Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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