Brighfs. Blaekwood's Magazine
may drive stake through Mr.. John Bright, and
pin him to the earth, and he VIII he unable 10 rise
again. But Mr.. Andrew Johnson only thrivos
upon opposition. He can securely point to his
bleeding wounds received in the popular cause, az
apropitiatory sacrifice in behalf II popular rights
and his rstaincr. of Ill nations and hues and
oalinss, will rally arouni him culy the more de-
votedly. Insensible Of shame, the ror popm'i is
TO him In object Of far greater consequence than
the approval Of his own conscience.
The institutions Of Great Britain have stood the
test Of centuries. Evils there are doubtless, as is
the case more or less in all Governments. We
apprehend. however, that even Mr.. John Bright,
after few years experience Of American iusti
tations. would willingly enough agree to rcturn
"sxyer testatas rias' of the British realm. Even
. De Tocqsevills. while appauding with Gallo en-
thusiasm the theory Of American Government,
was forced to admit serious defects in its practical
operation. In Amercn, as well as in Europe,
there is far more danger Of Governments falling
topisces from an excess Of popular rights, than
from their safe and Wholesome restriction.
The French Spol,ation Bill, MS it appears, has
passed the Senate. This bill has twice passed
both Houses Of Congress- and been twice vetoed
once BY President Polk and again bv President
Pierce. But as Mr.. Buchanan, when Senator,
voted for It. It's likely it will become law if it
can get through the House Of Repre- sentatives.-
This latter We considsr somewhat doubtful.