New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-07
MACAULAYS OPINION OF THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT.

The published writings Of the late Lord Mscaulay,
Though they treat 20 largely of political science and
contain msny direct incidental expressions OF the
authors estimate OF other governments beside his own
nowhere give his views, with any fulnssS OF the dem
ocTatic Institutions of OWE coobtry Indeed, we
do not now cali TO mind remark or alluson on tnls
subject which is sufficient to indicate even the general
complexion of opinions, which tue American people
uracared 10 receive with unusual degree of at
tentiOn from a writer 30 popular among themselves
There can be no doubt that Lord MacaulaJs History
of En- giand" has been read and admired by vastly
greater number of persons, speaking the Engah
tornue on this than on lis own side of the Atlantic
This omission in his writings, if 80 it may be called
will DO LONGER exist. The following letter, which We
have been permitted to present TO the American peo-
pls in the pages of The Messenger, fills up that chAsm
il belongs to occasional correspondence of some
years standing, between Lord Macaulay aud the Hoa
Henry s. Randall of New.YoIk, author of the e" Life
of Jefferson" None of these letters were made in
the least degree confidential at the time of their
writing. Lord Macaulays Zee AMI voluntary in their
tone, implied wrh for secrecy. Tns being the case
literary friends of MIR. Randpl very properly urged
ahef eeatn bad removed the snipeo' historian, that
the world Was entitled 10 the deliberate opinions not
kDoSD 70 be else where expressed, OF man gifted
30 deeply veIsed in the teachings OF history, and
Occasionally honest and uDtruckling, on question OF
Dcfnentons impOt 4nce 10 the human race
he snboiDed letter exhibits, ast Gu erstc ally,
not only the style Of its author, bus several of
marked and persist peculi4res of mind: his sturdy
adbereLc To the dOgmas aud traditions of party in
EDglsnd which is more intensely aristocratic, aud
which has learned to be intOleraut toward the
United Satee, than the Tory party: his ingrainsd
love OF psraeOx, combined with genuine English
"puck," which so often prompted him 10 ssssil
adopt damaging coDclusions AZ least doubtful tes-
timOny, IespectioR snch worlds favories Agernon
Si0Iey and William Penn while he pat in 10 Senous
extenIat pleas for the uDdeDiabe crimes and ia
frame. works Of glowing aud captivating rhetoric The
brilliant achievements, OF such moral m0nsarS Hast
logs and ClIve aud, foaly that unhestst1g and per-
fecIly self-reant doems tiSm which perhaps left
him Ia ultimate doubt concerning anything in the pas;,
the preeeaA The future-sDd which led former col
league IN the British Cabinet humoTOusly to say of
bin, that che wfbtd he knew one eiugle thing as
" confidently as Macaulay knew everything"
We should have been glad TO publish the reply
c0ucbed in decisive tone as bic 80, wh,h went
back to the iiping Lord Macaulsy but this being with
held, we have no disposition TO MAKE any issue aud
much lees quasi personal issue with the deceased his
toriap. We have quite too settled Iespest for our
Constitution to suVpose II needs q forG al defense
from the crcisms Of aDy foreigner. And il would be
to the last degree puere TO take otense and offer
tai alton accoDnt of opinions cOndemnatory
Of the institutions of the United States than are those
of great majority Of Americans cOLde DRY Of the
institutions OF Lord Macaulsys native land. Iajeed
we cohtees rather liking for that robust aud
prejDdiced patriotism which leads strong spirits 10
stand up for home ideas against all aud all op
poeDg tbeories; and equally like that moral brav
cry which, thinking, dares TO speak.