Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-09
Debate in the British Parliament Respect
ing the United States.

In the de bate on the new heloTin OH, III
the British house of Lords, on April 10Th,
Earl Grey rose to move that a select COM
mittee be appointed to inquire what would
be the probable increase OF the number OF
electors in the counties and boroughs of
England and Wales, from reduction OF the
franchise, and whether any or what change
is likely to be made in the character OF the
constituencies by such increase During
the course Of his remarks he said: The ex-
lrerience of other nations, the gradual cor
ruption of free institutions IN other coun-
tries, in ancient and modern times, ought to
be our beacons as to the dangers u whlch
so many seem to be So blind. Above all, the
example Of the United States ought to be
warning to us that we cannot lay these things
too deeply to heart. Let me remind your
lordships that the great men who brought
the revolutionary war with this country to
successful close, established a federal constr
tuition, by which they thought they had pro-
vided sufficient checks against the dangers
of an unbalanced democracy. At this time
the constitutions of the several States were
founded on similar principles. But almost
every check then raised has been swept away,
and a system of the altogether unchecked
dominion. of the mere numerical majority
has been established. both in the federal
and the State governments. My lords, |
believe if the contemporaries OF Wash
ingtun had been asked whether they would
abandon the system they had established for
the one that has replaced it. they would have
answered unanimously, I'VE will not try so
dangerous an experiment." But it has ia
ken place nevertheless, and how? BY a
succession of changes at first apparently in
considerable in themselves, but all leading
by y gradual steady and certain progress
sion, to that result which we now see. And
), how had that change worked for the happl-
ness and we'll being Of the United States
In bringing this part Of the subject under
your attention, wish to say nothing W hlch
can wound the feelings of a people Tor whom,
individually, | entertain the highest respect
and admiration: but it would be false deli
cacy in me to abstain from describing the
evils which now a1ict that kindred nation,
and which the best and most enlightened OF
their own citizens are the first to admit and
deplore. | will endeavor, then, shortly to
point out to your lordshps, what is the
state of things now existing in the United
States, as described by witnesses Of the
highest authority native and foreign. In
the first place it is admitted that the ablest
and more enlightened citizens of the United
States are absolutely excluded from all share
in the government. They not only exercise
no public functions, but they have not even
the smallest influence over the acts of the
government. They are perfectly helpless
and powerleSs, and the whole power, both
legislative and executive, has fallen eXciG-
sivey into the hands of those men who do
not scruple to tlattcr the lowest passions ot
the mob (EIear, hcar.) The effects Of this
are seen both in the Executive and in the
Legislature | don't intend to dwell upon
the topic, but we all know in what manner
the relations of the United States with for
eign nations are carried on. Everybody is
aware of the unscrupulous. overhearlng tone
which marks their intercourse with foreign
nations. If any one European nation were
to act in the same manner, 1t could not es.
cape war one single year We ourselves
have repeatedly been OF the verge OF IA quar-
rel with the United States. With no diver
gence of interests, but the strongest possible
interest on both sides 10 maintain the closest
friendship, we have more than once been on
the eve of a quarrel. and that great calaml-
ty has only been avoided because the gov
ernmcnt of this country has had the good
sense, more than once, to treat the govern
ment of the United States much as we should
treat spolt children, and though the right
WIS clearly on our side, has yielded To
the unreasonable prcte atoms o! the United
States. There is II danger that this may be
pushed too far, and that a question may
arise on which our honor and our interests
will make concessions on our part inpossi-
bic Look, too, at the manner in which the
proceedings of Congress and Of the State Lee
gisatures are carried on, the cOarscness and
vulgarity, the scenes of actual violence that
occur, and the total absence Of all attempts
to promote the welfare of the nation by en-
lightencd legislation. Let me point out to
your lordships just one remarkable contrast
between Congress and the British Paria
ment. In Parliament, to which so much OH
lection is nude, as not being sufficiently
popular, public opinion, aided by the efforts
of enlightened educated men, has been
strong enough t. enforce the application Of
sound political science i'll our financial and
commercial Legislation. 1t has swept away
all protection. and has placed our revenue
| laws on Il system which is admitted to be,
on the whole, wise and Just. But while pub
lie opinion has been able to do this in Eng
land, contrary To the wishes, and contrary to
the supposed interests OF that landed arts
tocracy which is said to possess undue pow
er in Parliament and to abuse it for the OPP
preston Of the nation, Congress, on the
contrary, has maintained the narruwest syS-
TEN of exploded protection hear, hear;l and
at this moment the revenue laws OF the Uni
ted States are of such Il character, that no
man who has the slightest pretension to Il
knowledge Of the subject, can doubt they
impose great and needless burden on the
mass of the community, for the benefit OF Il
few (lIear, hcar) But worse than this,
the system has led to corruption on the mast
gigantic scale. This is universally admitted
and deplored. Not one party, not one set OF
men alone are affected by ii, but all alike.
The facts have been asccrtaincd beyond all
possibility of Il doubt, and have been set in
the cearest light by one Of the highest au-
thoritieS to which | would venture to
appe;l--that Of the President himself
Before ,aving this sube there was anoth
err point to which he wished to call attention.
He had stated that the President OF the Uni!
ted States had, with the most praiseworthy
spirit, written letter in which he bad ailu-
| ded 10 the dcmoralizing effects OF the system
de- cribed. lie was sorry to say that the PresI-
I l L. tl,n ,,,