The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-08
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.


will take place at the Universaist Church to.
night.
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.
Anxiety in the British Parliament Resnect
ing the Fate of the United States.
In the debate on the new Reform bill, in the
british House OF Lords on April 18th, Earl GREY
rose to move that select committee be appointed
to inquire what would be the probable increase of
the number of electors in the counties and bo-
roughs 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 consttu-
encies by such increase. During the course of his
remarks he said The experience of other nations
the gradual corruption of free institutions in other
countries, in ancient and modern times, ought to
be our beacons as to the dangers to which so MANY
seem to be so blind. Above all, the example of
the United States ought to be a 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 coun-
try to successful close established federal con-
stitution, by which they thought they had provl-
ded sufficient checks against the dangers fan I'M
balanced democracy. AT this time the constitu-
tons OF the several States were founded similar
principles. But almost every check then raised
has been swept away, and system of the altogeth-
er unchecked dominion of the mere numerical ma
jority has been established, both in the federal and
the State governments. My lords, believe if the
contemporaries of Washington had been asked
whether they would abandon the system they had
established for the one that has replaced it, they
would have answered unanimously, eve will not
try so dangerous an experiment" But it has taken
place, nevertheless, and how ? By succession of
changes at first apparently inconsiderable in
themselves, but all leading by gradual, steady
and certain progression to that result which we
now see. And how had that change worked for
the happiness and ellbeing of the United States
In bringing this part of the subject under your at
tention wish to say nothing which can wound the
feelings OF people for whom, individuality, en-
terrain the highest respect and admiration; but it
would be false deicacy in me to abstain from des-
crbing the evils which now aflict that kindred ma
tio1, and which the best and most enlightened of
their own citizens are the first to admit and de-
| plore will enGeavor, then shortly to point out
to your lordships what is the state of things now
existing in the United States as described by wit
nesses OF the highest authority, native and foreign
In the first place, it is admitted that the abes and
more enlightened citizens of the United States are
absolutely excluded from all share in the govern
ment. 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 exclusively
into the hands of those men who do not scrupe to
Halter the lowest passions of the mob Hear,
hear The effects OF this seen both in the
to dwell upon the topic, but we all know in what
manner the relations of the United States with
foreign nations are carried on. Everybody is
aware OF the INSCRIPTIONS, overbearing tone which
marks their intercourse with foreign nations If
any one European nation were to act in the same
manner 1t could not escape one single wear We
ourselves have repeatedly been on the verge of
a quarrel with the United States With no
divergence OF interests but the strongest possible
interest on both sides to maintain the closest
friendship, we have more than once been on the
eve OF quarrel, and that great calamity has only
been avoided because the government of this
country has had the good sense, more than
once, to treat the government of the
United States much should treat spolt
children, and though the right was clearly on our
side, has yielded to the unreasonable pretensions
OF the ohlted states. Tfere is a danger that this
may be pushed too far, and that a question NAV
arse on which our honor and our interests will
make concessions on our part impossible. Look
too, at the manner in which the proceedings of
congress and OF the State Legislatures are carried
on the coarseness and vulgaritv the scenes of ac-
tual violence that occur, and the total absence of
all attempts to promote the welfare Of the nation
by enlightened legislation. Let me point out to
your lordshlps just one remarkable Contrast be.
tween Congress and the British Parliament In
Parliament, to which so much objection is made "a
not being sufficiently popular, public opinion aided
by the efforts of enlightened educated men has
been strong enough to enforce the application of
sound political science in our financial and com.
mercial legislation. 1t has swept away all protec
tion, and has placed our revenue laws on system
which Is admitted to be, on the whole wise and
just But while public opinion has been able to do
this IN England, contrary to the wishes, and con-
trary to the supposed interests of that landed arts
tocracy which is said to possess undue power in
Parliament, and to abuse it for the oppression of
the nation, Congress- on the contrary, has main
tanned the narrowest system of exploded protec-
ton hear, hear; and at this moment the re-
venue laws of the United States are of such char
acter, that no man who has the slightest preten-
m a UlaH0 If thn
impose great and needless burden on the mass Of
the community for the benefit of a few Hear.
hear. But worse than this, the system has led TO
corruption on the most gigantic scale. This is
universally admitted and deplored. Not one party,
not one set OF men alone affected by
it, but all alike. The facts have been ascer
tanned beyond all possibility of a doubt.
and have been set in the clearest light by one Of
the highest authorities to which would venture
to appeal--that of the President himself
1t appeared that it was the practice to
grant public lands in the western States for the
pose OF encouraging the formation OF RAILWAYS.
lhose grants were obtained from Congress- and so
obtained, they were used by the independent States
In the manner they thought best, and it appeared
that railway company in Wisconsin had really
purchased the whole government of that State
mere were thirteen Senators who had received
t35,OOO amongst them, in sums from 60 OOO tn
$4,000. There were sixty members of the Lower
House who bad received from FL 900 to 60 600
each, and there We're only four members who voted
Tor the bill who had not been bribed. Laugh
ter and shear, hear."l The Governor himself had
received 100000 for his influence in nassing The
measure, and his secretary received 81 600
Even the clerks of the House had received from
tl,O0O to 1000 EACH Others had received LARGE
sums of money, and the sum of ESQ 600 was nlaced
LOT the acceptance OF those who were called ont
slders Laughter. This statement did not rest
upon mere rumor, but it was the result of an official
inquiry by the Legislature, and the whole transac
ton had been reported by committee of the Honsa
Representatives uph q ~
mad arisen IN the United States. Hear hear Re-
'ore leaving this subject there was another point IN
Whlch ne wished to call attention He had stated
that the President of the United States had, with
the most praiseworthy spirit, written a letter in
which he had alluded to the demoralzing effects of
the system described. He was sorry to saw that tho
President himself unable to resist the effects of
the system There had been inquiry into the tate
OF the naval department of the United States the
result of which had been the publication of certain
documents which no man could read without aston
lshment. Contracts had been habitualv and avow
edly made for the promotion not of the public bnt
Oh private interests A physician had been appoint
ed TO superlntend the purchases of coal, who knew
nothing about coal, and never had ANYTHING to do
with purchasing 1t before, but who received the
appointment in order that he might share the pro-
Its with certain other persons More than one
letter mad been addressed to the highest officer of
the government, calling upon him to grant con-
tracts as reward for political services, One LET
ter had been addressed to Mr. Buchanan whom
Tresiuent, urging him to take care that the con-
tract for the pumping machinery in steamship
should be given to a particular house in Philade
phla, with view to obtaining their political infu
ence In the election. There was no Disgusting the
fact. 1t was put distinctly on the ground of the
Importance of obtaining their support in the pend
ing elections. He appealed to their ordships if
letter had been addressed to the Prime Minister of
TINS country making demand of that kind, and if
1t had been proved that he had listened to it,
whether such proceeding would not have aroused
the indignation of all parties in Parliament and
whether he would not have been subjected to the
seVerest censure. But how did the President of the
United States treat the matter? The letter was
simply sent to the Secretary of the Navy with the
endorsement, ''the enclosed letter from of
Philadelphia, is submitted to the attention of the
Secretary of the Navy. b." The political
corruption which prevailed in the United States
had had an effect upon every interest and every
class, and Also he was sorry to upon the courts
OF law. Some years ago the Supreme Court was
court OF the highest authority, and its decisions
were treated with the greatest respect not only at
home BUT in this and other countries The Judges
OF that court were enlightened and honorable men,
ana thelr decislons were often quoted for their
great moral weight. How had this state of tbinos
been altered? Under the system which had arisen
IN America, the appointment of the Supreme
Court, like all other appointments had been used
for the promotion of party purposes and the court
had lost the high character it formerly possessed