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THE UNITED STA TES ;
A VISION.
Reflecting on tlie unrivalled progress of the
United States in internal improvements, ii
wealth, and in power, my mind was transport
ed to a pc iud when, together with most ot the
existing race, I shall he translated to anothei
world. What, said I. will be tin situation of
my country a century hence f I fel’ pleasure
in contemplating the scene preset u-.d to tnv
fancy; and supposing others possessed ol tin
bailie feelings with my sell, 1 oiler a sketch ol
inv reveries.
In the first place. I laid it down as the foun
dation of the, whole superstructure, that our at
tachment to the principles ol liberty, and a pa
cific course, would continue to regulate onr
conduct. Is this calculating upon too nun h ?
Js there not every reason to hope that these
principles have, already passed the severest or
deals to which tlu v will ever lie exposed ! Ihe
state of infancy, from which we have just emer
ged, rendered us filvmicallu more vulnerable
than we ever shall be at any future stage of our
cxis'etice. In this state, in war as well as in
pe ice, we demonstrated our competency to re
sist external force, aided bv no mean portion of
internal co-operadon. We did this too, under
a s stem of government, compared with the
present, in the highest degree inefficient. We ■
were likewise exposed to all the evils and dan- \
gers of inexperience. All these perils we met
and vanquished with a sun ess that gave dis
tinct ion to the American name. Can greater
ever present themselves ? Our population is
doubled—our wealth is quadrupled—our sys
tems ol government are hilly organized, and a j
confidence is reposed in the national govern- 1
incut, which would, whenever necessary, ena
liu- it In draw from the national resources to al
most any extent. j
On these grounds then, the nation is corn
| fe'ciy ale. If there be danger, it will come
from another quarter. It will be the result of
our prosperity. Wealth and luxury will be our 1
ruiu. Hut have we any just reason to consider
our situation, in tins respect, as likely to he an
alogous to that ol the nations of the old world ?
Why have wealth and luxury been fatal to
them ? Because, riches and power, instead of
being diffused widely through the various clas
ses of society,* and distributed throughout the
several sections of nations, have been confined
to a single class, and centered in a single spot.
And whence has this arisen, but from the ini
quitous monopolies and establishments cieated
or reared by those in power ? What are hie
rachies, nobility, and monarchy, hut monopo
lies of power and wealth ? It is to these migh
ty monopolies, toge her with the laws passed
to fortify and extend them, that the world is in
debted fm a concentration of wealth and power
in the hands of a few, which has given birth to
that luxury, which has been so debt: uctive of
public virtue, and private morals. On tire -
other hand, our institutions, laws and manners,
so lar from fnstetit.g, or creating such monopo
lies, are so many obstai les to their creation, or
limitations of them. The herrditury principle,
Imtli in its appln ation to property and political
power, being forever annihilated, there is not
the slightest ground for apprehending those
dangers in this country from either power or
riches, which have so fatally scourged other
nations. The door to office, and the acquisi
tion of pivfpony, being alike open to universal
competition, will forever frustrate the concen
tration of eithci in tlu-hands of any particular
classes, for any considerable length ot time.
Ii is the opinion, indeed, of well informed men, j
that property at the present day is more equal- |
]y divided in the United Slates than it was 20 .
years a o. This constant tendency of proper- I
tv to equalization, will have two effects. It
will prevent the existence of any considerable
number of overgrown fortunes, and it will
maintain a powerful and numerous yeoinaniy,!
jiuttesscil ol moderate propeity ; sufficient to
i JHpr them independent and happy, but not ‘*
to justity their indulgence in habits
of luxury, and totally incompetent to the exer
cise of a dangerous influence on the low er oi- ,
tiers of society'.
Reiving then on the adherence of the people
of this country to their republican and pacific
ptinciples, 1 carried myself forward a ccutury
lienee
I lie fu st thing that arrested my attention,
was the alteration in the state of the count y.
Wherever 1 cast my eyes, 1 beheld, (for it was
about the season ol haivest) the most luxuri
ant production. Not a spot, within the scope
of my eye, but that was in the highest state of
cultivation. Extensive fields ol grain, and more
extensive pastures, announced the united in
fluence oi industry and intelligence. Sjvuts,
originally sterile, and al ogelhcr unproductive,
now v ied in the luxuriance of their crops, with
those on which nature had been the most boun
tiful. Astonished at litis wonderful change, I
enquired how it had come to pass. “ Look,”
s..id the individual I addressed, “at yonder ca
nal. It is but one mile from the ground on
■which you now tread ; a good road, that mav
be easily travelled the whole veal'. leads vou to
it ; and, otn e on its banks, vou are directly and
easily carried to the grand canal th t connects,
by a direct route, the whole Atlantic board.
These canals anil roads are the life of our agii
cultmv and manufactures. They give a value
to every product of human industry ; and more
than all, they have rendered cverv acre oi
ground,however situated, anil however barren
worthy the cultivation of the husbandman.
A lie towns situated on these canals and roads
furnished us, in the first place, with sufficient
manure to bring our pixirest lands into tolera
ble. heart, and, that end oucc attained, all that
followed was easy; for the ground subsisted
cattle enough for its constant and gradual ame
lioration, until it attained the state in which you
now behold it.”
Who. said I, with eagerness, is the great
magician that produced this astonishing trans
format ion ?
“ Jefferson, said he, one hundred years ago,
laid the foundation stone. He devised the
system ; recommended it to his countrymen,
and insured its adoption.”
I knew, said I, the man of whom you speak,
lie was a great man—
“ But. wiu.t is rnoie to his honor, he was a
good man.”
How so, said I, is virtue so rare among you,
that you set so much value upon it ?
“ No, thank Heaven; the example beset,
and the wav in which he administered the pub
lic affairs, have had the happiest effect on pri
vate morals ; but, it is a rare thing-, the history
of the whole world proves it, fora man so great
to have been likewise so good.”
Do you, said I, ptize virtue in a public man
at a higher rate than talents ?
“Infinitely higher. Indeed we will not al
low any man to he great who is not good.”
Happy, thrice happy state of society, ex
claimed 1, in which such sentiments prevail!
But, recollecting myself, I observed, that the
general prevalence ol such principles implied
more knowledge than the people can possibly
lay claim to. Ignorant, as most of them must
be, their admiration is trffti c excited by the dis
plays of power than virtue.
“ Ignorant! No, thank God; whatever out*
enemies may upbraid us with, they cannot re
proach us with ignorance.”
What portion of the people can read anil
write ?
“ There is not a man among ns who cannot
do both. And, what is more, there is not one
in a hundred that does not spend a part of the
da; in this occupation. Reading is our plea
sure—it is the way in which the poorest man
pusses his evening in the midst of his family,
lb reads, while they work.”
How, said I. is this possible ? Where do you
get the means of educating yotlr children, and
of procuring book), to read ?
“ ‘The nation supplies them most liberally.
Nay, more—lt compels every parent to sea
Ins children to the best schools, supported at
the public expence ; and as for books, every
small district bus a librai y maintained in the
same way, and accessible to all. Vou see,
therefore, it would be our own fault if wc were
ignorant ; and as every parent knows it would
be an indelible disgrace to his child not to pos
sess the advantages of education, he takes cue,
bv the utmost attention, to awaken bis curiosity
and excite, his thirst for information. Hence
it is, that every brunch of business is pursued,
not only with industry, but also with skill and
intelligence—-the consequence of which is,
that the whole mass ot labor is made in the
highest degree perfective, and nothing is lost
All that is done, is well done. Work is done
for perpetuity. Our mansions, and barns, and
out-houses, instead of tumbling into ruins every
twenty or thirty years, are fitted to last for ages
—the fencing of our farms is made in a style of
the like permanency—(casting my eyes around,
l observed nothing but hedges, principally
made of the white thorn)— and manure is ap
plied in sucli a way as, with a proper succession
of crops, to insure the constant fertility of the
coil. It is owing to this that no man is so poor
as not to be abl- to devote a few hours of the
day to reading, and writing, and social inter
course. lienee, likewise, it is, that we have
few crimes committed among us, and few con
troversies between our citizens.”
Vou have not then, 1 presume, said I, so ma
ny lawyers as you otherwise would have ?
“ We have neither lawyers or physicians, in
the true sense of the terms. Our state of so
ciety supplying neither of the professions with
an honorable maintenance, they have gradu
ally dwindled into insignificance, so far as re
gards their numbers. Ihe few offences per
petrated, and the certainty and severity with
which they are punished, as well us all viola
tions ol pecuniary engagements, and the gene
ral conviction of the enormous expence of fee
ing lawyers, has long since turned the tide of
public opinion against this order of men. And
as to the physicians, we live so temperately
and arc so exempt from those inquietudes of
mind that are so productive of physical disease,
that they have likewise become an almost use
less profession. Those that remain are princi
pally surgeons, and men of high scientific en
dowments, whose exertions are chiefly employ
ed in exploring the arcana of nature, anil ex
posing its treasures to the general view. Some
advocates remain among us ; but they are ge
nerally men of independent fortunes and minds,
who are impelled by motives of humanity or
justice to take up the cause of the oppressed.
I heir voice is never raised but in the cause of
truth, and to shield the poor and feeble from
oppression ; and, w hen heard, it is rarely heard
in vain.”
In raptures with this portrait of the times, so
different trom the degenerate days of their an
cestors, when even justice was in a degree ve
nal. 1 passed into a spacious hall, where I be
held convened a fin , > body of men, clad in the
neatest though plainest attire, and where the
greatest order reigned.
“ This,” said my companion, “ is the house
of representatives of the United States. This
is the body to whom is confided the great in
terest of the nation. It is here that you hear
the brightest displays of eloquence, and behold
an habitual temperance and singleness of view
to the public good, that distinguish it beyond
every deliberative body that ever lx*fore exist
ed. It is here that a hundred millions are an
nually disbursed on objects ol general utility,
’ and principally on matte, canals and schools—it
i is here that, tor a hundred years, there has not
hern a dollar devoted Jor J'rivoloun or mine him out
fturfiOHe.il'’
What, said I, have you had no wars?
“ No 1 it is our pride, our boast, that, for a
whole century, we have remained in a state of
profound peace, without any blot upon the na
tional rhai acter. War has often been proposed
on this floor; but it has been as often over
ruled. Our young men have frequently strove
to embroil the natiin; but the good sense of this
body has always crushed the attempt, and the
good sense of the nation has invariably support
ed the decision. As often as headlong anil un
reflecting tteal has urged us to arms, we have
lifted the shield iefi us as an inheritance by the
immortal Jefferson; who was the first to de
monstrate the practicability of maintaining
peace without sacrificing honor.”
(hr attention was here arrested by a debate
which sprung up in the house of representa
tives. Such was the information and eloquence,
nignity and zeal, which characterised all the
speakers, that I fancied myself in the midst of
an assembly of superior beings. There were
two members particularly, who took opposite
sides in the discussion, that inspired'me with
the highest delight, and that equalled all my
ideas of eloquence. Who are these men, said
I ?
“ They are,” said my companion, “ both of
them young men, educated at the public ex
pense. Indeed, more than half the members
are of this description. It is to the universal
provision made on this head, that the dignified
character and correct conduct of this body is
owing. Those who elect, are thus qualified to
make a judicious election, and possess a wider
field from which to make it; and hence the na
tioml award, ultimately made on any important
subject, is seldom erroneous, and never danger
ously so.”
; A messenger was at this time announced
from the chief magistrate. It was received ap
• patently with the highest respect, and listened
Jto with the most profound attention. It was
” an expose of the state of the nation, and so in
! tercsting that it made an indelible impression
| on my memory and feelings.
” “ l elliAv-citizens of the senate and house of
representin'cs,” said the chief magistrate,
, “liberty, peace and prosperity are stii! the lot
ol this favored people. May these solid and
distinguished blessings, acquired by the valor
3 and wisdom of our ancestors, descend to the
J remotest generations ! May we, particularly,
i to whom are confided their greatest interests,
unite in their maintenance, by manifesting a
zeal tempered by wisdom, and a firmness sup
ported by moderation. It gives me great sa
tisfaction to be enabled to say, with confidence,
that at no antecedent period of our national
existence, have there existed surer indications
of internal happiness and external respect.
The commerce of our citizens, almost co-ex
tensivc with the globe, has not, during the past
year, been distinguished by a single act of vio
lence or injustice, committed under the auspi
ces ot any foreign nation ; and I have received
trom every nation of the old world, assurances
ot respect and friendship towards the United
States. The general congress have at length
established a system of universal law among
nations, which you will feel an honest pride at
finding in perfect coincidence with the enlight
ened sen iments of the great Franklin, from
which we may rationally hone, not onlv for
the undisturbed enjoyment of our own rights,
but likewise for the general prevalence of just
principles among nations, so long accustomed
to test right by force.
“ Agreeably to the act passed by you at your
last session, a census has been taken of the in
habitants within our limits, who, you will per
ceive, amount to one hundred and twenty mil
lions, of which, eighty millions are on this, and
forty millions on the further side of the Missi
ssippi. Among the latter, the English lan
guage has become subsii’uted almost entitely
lot’ the languages previously in use, and a gen
eral and strong conviction prevails of the su
periority of their present to their past condi
tion, when under the government of othei na
tions.
“ The receipts of the treasury for the last
year, amount to one hundred and ten millions,
of which, sixty millions are derived ftom tolls
paid on roads and canals, and the residue derived
principally from imports on articles of external
! commerce.
| “Ot this sum, fifty millions have been appli-
J ed to the support of schools, academic and col-
J legiate establishments, libraries, agricultural
J and mechanical societies, and various other
institutions and objects connected w*ith educa
tion and the arts. Fifty millions have been
applied to the making new roads and canals,
and keeping those already made in repair.
Five millions have been applied to the civil
and military establishment, leaving in the trea
sury, an unexpended balance of five millions.”
Here the illusion ceased. I have since calm
ly surveyed the picture delineated bv my ima
gination ; and it is my honest belief that it is
a just representation of future times, pro
vided we have sufficient wisdom and firm
ness to persevere in the course we have ta
ken.
NORFOLK, June 12.
Captain Haynes, in the fast sailing ship
AVoodrop Sims, arrived yesterday in 31 davs
from Guernsey, has politely favored us with a
file of London papers from the 23d of April to
the 9th of May, and Guernsey papers to the 16th
of last momiv.
In England, the parliament has been dissolv
ed, and the new elections are going on with
great spirit, but apparently both in England and
Ireland, without more titan ordinal y violence
possible for us tp say what will be the
but from the lew returns that have been made,
we think the new ministry has gained ground.
Mr. Sheridan, v.e observe, has been forced to
abandon his pretensions to Westminster, and
has been returned for a small borough under
the influence of the Bedfoul family. The par
liament was prorogued on the 27th of April,
to meet on the 13th May ; on the 29th of Apt ii,
pailiament was dissolved by proclamation, anil
the new parliament sununot ed to meet on the
22d of this month. The election for the six
teen Scotch Peers, was to take place at llal\ -
rood House in Edinburgh on the 9th of this
month.
The official accounts of the operations of the
British fleet befoie Constantinople had. reached
London, and as to the result, are published in
this paper; further detailed operations of this
expedition will be given hereafter. Nothing
can exceed the chagrin and resentment which
this circumstance has occasioned in England,
and serious enquiries are talked of. From the
view we are given of the subject, it appeal s
to have been an expedition badly digested, and
badly executed.
We do not perceive the smallest notice’ of
the treaty with this country in any of the pa
pers received by this ai rival ; in short the af
fairs of this country, respecting the treaty, are
no more noticed than if there had been none
made ; but this vve account for in the expected
change in the polities which the new parlia- •
ment will produce.
Affairs on the continent are detailed as far as
we were enabled to give them in this day’s pa
per, from which it does appear, that nothing im
portant had occurred between the two grand
armies. The 70th buiietiii, dated the 9th of
April, at Finckenstein, is the latest account
published by the French. An account reached
London the 9th of May, that a grand battle hail
been fought in w hich Bonaparte was defeated
with great loss, and was wounded ; this account
came from Holland and Hamburgh by private
letters, and though not contradicted at the dae
of our last papers was not much credited.
The continental Journals continue to speak
with confidence of peace, or at least of negoci
ations under the mediation of Austria, who
seems determined to pursue the system of
neutrality which she has adopted.
\\ heat in considerable quantities was daily
arriving in England from France, in neutral
vessels. Prices the Bth of May, at Mark-Lane,
fine wheat 78s. to 82s per quarter, fine flour
60 to 635. per sack of 10 quarters ; the Ante
tican bat tel 425. to 435. anil very abundant.
VERON A, April 9.
All the troops here and in the Venetian ter
ritory ate already on their march to Dalmatia,
and considerable reinforcements continue to
arrive front lower Italy and Piedmont. It is
stated now with a degree ol confidence, that ge
neral Marmont will have the supreme com— ■
niand. It is still said that Spanish troops are
to join this army.
COPENHAGEN, April 18.
Our Journals contain the following :—Orv
the Ist of April, general Benningsen reconnoi
tred the enemy in person ; and it was. the ge
neral opinion at Dantzic on the Bth, that an
account ol a great battle might be expected
every moment.
The garrison of Dantzic, with the reinforce
ments it has received, is estimated at 400,000
men. All the pavement is taken up to pre
vent the effects of the bombs. Up to the Bth,
the Fahvvasser at Dantzic was open, but the.
French still continued in possession of the Pe
ninsula.
TROM THE MAIN, April 21.
The Dardanelles will soon be put in a most
formidable state of defence by French ctv. rt
neers.
The public papers say, tfor the fine refi
tment of Hessian life guards has n~, ftr > accepted,
and is to do duty witli the emperor’s body
guard.
BORDERS OF THE ELBE, April 27.
The siege of Colberg, raised by the diver
sion made by the Swedes from Stralsund, is
now pushed with greater vigor than befoie.
1 he Russian courier who has brought seve
ral tails to Memel, taken front the L/ttoman
troops, says the 1 urks lost four thousand me-rv
in the last battle, when these trophies were ta
ken, and that the Russians were within forty
miles of Constantinople.
LONDON May 7.
Intelligence of a veiy satisfactory nature,
respecting the condition of the allied army, -had
been received. The reinforcements on their
way to the Russian army amounted to upwards
of 100,000 men, the greatest part of which was
expected to join it by the end of last month.
1 he grand duke Constantine reached the banks
of the Niemen on the 2d ult. at the head of the
imperial guards, thirty-two battalions of infan
try, twenty-seven squadrons of cavalry, and
ninety-two pieces of cannon. Another corps
ol thirteen battalions was on its march from
Riga, for the same destination. The army of
res *rve collecting in Lilhaunia amounted, at
the beginning of April, to thirty squadrons of
horse, and fifty-four battalions of infantry.
A letter trom an officer on board the Impe
riuse, dated off the Black Rocks, April 30th,
says : —“ V e have been here a week, watching
the motions ol six sail of the line, two frigates,
and two brigs, which are in Brest, waiting to
make choice of an opportunity to get out. The
Plantagenet and Champion are with us.”
The Mercury, Davison, from Memel, arti
ved in Leith Roads on Friday evening. Sim
sailed from the Sound on die 21st ult. at which