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1851.

Political Motives for 1851-2.

will not finally extinguish the respect of the is compelled to lie inactive and yield an
people for their own institutions: a moneyed unhoped victory to its antagonists.
aristocracy created by alliance with foreigners,
through an open and unrestricted commerce,
it is said, must inevitably corrupt the demo-
cratic sentiment, and introduce elements of
confusion which must finally break up the
common grounds of union.

This paralysis of a great democracy is certainly the most remarkable phase of national politics since the Revolution. The industrial classes of the people cannot engage in any new enterprise because it may be displeasing to the present English GovernAt this very moment, this powerful and ment, and because the idea that any other almost irresistible influence of a purely people beside the English should supply foreign literature, and foreign trade, has the themselves with clothes, books, and utensils effect to produce a complete paralysis of of their own making, is pronounced by travelparties. The grand national division of the ling English gentlemen to be a humbug, American democracy, named Whig, cannot and a proof of ignorance. This state of act out its full intentions, so completely things may perhaps be better comprehended paralyzed is it by the touch of England. It by the reader in a tabular form.

AMERICAN NATIONAL IDEAS.

NATIONAL SENTIMENTS.

OPINIONS OF FOREIGN FREE TRADERS.

A humbug.

That the Union will continue.

That Monarchy will profit by its dissolution.

That the South will find its advantage in a close commercial alliance with
the West and North.

That the general imperial government ought not to abolish slavery, in a
State or territory.

That the abolition of slavery will place the Southern States, the West Indies, and the cotton lands acquired, or in process of acquisition by Great Britain on the Southern part of this continent, on an equality.

That the American people have any nationality, or policy.

That foreign opinion ought to govern America.

That America will benefit by such government.

That the commercial prosperity of America will finally prove to be that of foreigners alone, and not of the American people.

That American wealth ought to flow over into foreign hands.

That free trade is beneficial to English, American, and Irish corn-growers.
That Exeter Hall, agitating free trade and abolition in the same breath, is the
great sustainer of British manufactures.

That modern Republics can have any literary or philosophical talent.
That they despise themselves.

That they will ever be treated with consideration and respect by the other
first class powers of the earth.

That they will ever develop a distinct national opinion and polity.
That they are a civilized people.

That they have any men among them who have a true national pride, that needs no fostering from foreign travelling eulogists.

That they have moral courage.

Whether the American democratic governments are not in fact serviceable tools of English Whigs.

Whether a shrewd diplomatist cannot twist an American politician into any shape it pleases him.

Whether the republican rule of non-interference may not be made a pretext by Great Britain to work her sovereign pleasure with the weaker nations of the continent.

To this list, an hundred others might be added, but those given will serve to illustrate the spirit of that foreign opinion which paralyzes parties in the United States.

Nothing, however, can be imagined more powerfully illustrative of the influence of foreign opinion on this continent, through

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A question to be whispered about, and replied to by winks and nods. intercourse, the opening of unrestricted commercial and literary, than the passivity and inaction of the people in regard to Central America. The fact that no popular movements have been made in that matter, discovers to our waking senses with what a millstone our necks are encircled. On t

democracy of America we are compelled to throw the blame of an inactivity, and a cruel indifference, as unnatural and uncongenial as it is mischievous.

strength of the navy would be trebled, the troops would furbish up their bayonets-the people would throng the parks and market places to hear military orations-the inLet us imagine for a moment, that neither truding foreign power would be notified, our clothes nor our opinions came to us that, as the American Union was originally from abroad; that, in a word, we were founded upon a compact of many indethoroughly independent of foreign com- pendent sovereignties, and existed solely by merce, and could not only supply ourselves, the continued recognition of State individubut all the world, with the luxuries and alities and liberties, according to the laws necessities of life. Let us suppose that of nations, compact or no compact,-it the Abolition party of New-England did felt itself bound to enforce that law upon not exist, or did not look to foreign lec- this continent, as it hoped for salvation, turers to propagate their doctrines, and that and desired the respect and friendship of Southern slaveholders, those champions of the world; and that, all things considered, the rights of individual States, those testy without any farther examination of treaties, guardians of sovereignties, did not look to it was decidedly the best policy, and the a foreign power to sustain their withdraw-safest for both parties, that the free States of al from the Union. With what a shout the North American Continent should not be of execration would they have received seized upon by foreigners; and that, too, with the news of the seizure of the naval station of the highest consideration and esteem, and Rotan, midway between New-Orleans and at your earliest convenience,-phrases at once the Isthmus, and of the establishment of a diplomatic and business-like. But these, new British protectorate in Central America, alas! are the sentiments of '76, and in days and over the Isthmus State of Costa Rica! of railroads laid with foreign iron, and With what a violent military enthusiasm laws based on foreign opinion, they fall flat would not the entire martial population of and tame upon the ears of an enlightened the South and West be affected! News- Democracy. American honor has grown papers would teem with exhortations to the gray, and lives retired, while American shame Government, petitions would flow in upon builds palaces on the shores of the Atlantic, Congress, hundreds of thousands of volun- and with his merchant navies wafts away to teers would register their names at Wash- England the profits and the honor of the ington for the defence of the Isthmus, the people.

SONNET,

AMBITIOUS TO FILL A BLANK IN THE WHIG REVIEW.

PEOPLE talk Sentiment, but do they live it?

The lips are echoes of the mocking heart,

And that false subtlety which takes its start

From its dark chambers-they are first to give it.

Oh, our two natures--they are rank deceivers,

The inward Counsellor, the outward Act-

The gilded Sentiment, the iron Fact

Befooling all but practised unbelievers.

True wisdom this-doubt the fair words of men,

Hear promises, advice, with cautious ears;

Being deceived, be not deceived again,

And watch the deep monitions of your fears.
So shall Success, that well-fed imp, abide

Through an obsequious world, attendant at your side.

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