The New York herald., 1868-02-21

In the North Carolina Convention yesterday report
adopted fixing the boundaries Of the Congressional
districts. The only changes made that New Hanover
county has been placed in the Third district and Sterling
in the Fifth.
The Tax Collector Of the State Of Georgia yester
day arrested by the military he refuses 10 give up the
records or the money.
Cincinnati despatch states that navigation Is now
open from Pittsburg TO New OrleanA
Progress Of Popular Ideas-EnRland Agnin
In Revolutionary Action.
No nation occupying prominent position
in the modern world has passed through 50
many revolutions as England, nor would any
existing nation be so completely justified in
claiming that each successive revolution had
proved positive gain. The first great revolu-
ton (nOt to 60 too far back), the effects of
which must still be included in the positive
blessings enjoyed by every branch Of the
Anglo-Saxon family, wherever in any part Of
the world their lot has been cast, was that
which took place in 1915, when the privileges
OF Magma Charta were wrung from the reluctant,
unprincipled, but helpless King John. To
Magma Charta more than to any other instru-
ment are due the liberties now enjoyed by
every people to whom the English language
has become the mother tongue. This large
family now includes not only the British
isles, but the United States of America, the
new Dominion, Australasia. colonies in Asia
and Africa and in numberless islands Of the
sea. It would form, indeed, the theme Of q
curious as well as instructive essay, how
almost oil that can properly be called
liberty as an existing thing in the modern
world flows from the same rich foun-
tainhead. The descendants Of the English
men Of that day, and those who in any part Of
the world have inherited their principles, have
never forgotten the rights which were then
nobly won, and have seldom been slow to grid
themselves airesh for the fight when these
rights have been threatened or invaded. 1t is
our object in what follows to confine our atten-
ton exclusively to England; and it ia not, as
we think, too much to say that to the mante-
nance or expansion Of the principles of Magma
Charta all subsequent revolutions are trace
able.
The revolution which took place in the reign
Of Henry the Eighth, and which is ordinarily
spoken Of as the Reformation, ranks next in
order. II would not be difficult to show,
though the interval was long between, that this
religious revolution naturally flowed from the
more secular revolution which had preceded.
The revolution which took place under Henry
the Eighth resulted in a larger expansion of the
liberal sentiment and diffused over q larger
area the love Of liberal principles. The sue
cess Of this revolution was by no means assured
at the death of Henry, although his strong will
during his lifetime was powerful in holding the
reac,ionary forces in check. The reaction was
terrific during the reign Of the Bloody Mary
but the Reformation principles which were
fostered during the long and prosperous
reign Of Elizabeth could never again be
overturned or resisted. Liberty at the
close of the reign Of the Maiden Queen was
larger thing in itself and rested on broader
and stronger foundation than at any former
period. On the whole, perhaps, though no
constitutional progress was made, liberty was
a gamer by the reign Of the First Stuart, the
Scottish "Jeames" and would-be Solomon OF
his time.
AT the time that Charles the First ascendcd
the throne liberty had become q vast and
powerful unit in English society. Intelligence
had grown and spread over wider area, and
liberal principles had grown and spread with
intelligence. The English people knew they
had rights, and they were prepared to defend
them. Nay, more the inactivity Of James
reign had developed grievances, and the peo-
pie had become impatient to have these griev-
AhA afN ~
Charles that he did not understand the country
be was called upon to govern, or IL was his
sin that he would not understand IT, With
stupid notions Of divine right, partly inherited
from bis father, and following the advice Of un-
principlel but servile counsellors, he set him
self in opposition to principles which for cen
turies bad grown with the growth and
strengthened with the strength Of the nation.
lie paid the penalty with his life. Liberty was
too strong Tor despotic Charles. Whatever may
have been tho errors Of the party who now
succeeded to power, however the Com
monwealth may have proved q failure this, at
least, must be admitted that the people had
discovered their strength strength which
had proved useful, and which might prove USE
ful again. The restoration Of Charles was q re-
action which was natural enough In the circum-
stances, as might easily be shown but IL
Charles had been as opinionative and AZ self
asserting as tho other members of bis House
bis reign would never have been tolerated.
Tho truth Of this last assertion Is maniies. when
we remember the stirring events Of the subsc-
quent reign. The conduct OF the Second James
proved that he had learned nothing from the
msforIunes Of his family Blind alike to bis
fathers folly and to his iather's fate, and
stupidity ambitious to initiate the role OF the
Grand Monarquc, who, by The revocation Of
! the edics Of Nantes and by other measures,
] nrn6n3d nni the naacnnt liberties ol The French