The national era. [volume], May 09, 1850, Image 1

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THE NATIONAL ERA.
^ " BAILEY- gPIT?R AWP HK()PRI E'i ()R; JQHN G. WHITTIER, (^RESPONDING EDIT^
IV-NO. 10. ~ WASHINGTON. THURSDAY. MAY II, 185a W||()LE ]\0. 175.
The Nstloaal Era it PiMUhrd Weekly, ? IftuU
Street, eppwtlte Odd Fellsvrs' Hull.
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THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON, MAY < , ittt
(copy-RIOHV SBCCRBD.)
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW.
A STORY OK THE ISLAND ESTATE.
by mks. emma d. e. sot< 1'hwokth.
HOOK SEfOND.
VIII.
THE TWO ATTACHMENTS.
WouMst bearJ th? lion In bis lair?
The tigress in her den 1?Scot I.
When Gertrude reached the hall, she found
'Zoe standing mid-way- its length, with the
two bloodhounds crouched at her feet. She
h id just called them off the bailiff, who was now
standing just within the door, his hut in his hand.
Without deigning to notice him, Gertrude walked
straight up to the standing rack, and taking her
riding-whip down, began to crack it for pastime,
just us a lady would open and shut her fan, or a
dandy would twiddle his cane for amusementThe
bailiff bowed?hemmed loudly twice or thrice
to attract her attention, but Gertrude went on
hinging out the lush of her whip and bringing it
up with a loud report, while her fine, transparent
nostrils expanded and quivered with spirit.
' Uftf^oiir pardon, mum! but you are Miss
Lion. 1 preaiimeY"
" Sir, you are very presuming !" exclaimed
Gertrude, with startling, supercilious surprise,
and glaucing at the intruder from head to foot.
Apparently used to rebuffs, the bailiff proceeded
without embarrassment to say?
' You harbor a girl here who goes by the name
of 'Zoe."
" 1 harbor a fellow here whose name 1 do not
know!"
" Excuse me, mum ! My name is Jones."
" And a very pretty name it is, too?isn't it,
'Zoe ? ?
"Ah, 'Zoe! That is the girl, is it? Well,
Miss Lion, 1 have an attachment for this girl!"
"Indeed, have you, sir ? Really, how condescending
on your part! how flattering to her!
Do you hear, 'Zoe ? This gentleman declares
that he has an attachment for you. What do
you say to it, 'Zoe? Can you bid him hope?
lie is a nice-looking young man enough! a trifle
bandy-legged and club-footed; a trifle roundshouldered,
and a wee-bit cross-eyed, not fair to
look upon in particular, and rather hard favored
* in general; still, no doubt, he has an excellent
heart?at least his attachm-id does him credit!
What do you say to him, 'Zoe?" IJuable to
comprehend this scene, Zoe gazed from one to the
nthftp in diklrpAiiincr PmhnrrawumAnf 44 Ynn una
Mr. J one*, Zoe and myuelf properly appreciate
the honor you have done ua, while wo gratefully
decline your attachment. I am afraid, indeed,
that in Zee's case there is a piior attachment; we
therefore decline yours, with many thanks, and
with a high appreciation of its value! We
think it does honor to your intellect and affections!"
said Gertrude, with scathing irony. The
bailiff was confused , making on effort to recover
himself, he said?
"Miss Lion, you caunot affect to misunderstand
that I come at the suit of Cassinoe & Co.,
clothiers, Peakville"?
"Oh-h-h! sure enough! He don't speak for
himself! modest soul! He presses another man's
suit?he is not courting on his own hook!
He is not Cupid himself?only Cupid's messenger!
It's a merchant-tailor that has fallen in
love with you, Zoe !"
" M iss Lion. 1 say that I have an attachment
for this girl! "
"Oh, you have ! Just now it w.is Cassinoe &
Co,?now it's yov ! Poor fellow ! love has turned
his brain ; he doesn't know what he is talking
about! Presently he won't know which end he is
standing on !"
" Miss Lion, I repeat it, I have an attachment
for this girl, and shall proceed to serve it!"
' I thiuk you won't, sir! To say nothing of
my brother's prior attachment, I have an attachment
for this girl that will be likely to stund in
your way!"
" Miss Lion, I attach Zoe Wood as the property
of Miss Susan Somerville, and at the suit of
Cassinoe & Co., clothiers, Peakville"?
UAL J- I Uf.11 I r na.a .. o
un, you uo i tt cu i a hiwmju ajw i/wc ho
the betrothed of my brother, at the suit of Brutus
Lion, lover and avenger ! and we'll see whose
attachment is the stronger ! " exclaimed Gertrude,
her Itosoni visibly heaving?her nostrils tjuiveriog.
The bailiff walked up to Zoe, and touched
her on the shoulder.
41 Hands off !" shouted Gertrude, bringing the
loaded end of her riding-whip down upon the
floor with the force of a hammer on the anvil,
the walls resounding with the report! The
bailiff involuntarily started back.
41 Come here, Zoe," said Gertrude, holding out
her arms for the child. The poor girl?the victim
of a nguc terror?fled to her protectorGertrude,
with flashing eyes, raised the end of
her whip, menacing the bailiff, while she encircled
the waiat of Zoe by one arm, and laid the
head of Zoe gently on her own broad, soft bosom.
"There, there, there, there, don't be terrified,
Zoe, nothing shall hurt you, Zoe! I'll horsewhip
the fellow within an inch of his life, if he
does but lay his hand on you again, so I will! "
44 Miss Lion, are you aware that you are transgrea-ung
the law 7"
44 Mr. Bailiff, I don't care a fox's brush for any
law hut the ten commandments."
44 I)o you know that in harborings slave you
expose yourself to"
' Mr. Jones, your way home lies straight out
-? l -i
;uu give you i?o minutes grsce and
if at the end of that time you are not out of thia
hall, I'll put you out 1" exclaimed Gertrude, her
lioeoui heaving like the ooran wave* in a tempeet,
her lipa <|uivering, her no?triln distended, her
eyes Hoehing, sparkliug and scintillating, as
though they would explode
' Miaa Lion,do you know, are you aware, that
you are threatening nn officer of the law 7"
' 11a! ha! ha' ha!?ha! ha! ha! Yea, and
if an 'officer of the law' don't take himself out
of my sight in double quick time, I'll take an
1 officer of the law' by the nape of his neck and
the straps of his pantaloons, and throw an 'officer
of the law' over the preciptoe. You know
me, sir? J us QtrlrutU Lion.'"
"I know, and the county knows, Miss Lion,
that you are one who eeta at defiance all the laws
of delioary proper to your sex !"
"Hear the fellow, Zoe! rnt you ashamed
of l?eing a woman, Zoe, when every 1 critter* who
atieks his apindle shanks into a pair of ragged
pants, thinks himself invented with the robee of
a judge, and entitled to proaouaoe upon what la
delicate and proper for th* ~?x ! Whew I what a
famous thing U moat be to be a Stan 1 One might
l>e a great emprens, a great actress, a great poetess!
But, what's all that to being a little
- man !' But this par parenthesis. I waste time.
Come! Your two minutes are up, sir! To the
right about! forwardf march P commanded Gertrude.
Deep thunder seemed to reverberate around
the feet of the amazon. It was the low growls of
her two bloodhounds, that crouched on either
side of their mistress. They lay with their fore
paws extended, their large heads laid upon them,
their great red eyes glowing like balls of fire.
They heard the altercation, and instinctively
longed to spring at the throat of the intruder
Gertrude looked down, and noticed theru for the
first time. She smiled, laughed, crowed, shouted
with delight, as she looked at them. Then turning
to the bailiff, she sAid?"See here, Mr.1 Officer
of the law,' 1 am going to count ttu?just tea?
and please the patient Lord ! if you don't get out
of here before 1 get to ten, it will go very badly
with yon j for, as soon as 1 get to ten, 1 shall say,
' Seize him, Thunder! Snze him, Lightning ." "
Before she had said another word, mistaking
| her threst for a command, the blood hounds made
a spring at th? bailiff, who turned and tied, they
pursuing him, they gaining on him down the
hill.
"Good Heaven! he'll be torn to pieces!" exclaimed
Zoe, in terror, while Gertrude tied out
to recall the dogs. In tea minutes she returned,
followed by them.
' And now," she said, " my dear Zoe, you must
be put in a place of safety. I can't whip six men,
and there is no doubt that six or eight will return
here this afternoon I did not believe it?I
menu the worst of it. No, I did not dream it
could be true, else 1 would have had you safe
from this fright before this time!"
" But, dear Gertrude, what is it, then? Can
they take me up for father's debts?"
" My dear Zoe, my dear little one, it is all a
mistake. Have confidence in me, and rest easy
until Brutus returns, and then all will be well.
Zoe, promise to obey me in all things until Brutus
comes, will you ?"
" But my fetber!"
"My dear Zoe, the hand of extreme age has
fallen on your father s head, calming his brain to
i iui'oOfidfc O'vJwdiwiitu uuiT. Srtll t Xill , 1
not interfere with you."
" Well, 1 will promise you, Gertrude"
" Then, Zoe, go now, and make yourself up a
little bundle of provisions, to lust one day. Pack
up a pillow and a sheet into as small a compass as
possible; then put on your bonnet, and come
down here, while 1 go and catch Borealis !"
Greatly wondering, Zoe went and did the bidding
of her protectress By the time she had
returned to the hall, Gertrude had saddled Borealis,
and donned her own riding cap. Mounting
her horse, and lakinir Zoe before her. she can
tered down the precipice, through the valley, up
the ridge of rocks to Mad river passage, and took
the path down the same frightful gorge that had
witnessed the wreck of the carriage.
41 Where are you taking me, Gertrude?''
"My dear child, to a place of safety. Don't
ask any more <iuestions?wait till Brutus comes
home?have faith in me?1 am the most disinterested
friend you have in the world, except your
poor old father, who cannot help you."
/oe asked no more ijuestions until they got to
the grotto. Gertrude put her down, dismounted
herself, and led her into the cavern.
"You are not a coward, /oe?" she asked.
" Oh, no!"
" Not afraid to stay by yourself all night ?"
"Oh, no! I have been used to it all my life,
when father would stay away all night with Major
Somerville"
Well, this is a safer place, under all circumstances,
than the Dovecote. It is safe, because it
is inaccessible?that is, to everybody but me.
Zoe, my child, you must stay here for & few days.
I will bring you clothes, food, fruit, and books
and pictures, and everything to amuse your solitude;
and 1 will coma two orlkiwtuu* to xe>
you. And you need not confine yourself to this
cavern, but can wander at will through all this
glen, for it is perfectly safe and inaccessible."
" Thank you, de ir Gertrude! But if you will
bring me my needle, and thimble, and scissors,
and my little workbosket, with the hexagon quilt,
I shall not be lonesome. And, Gertrude, dou't
forget to feed my Bantam hens with Indian meal
dough?nnd be sure you don't forgci to tuck
father up warm when he goea to bed "
"1 will remember everything, Zoc. And now
I must return to my poor patient, who is alone,
you know. 1 will return again this evening
Good bye, '/oe !" she said, stooping nnd kissing
her.
"Good bye, Gertrude!"
"God bless you, child 1"
"And you too, Gertrude!"
And the friends parted.
The bailiff' returned to Peakville, breathing
vengeance against the audacious amazon lie
would have a writ out against her. He would
have her arrested, he swore in his wrath. Somewhat
cooled and exhausted by his long walk hack,
however, and upon cooler rtflection, he decided
not to take any further notice of the matter, feel
ing very doubtful of its final is-ue, and having
a shrewd suspicion that he would not figure to
much advantage in the business?added to which
was the knowledge that Brutus Lion was not a
man to be enraged with impunity, he contented
himself with the design of returning the next
day to the Lair, with a jtossi comitatus,to take the
girl.
On the next day, as Gertrude was waiting on
her patient, the sound of many feet was heard in
the ball below, accompanied by the furious harking
and yelping of dogs, and rattling of blows.
"It is a descent, or rather an ascent of the
Goths and Vandals," exclaimed Gertrude, laughing;
however, I am ready for them!" and she
marched below. The hull was half full of men.
The two dogs were kept at bay.
"Ha! ha! hn! hn! ha! Really, gentlemen,
there is strength in numbers V shouted Gertrude,
as she bounced into the midst of the room flung
her torrent of hair behind her, and let fly her
blaxing eyes over the circle.
"11a! ha! ha! ha! ha! Try to keep each
ether in heart! do now ! for I do not know what
1 should do with seven faintiDg men! Oh ! don't
be alarmed ! I won't tread on you ! 1 am always
careful when I walk among ants! See, there are
seven of you ! Seven men come to take one little
girl out of the arms of one big girl! Loid-'amercy
! dear me! what heroism ! Seven of you !
You remind roe of the Seven Champions of Christendom
! You're an honor to your native country
! Seven of you ! seven heroes ! Lord, jf
Brutus had been home, you'd have come seven
hundred ! Seven hundred heroes! What a gallant
army!"
" Miss Lion!" said the deputy-sheriff, advancing
from the group, " we have come to search the
house for a girl by the name of '/oe?and, with
your leave, we will proceed''
" And pray, sir, who are yon ?"
Her soornful eyes crawled over him from head
to foot.
" I am the deputy sheriff of county!"
" Oh ! Muter Deputy Sheriff of county !
I am so proud to make your acquaintance! Mister
Deputy Sheriff of county. I am a heroworshipper,
and I have this morning for the first
time heard of your heroic exploits at The Crags!
I low, with a posse at your hack, you courageously
made an onslaught upon three feeble women and
a weak old man?how manfully yon terrified tbe
two women to death, and how valiantly you in siugle
combat knocked the aged man down ! how you
hound and carried him off in triumph?in company
with his wife1 Ob-h' tromltrfitl Mister
Deputy Sheriff of county ! my poor house
in immoriuhi'iJ by your visit! The grouna vou
trend ii chttiu ground!" declaimed Gertrude,
waiving Iter hand theatrically.
Every one laughed The brow of the deputy
sheriff crimsoned.
" Miss Lion, your pride end scorn is not to interrupt
me in the discharge of my duty ! I proceed
to its execution! Gentlemen, follow me f
"Mister Deputy Sheriff, I do you homsge!'"
exclaimed Gertrude, grounding her riding whip,
and bending her head in mockery.
. A peal of laugh'er broke from the crowd. The
deputy sheriff rushed out in a rage. Gertrude
sprang to her feet, shouting with laughter.
The search was made?unsuccessfully of course,
and. at the end of the circuit of the house, the
whole party yeturned to the hall, where Gertrude
again mercileaaly opened upon thcui her battery
of sarcasm w
Just as they were preparing to depart, horse's
feet wera heard rapidly approaching, and Brutus
Lion was seen to throw himself from his saddle
and stride into the room 1
" What's all this 7 What the devil is all this,
Gertrude 7" he exolaimed, looking around him in
aotoaishrasnt and eager
i
" Oh !^^i?P^Bter Deputy Sheriff and hie
myrmidons come to take Zoe! It takes seven of
them to do it, you see! and they have n??t succeeded
I"
"Where is Zoe?" exclaimed the giant, trembling
in his Hessian boots.
"Ah! that's what Mister Deputy Sheriff
would be glad to tind out!"
"Then they have not arrested her I'1
" Arrested her! Pooh! am 1 no' her keeper! j
Had Susan Somerville been we, Mister Deputy
Sheriff would not have marched off with tlying
colors flbiu the Crags!''
" Then Zoe is sate. Gertrude?'
" Yee! Zoe is safe 1"
"Thank God"'
' Now, Brutus, don't turn a Miss Molly ou my
hands! Spose she hadn't been sate' 8p*M she'd
been in danger. Could not you have rescued
her ?"
"Gertrude, my denr sister,'' said Brutus, without
noticing her Bpeech, but taking a packet from
his pocket, " here, take th?? letter up to your patient?it
is from some of his in England?
and tell him I will wait ont|fi^n the course of
the evenine."
Gertrude took th*Artter and ratyyi stairs.
" Now, Mr Pomm, I wiil Fpgak yeu alone. >
if you please!" said Rr^tua, beakonB^ the deputy
sheriff into nother wbos} suit hare
you attached this
" At the suit of Cassinoc & Co., clothiers,
Peakvllle."
"How much is the debt?''
"One hundred and seventy-fife dollars.-'
"I assume it! Come with me to Peskville,
where the business can be legally arranged !' and.
without another word. Rrutus Lion remounted
his horse, and rode rapidly to Peakville, followed
by the jtome. moat of whom bad come to the Lair
rather from curiosity than necessity.
In an hour, Brutus Lion had arranged the
transfer of the liabilities, and sgiin mounting his
horse he galloped furiously towards the Crags,
saying?
"Now to purchase the freedom of this poir
girl, before another writ of attachment at the
suit of some other creditor is served upon her!"
He reached the Crags, threw himself from his
horse, and entered the sitting room.
What a scene of misery met his eyes! A
corpse was laid out on tressela in the midst of the
room It was covered by a snow white sheet, that,
eliiiginff clQselr to the bodjr revealed its desjhlj
rigidity. ' Wy ill trtue sat \>ue solitary "roourTftr,
clothed in black, her arms extended over the
body, her head falleu upon her urms, in an attitude
and expression of hopeless grief!
Brutus approached reverently?
" Miss Somerville!"'
The mourner did not seem to hear.
"My dear Miss Somerville!''
" Oh !" moaned Susan, without moving
" My dear Miss Somerville, I am grieved, deeply
grieved, to see you sorrowing thus!'
The mourner raised her head, revealing a face
frightfully ravaged by grief.
" Look there ! oh ! look there.' She is dead?
dead! They said it was disease of the heart!?
enlargement of the heart! They were right!
Oh, yes! they were right! Her heart filled ami
filled w ith Borrow, till it could hold no more, aud
then her strong heart broke?it broke! Anna!
Anna!'' and, with convulsive but tearless sob?,
down went her arms again upon the form of the
dead.
Tears filled the eyes of Rrutus Lion. At any
other time, and under any other circumstances, he
would have left the mourner alone with her dead ;
but now, for the (take of the living, he wae forced
to intrude upon thin saored sorrow. In order to
shorten the business as much as poeoible, Brutus,
before leaving Peakville, had takes the precaution
to get a hill of sale drawn up, Mfcdy for signature,
and to draw his money from the bankers,
so that what he now had to do wae very simple?
to make Miss Somerville understand that '/oe
was her property, to gain her consent to the sale,
and her signature to the deed. Again he reverently
addreeeed the mourner?
" My dear Mias Somerville, I am very, very
sorry for the cruel necessity that compels me to
lu. ? a. ? j 1 i . f, l. 1- w -? tt
fellow-creature depends upon my gaining your
attention. Can you give it me for a few, a very
few minutes?''
Moans only answered him.
Bru'us laid his hand upon her hand, to attract
her attention, as he said with deep earnestness?
" Miss Somerville,listen to me ! The vital interest
of '/o* Dove hangs upon this hour ! The
happiness of her whole life depends upon my
gaining your nttention for a few minutes. Will
you hear me 7"
And, taking her hand, he led her unresisting to
the seat at the window.
Then, sitting down by her, he told her the
whole story of Zoe, as the reader knows it. He
told her in a very few words. Susan heard it
with all the apathy of deep sorrow. She expressed
no surprise; she fell none. Her deep grief
shut out every other emotion. Brutus now proposed
to purchase '/oe. He had to repeat this
proposition several times before Susan, pre-oocupied
by her sorrows, could be made to understand
and receive it. Then, speaking slowly and brokenly,
like one trying to hreuk the spell of an
over-mastering thought, she Bald?
" But if she is mine, as you say, I will free her
at once."
" But, my dear Miss Somerville, that will not
do. To emancipate her would require time and
trouble. In the mean while, another writ of attachment.
at the suit of some other creditor, would
be served on her, and your benevolent designs
defeated. What I propose is the only safe way
It is very easy. Here is the deed You haveonly
to write your name at the bottom, and she is
mine?she is safe. Come, Miss Somerville. do
it," pleaded Brutus, putting the pen in her listless
fingers, HDd laying the deed before her.
" Well, well; as you think best."
And, scarcely conscious what she did, Susan
Somerville wrote her name at the bottom of the
bill of sale, and Zoe become the property of
Brutus Lion.
SiiHArt Snrnrrvillp tr?Hprp<l hfirlc tn hpr sp??t hv
- -w ..v. - -V
the corpse, threw her arms across the body, dropperi
her beari on thein ns before in the abandonment
of profound sorrow
Brutus Lion sprang into his saddle and galloped
towards the L iir.
That evening, Gertrude hastened to the grotto,
and brought back Zoe in triumph to the Lair.
That night, Brutus, Gertrude, and '/oe, were
grouped around the kitchen fire?
"Now, then, dear Gertrude, remeinlier your
promise, that as soon as Brutus should return you
would eiplsif this win'i/Ac."
Gertrude looked at Brutus; and Brutus, taking
the hand of '/.oe in his own, l>egan?and slowly,
cautiously, tenderly revealed to her the secret of
her birth. har prvsetit rendition The shadows
of the tire-light danced so fitfully upon her face
that he could not see its expression while he
spoke. He told har all?all.
At the conclusion of his story, /? remained
silent, with Lor handsel seped upon Iter lap. with
her head bowed upon her bosom. At last broke
frotn her lips in passionate grief lb<-?e words ?
"Oh! my parents' my parentf! what misery
this deception has made! Oh' that 1 had never
tieen born! My heart is breaking! o.-eskm^!
Let me die! let me die now ! I never shall look
up again! never! no, never P and, overcome
by grief and shame, she sank upon the floor and
rolled npon her fans.
Gortrnde and Brutus made a simultaneous
spring to lift her. Brutus caught her to his
bosom, laid her head against his chest, laid her
arm up over his shoulder, and soothed her This
kindness touched the fountain of her tears, and
she wept, long and freely. This we* piug relieved
her, an weeping alwsjs does ller grief
expended itself a? a rain-cloud in shower*. It is
on1 j cjuiet grief that kills, kh In the case of Anna.
" Iteaction e?|nala tictiou" At last, 7,oe looked
up clearlj through her tears, and aaid?
" At least it is yon who have bought me! is it
not, Brutus? Come, it in not so had as it might
have been There is comfort in all thiugs, and
at least 1 am to live with jon aliroyi, dear Brutus
! And I am to cook jou nioe dishes that
jou like, and to mend jour clothes, and to make
jour house comfortable, and to make jou happj
in manj wavs. Indeed, it is not so bad, after all!
It is not had at all! After all, it is nothing but
the name! onlj it came on me like a shock;
and I was a little proud ' that's all! I shall not
be aad! People will saj that the schoolmaster's
adopted daughter, who used to he so proud of her
housekeeping, is a slave. Well! I shall not hear
them sav it. I shall he here with Brutas' waiting
on Gratis 1 and I shall he happj! Don't
grieve for me, Brutua, indeed I am not unhappj I
Do jou think that 7,oe consider* it such a misfortune
to belong to Brutus I So, Come!
don't weep, Brutas' dear Brutus! 1 hate to see
tears in manlj rjes!" and she raised her apron
and wipnd nwaj the tears from the ejee of her
grout big lubberly nurse, who was quivering with
emotion like a mammoth blanc hum*'.. #
" Zoe, my child he said, "did you think I
j would hold you bound a moment longer than I
could help? Zoe, you should have beeu free to|
day, but that the oourt-houae was closed before 1
had even completed the purchase. Zoe.you shall
be free to-morrow; and then you must return
with your adopted father to the Dovecote P'
M Must I leave you, Brutus?''
" Zoe, my dear child, yts. You cannot be my
wife, Zoe?and 1 will not make you my mistress j
and loving you as 1 do, Zoe?loving me as you
do?Ifuil would be your fate if you lived with me,
dear child! Take her, Gertrude;" and, pressing
one passionate kiss upon her lips lie tossed
her in his sister's arms, and bounded from the
room, bounced into his chamber, where the great
big fellow might have been seen extended on bis
bed sobbing, blowing, and tlounderiug like a harpooned
whale.
[to ue continued.]
Forthe National Era
DANIEL WEBSTER.
tilARUK OF INCOKIISTEM V.
I atn Homewhat surprised that all the frieuds of
rirvmu cmcu^nii'u lur I'lTl" n?Vs Ml TUT* m?Mtaken
Daniel Webster as to charge him with.inconsistency.
It may be true that the spirit of
what he said in 1K4N .i?wt opposed to the spirit of
what he hat* said in 1850 , but I trust it can be
shown that if he manifested the least favor to the
Proviso by what he said in 184s, he must have
hern in that state described in Iloly Writ, where
it is said, " Wine is a mocker, strong drink is
racing"?he was not himself
The people?many of them, at least?have
mistaken Mr. Webster. To suppose that his
opinions were ever on the side of Freedom?to
suppose that he ever drew one full inspiration of
generous liberty?to suppose that hia veins were
ever warmed by one pulsation of a conviction of
human equality?is to mistake the man. S> far
from his being inconsistent, his late speech fully
accords with the opinions with which he commenced
his career of statesmanship, as avowed
ou an important occasion, and at a time when he
was entering into the prime of manhood
In I8t?0, Webster w.m, I believe, rwenty-ei ftht
years of age, and a member ot the Constitutional
fuUciwCat X WitJ tjj.'j
tion of Massachusetts. In that body, the fundamental
principles of human liberty were discussed
such as?
1. Universal suffrage.
2. The support of religion by taxation
L! Whether Government is fouuded on Property
or Manhood.
1. On the proposition to limit the exercise of
the right of suffrage to property-holders, Mr.
W ehster said:
" I shall object to giving up sll pecuniary qualifications,
though I would be content with the
smallest tax There is a great difference between
this and universal suffrage.'
lu this is betrayed Mr. Webster's want of
faith in Man?his low appreciation of the virtue*
and capabilities of his fellows?and his failure
to recognise tbo great right of civil equality,
even anions " white folks" This is perfectly
consistent with his late speech in the Senate.
U. As to the support and propagation of religion
liy constitutional enforcement, the Constitution
of Massachusetts, of lb'20, was an improvement
upon that of 17K0. The old Constitution
provided for the support of the " Protestant'' religion
by a tax on all the property of the Commonwealth,
while that of 1S'20 substituted the
word "Christian" for that of" Protestant." so as
to embrace Catholics! After the Convention
had drawn such a heavy draft upon human liberty,
Mr. Webster thought they had gone quite |
far euough. He said?
" The word 1 Protestant' has given place to the
word 'Christian,' and the clause enjoining attendance
on public worship is struck out. What
more is required I Nothing but to make certain
the right of going from one society to another of
the wuae druomiu <tion. There is no right of oonorciruvc
an ??>Thus,
Mr. Webster would bind the people by
a constitutional obligation to pay taxes to the
support of religion, whether they believed in it
or not?whether they were opposed to giving
money for the propagation of doctrines they
deemed erroneous ami pernicious or not! "No
right of conscience in the case!" Deists have
rights of conscience as other people; and yet
Webster so little understood the nature of human
rights that he would compel deists to pay money
for preaching what they despised. Universalists
were not recognised as " Christians "?therefore
Webster would reenact the old English law compelling
the people to pay a tax to the regular
system of religion, and leave them to inaintaiu
their own creeds as best tbey oould 1
3. Another proposition was, whether the representatives
should be apportioned among the several
counties according to the amount of property
or according to the number of inhibitants, in
on properly or on raaubood.
John Adams, then eighty yearn of age, wan a
member of this Convention; and when he found
democracy (o be in the ancenJant, he rose, as he
said, " with fear and trembling," to warn the Convention
of the doom to which they were hastening,
by placing ao much power in the hands of
propcrtyless people. Ilia gray locks quivered
with the terror w hich agitated his venerable soul,
in view of the wreck of the Government on the
quicksands of civil equality. Give equal power
to the poor and rich, and the poor, being the more
numerous, "would vote us out of our houses.'
Webster seemed to agree with John Adams,
that property was the true and only source of political
power, and its protection ought to be the
chief object of Government, as, in the absence of
military force, it is its chief support and defence.
On this subject, Mr. Webster said?
" But, sir, I take the principle to be well established
by writers of the greatest authority In
the first place, those who have treated of natural
law have maintained, as a principle of that law,
that aa far aa the object of society is the protection
of something in which the members possess
unequal shares, it is just that the right of each
person, in the common councils, should bear a
relation nnd proportion to his interest Such is
the sentiment of Grotius. and he refers, in sup|K>rt
of it, to several institutions among the ancient
States Those authors who have written
more particularly on the subject of political institutions,
have, unny of them, maintained similar
sentimen's. Not, indeed, that every man's
KABf aa la . . .< < # VtwArvAwt Sntl n lata VtWAr\.
BUUIIPI iW> III 'I mi jritrfK/i iiuu w \I Bi in J/I wperty,
hut that, in a general sense. and in a general
form, projH-rljf, as inch, should hare itw
weight and influence in politicil arrangements
Monieti<|ui?u speak* with approbation of the
patIj It mm regulation made hjr Hcrviu* Tulliu*
by which the people were distributed into
elHxaea, according to their property, and the
public burden* apportioned to each individual
according to the degree of power he poasessed
in the Government. ? One of the
moat ingenious of political writers is Mr. 11 irriogton.
an author not now read as much a* he
deserve* It is hi* leading object in his Ocjim
to |?r<iTe that power ruiturally awl ntcrtsarily follows
jtrojrrty. He maintain* that a Government
founded on property ia naturally and legitimately
founded , and that a Government founded on a
disregard of property is founded in injustice,
1 1- i i.? ?Mil..., ?
wnu run uuijr \tr, iimiDiniuni *tj uimm.j iuivc.
* It in strange. s,iys Mr. Pope, in one of hi*
converaations, that Harrington should be the first
man to find oat so evident and demonstrable a
truth, as that of property being the true basis
and measure of power. In truth, he was not the
first. The idea is m old as political apience itself.
It may be found in Aristotle, I.ord Huron, Sir
Walter Raleigh. and other writers. Harrington,
however, seems to be the first writer who has illustrated
and eiponnded the principle, and given to
it the effect and prominence which juttly belong
to it To this irMuit'iU, nr, I nUirtly Offtrf. It
eetns to me that, in the absence of military for-*,
political power naturally and rt'cnardy goee into
the hands which h?hl tlf yrojutrty?
80 much the more necessity, then, of withholding
political power from property, and of confiding
it excluaively to the whole peopla, without
distinction of property. Property is aggressive,
and the only mode of guarantying the public
welfare is to give the people, poor as well as rich,
the whole power. Hut this was thought dangerous
; for, as Webster said, when the poor bsooms
numerous, they grow clamorous, and look upon
property as their prey and plunder I
After thus seeing whet opinions Mr. Webster
held in lx.'O, when in all hie youthful freedom
and vigor, is it surprising that he should have
made hia late speech ' Is not that speech in harmony
with his views in 1(90? Has ha not bean
a consistent, anti-democrat man distrusting conservative
1 lias he not always supported the nris
tocracy?that aristocracy th it would riJe down
the people, white or black ; that aristocracy which
would make slaves of trhilt people, if it had the
power I
A man old-fashioned enough to oppose univer
I sal suffrage, to enforce contributions for the support
of the established church, and to distribute
political power according to the amount of property
and disregarding the nutnlter of people, is
the very man to op|>ose the Proviso, and labor
shoulder to shoulder with those who trade in human
flesh L. A. Hink.
Cincinnati, lsf>0.
P. H. The above nuoUtions front Webster, in
lS-'O, are front ihe report of the Constitutional
Convention, and may also be found in an article
I contributed to the Democratic Review for February,
1S IS. 11.
For the National Kr*
SLAVERY SINFl'L IN ITSELF,
AND NONKELI.OWSHIK OK THOSK I'KAUTIUINU
IT THE DUTY OK THE CHRISTIAN CHUKCH.
No 0.
OH J EUTIONS.
Oth. There are other portions of Scripture supposed
hy man;- to favor the policy of staving in
the church to purify it: such as Matt, xiii, 00,
" Let the wheat and the tares grow together."
W e reply: *
1. If this text means that true Christians ought
to stay in a corrupt church, an anti-Christian
church, where the controlling influence* sanction
immoralities, then Scripture clashes with Scripture:
for it will not be disputed for a moment,
that in Rev. xviii, I, and other like passages, God
commands his people to ootne out from a corrupt
church.
2. The text, as used by the objector, would destroy
all discipline whatever Such a coue'euc.
tion would open the floodgates of vice, pour in
upon the church every immorality, and make it
the receptacle of drunkards, thieves, liars, udultercrs,
and murderers. Vet many, and even ministers
of the Gospel, give the text such a construction.
'I. The error of such persons is in using the
fi'hl as the church, whereas Christ uses the field
to designate the irorbl. See verse 118?"The
field is the world'' God had made the world
go?l and pure. By the temptations of S,tan.
man fell; and at that time, under Sitan's influff.Tt3T
,
ers. Some of these felt as James and John did?
like ending down fire from llcuven to consume
the enemy. Christ said, " let the tares and th?
wheat grow together"?"let the wicked continue
to live in the world, as well as the righteous, Hnd
by the example of a pure church, a consistent
walk on your part, and the saviug efficacy of my
nr.'iHlf tnanv ftf tkouA V
?? 1 "" J " |rci^vu? may UCH.Uverted.
If not, at the judgment day I will gather
all together,''and 'those that do ini<|uity will 1
oast into a furnace of tire: there shall l?e wailing
and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous
shine forth km the stars in the kingdom of their
father" Verses II?-tJ.
tlth. Again, it is said, Christ communed?continued
fellowship?with Judas, and we rn ?y with
equal propriety commune with slaveholders.
I. We ask, would the Apostles have continued
fellowship with Judas after the overt act, had he
survived it? Would you, reader? Would a
single denomination, now existing, he willing to
retain him in their fellowship, still in heart and
jiractic* a " devil," as the Scriptures declare, and
as the objector supposes him to he? Is the
church the place for known "devils"?having
already committal the act of betrayal nnd mimlcr.
'2. Ah we cannot see into the hearts of men.
Christ gave us a rule that we should judae a tra
by is jrvas?judge men by their overt act* ; and
gave no rule for excluding any man called brother,
unless he is actually guilty of teaching some corrupt
doctrirfe, or living in some immoral practice
Now, Judas was not doing ii/herot these when
Christ communed with him lie was not yet un
offender; and as such, neither the civil nor divine
law would discipline him. Hence Christ
did not. The cose is then no justification to those
who are eating with?frllowshlpping?the actual
"ucU we are 1 7th
Reverting to Scripture again, the objector
says: "Let a man examine himself, and so let
him eat." 1 Cor, xi, 28. The objector uses this
passage to teach that every man is to judge of his
own htness to commune or have fellowship in the
church ; and that if he eats condemnation to his
own soul, it is none of our business The passage
is very often bo used in our county, and as a reason,
particularly, why we should make no distinction
between those who are slaveholders and those
who are not. We reply
1 Such a construction would destroy all discipline
for any offence whatever.
2. There is not a church, nor, perhaps, a
church member, that understands the text as
teaching the doctriue assumed by the objector.
No one will allow a brother, who has become a
gambler, counterfeiter, adulterer, or acknowledged
murderer, to have fellowship with them.
They will not let such be their own judges. They
do discipline such.
;t. The Apostle never intended the words of
the text to be so construed. He wrote them for a
wholly different iiurnose. as anv man can see bv
rending the connection in whioh tbej ere used.
The church at Corinth, in imitntion of Pagan
rites or ceremonies, out of which they hud just
emerged, end with which they were yet daily
surrounded, had converted the Eucharist into it
Bacchanalian feast?a feast of gluttony and
drunkenness. See ver. '.JO? 2-'l They were uot
partaking of this feast in a spiritual manner, and
for spiritual purposes?not using the emblems
simply us a remembrance of what Christ hod
done and was still doing for them . but they
were partukingof it in a vain, sensual, and most irreverent
manner; "not eating the Lord's supper,"
ver. VJO?" not discerning the Lord's body," ver.
.19. Now, to correct this sensual and irreverent
miiiin>r of celebrating the Lord's supper, the
Apostle penned the teit under consideration ; and
not for the purpose of saying that each man
should be his own judge, whether he should come
to the Lord's table or not. Not for this, but to
oorrect an error in this manti'r of celebrating the
Eucharist or Lord's supper?as though he hail
said, see to it, that when you come to celebrate
the Lord's supper, you celebrate it not in this
profane, irreverent, and sensual manner. Let a
man examine both his motives and bis aots in
comiug to or partaking of this ordinance. To
coustrue the words of the text as the objector
does, would make the Apostle contradict himself,
for in a preceding chapter he expressly says,
"with drunkards, liars, fornicators, covetous persons,
and extortioners, no, not to eat."
8th. Ooes the objector agiin say, "if this lie
true, then we must leave the State and the world?
go where no slaveholders or extortioners are."
VVe reply, the Apostle has answered this objection,
and if the objector w is a careful reader, he
would have seen it. By the phrase not to eat, as
used in I Cor, chap ver 11, the Apostle means
that we should not have Christian fellowship?
see ver 1 't ?" therefore put away from among
yourselves llmt wicked person." In ver. lb, he
says he means " not that we should uot have common
intercourse with the men of this world,"
"then we must needs go out of the world." But if
.. ....... 11...* .. ? i ? - r : >._
extortioner, with tuck tin our. have no Christian
fellowship. Yon mHy exhort him, labor to convince
h m of his error, and though you f>A / </<///>/
to him, and desire him to be reclaimed from
his error, yet you must obey God and respect his
church and hie religion too much to consent that
they shall be so lowered and corrupted us to
sanction the immorality. For thereby you will
destroy the tlaiularJ of ru(Ut and take away the.
r-ry jtoirrr to jnirify socuty ; and really do the (rlOTiioinr
mi injury, by deceiving him with the idea
that sluvehoidtng Is consistent with piety and ultimate
salvation.
luh Again the objector says The Scriptures
teach us to mark them that cause divisions?divisions
arc therefore wrong?union is desirable."
True, but you do not ijuote all the text. The
Apostle says?"Mark them that ciuse divisions
contrary to the doctrine ye have learned."?Romans
xri, 17.
1. If this text means what the objector desires
to tescb, it forbids sny and all separation, even
from mystic Babylon, and clashes with that text
which says, "Come out of her, my people." It
forbids even that the Protestants should have
come out from the Roman Catholic church. Uut
the objector mutt see better by this time?that
bU position prove* too maeh.
V. The Apoetle hod a very different object in
view from that of condemning those who were
coming oat from grow immoralities, to form a
pare church. He wished to oondsmn thos? Judaixing
teachers of his age, who were making
parties for the take of who counted gain a
godliness"?who "served their own bellies'?
see verse if. The Apostle hail himself come out
from the Jewish church, and was establishing a
new one, nn<i in other places hid commands I
that, ? veu under the new dispensation. we are to
withdraw from those that walk disorderly."
;t The Apostle hiving taught Christians to
mark them that ciuse divisions contrary to the
doctrine they have learned, and himself having
taught that it is wrong to eat with the "extorI
tioncr," and " manstealere," those who fellowahip
| the manstealer and the extortioner are the persons
composing and k"fnng uy the divisions. ucontrary
to the doctrine, he has tuu^ht^ Such persons
j are the schismatics, and on them rests the re,
sponsibility. The tables are turned.
We are in fivor of union, much more than
! now exists We would he in favor of requiring
a profession only of those doctrines essential to
salvation--making the articles of belief as few
as possible, and administer the rite of baptism,
lithir by immersion or by sprinkling, as the convert
or applicant honestly believes the word of
God requires We would not trammel a brother's
conscience, especially in non-essentials, in order
that he should comply with our view, when, as all
admit, there is ground for honest difference of
opinion, and that mode is not essential.
We are not schismatics, hut in favor of the
most liberal basis which the Bible allows; and
every denomination embracing the esseutial doctrines
of Christianity could unite with us. And
it would be better that they should let go many of
their distinctive non-essentials, unite on the esnt
1-1 s, asd present a strong and broad front for
truth and righteousness. But to lower the conditions
of membership so as to take in the covetous,
the idolater, the extortioner, the manstealer. is
not charity, but reckless rebellion against God's
commands?-corrupts the fuHtlaaxntal priacipl':t of
Christianity?opens the H todgates of vie?\ snd
tears down the distinction between the church
and the world They are the enemies of the
church?the schismatics?who do this.
J on* G. Fkk.
Ciihiu Cttfl', Kentucky.
[TO RC COMTINt tn J
FOREIGN (-ORRESPONDENTS.
Paris, A/ml II, IK'S).
To ih? Editor of thr Xtitioiml E>a:
Languor and indecision are now reigning at
Paris The ConserT.itire majority il t"ar Assembly
are unwilling to strike down the popular lib1
rnit's irriAustA'tVty Awbore an
would be a prompt answer of the people. Thus,
the bill placing the nomination of the mayors in
the hands of the President, the bill giring the
Administration the right to disperse or forbid
any political meeting, the bill for the destruction
of the liberty of the press, all lie tranquil in the
Committee rooms. After the election, they will
ho resuscitated, and, perhaps, enacted into laws.
The moral power of the last rote of the people of
Paris has shaken the courage of the tiuiid majority.
They now profess a supreme derotion to the
Republic. The legislatire club of the Rue Richelieu,
composed of Royalists of ull colors has resolved
to hoist .the banner of the Republic for the
time being. The Conservatives are discouraged,
and begin to think of being more democratic.
Kven M.Thiers is now willing to see M.Dufaurc
made Minister You remember the couplet
Wlivutlie Devil was sick, the Devil a **int would be;
When the Devil wAe well, the devil a saint was he '
Which means, that if the approaching election at
Paris should give a majority in favor of the Conservatives,
we shall see this sick party filled with
new life and vigor, and ready to attack and crush
not only its enemies, but the Constitution, as soon
as that may be practicable
The present republican pretensions of the Royalists
iu the A-seiubly are satirized aud exposed
by some of their owu papers. La Putrie reminds
inem uiai cowaraiee is always tue precursor or
defeat. Most of their organs, however, take Tory
ii.. t iu. ??sr nint nrp n?-odigral of profusions
of respect to the laws and Constitution. All
that persuasion, menaces, and arguments, c m do, is
done in order to effect a separation between the
bourgeoisie und the operatives. The meetings of
the Socialists are caricatured, misrepresented,
and slandered ; the most abominable seutimcnts
are put into the mouths of the orators, who are
made to chant, in every tone, the praises of pillage
and the guillotine. It is useless to Bay that these
aocouuts are fabricated out of whole cloth. The
meetings are held in the presence of police officersAny
word which could give the least possible pretext
to the Government, would occasion the immediate
arrest of the orator. The tone of the
Socialist journals is moderate and reserved, while
that of mAny of their enemies is seditious, violent,
and revolutionary. Hut the fact which shows
more clearly than any other the spirit of conciliation
abroad in the Socialist party, is the intcution
to nominate as their candidate the venerable Dupont,
(de l'Eure ) formerly President of the Provisory
Government, an l one of the founders of
the Republic. Calumny has never bluckeuud his
name; for, in a long political, judicial, an<l rninisterial
career, bin name has been synonymous with
moJcration and probity. The versatile and talented
editor of Im Prt.str, M. de Girardin, annouueed
himself as candidate immediately after tho option
of M Vidal for the Rhine department. 11 is recent
services to tho democracy have certainly been
great, but his past career otFors too many examples
of changes to permit the democracy to have
full faith in him. Resides, he holds one principle
which is essentially anti-republican, lie says
that the majority has a right to adopt any government
it may think proper, and that were the
majority to vote for an absolute monarchy, he
should think himself bound to assist in the recstablishment
of that form of government.
This doctrine, too common among American
democrats, assumes that the individual has no
rights whatever, but that society has nil. It is
the Socialism of M. Louis Rlanc, who would annihilate
the man and aggrandize the mass. How
different is the American doctrine of righu inherent
to humanity, of rights which the manoannot
alienate if he would, and of which others cannot
deprive him without crime. Girardin ssya that
other people, who wish to he slaves to an alwolute
master, have the right to force me to become on*,
too; the American declaration asserts that they
are criminal, not only in robbing me of my freedom,
hut in wishing to alienate their own*?and
1 that any contract for this purpose would he void
Girardln's doctrine is the Catholic one, the Socialist
one. that a man has a right to put another
or others between himself ami God, un interpreter
and director; the American is the republican
and Protestant doctrine, that, as every una is directly
and personally accountable for himself, no
one has a right to subject himself to the arbitrary
control of another?no inan can serve two
masters.
M. Girardln's republicanism has this dark
spot on it, and, although in all other respects he
is evidently the man lor the hour, his candidature
will probably give way to that of l)u|iont dc
i'Kure. Mr G. holds about the same relative position
to monarchy that Mr. Greeley holds to slavery?attacking
It very vigorously, but Interposing
no objection to the people's establishing it for
themselves. M. Dupont may be oompared to Mr.
Chase?both attack tho evil as a crime, let it be
committed by whom it may, people or rulers,
and keep themselves clear of all oomplioity in it.
The people of Paris, being thoroughly devoted
to the Republic, object to M. Girardin Ibis defect
in his philosophy on a point which has, by
the progress of public sentiment, become almost
an abstract one. They will lay him on the shelf?
the proper plsce in the present age for every politician
who does not consider the rights of society
to end where the rights of the individual commence.
The Conservative party here, as well as elsewhere,
dees not trouble itself abont the symmetry
and harmony of a man's opinions, but about his
availability. |t h?s nominated M. FernanJ Foy
a* it* candidate. He 5* tie son of General Foy
distinguished under Louis Philippe for hi* liberalism
and his hostility to the doctrine of Divine
right. Hence the Legitimists refuse to support
him, and the Conserv e ire* scarcely hope for the
victory. In their deHt>Hir they hare taken to
I threats. President Bonaparte's Sunday paper,
j // \<ij>ol-on, says that if the bourgeoisie do rote
for the Socialist candidate, the electoral liw will
, be amended so as to preveut such deplorable rti
suits, and invites theui to choose between a Socialist
candidate and the law. This language
shows the de-pair of the gentlemen who pa-s
their time in the President's ante-chambers plotting
the re-toration of an empire, with pretty
titles for themselves. The same paper advocates
n!*o a revision of the Constitution, and promises
to give its opinion on the different amendment*
i proposed, provided always the discussion be oon|
tinued in a proper spirit. This recommendation
by the President throws some light on his speech
delivered on the same day to the General Council
of Agriculture. Several passages were stra*ig?
enough: "Four years ago," eaiJ the President
"you were in possession of tranquility and security,
And could study how to ameliorate the condition
of the country.' lie then assured the in
that it was time to build up agaiu the institutions
shaken down hy the "general disorder" which
took place in IMS, and reconstruct a strong Gov
ernment. able to look over the interests of the
people, iiy these sud similar expressions, M
Bonaparte continues to keep alive the uncertainty
in the public mind. Men hesitate whether to
pronounce hiui an obstinate and stupid person, or
an ambitious conspirator.
A day or two after the threat in the President's
paper, one of his friends and intim ites, Colonel
faspiussse, laid a resolution before the Assembly,
or rather a bill, for the neutralisation of the evil
of suffrngc. This project provides that no person
shall vote, utile-s he has resided two years tu the
commune, and is engaged actively in some commercial.
agricultural, or nianufnctnriug business.
he ijutyl /'niluce i^ertjficjti: from
tits tmptoyer, that he^has *mwitti*
out interruption, in the same shop. Beggars, and
persona without fixed residence to be excludtd,
[ as also all persons condemned by the police or
criminal court, or by a Dolitioal court The vote
of the army to be mixed with that of the people,
mo that it i*ttinot be distinguished. All elections
to he null if no candidate receive* the majority of
all the vote* given And to render the bill ridiculous,
a punishment is provided for not votiug?
for the tirst offence, a fine of from five to ten per
cent, on the amount of tines paid by the offender ,
for the second, a fine of from ten to fifteen per
cent, on the same sum ; and for the third, loss of
all civil and political rights for a space of time
not less than two nor more than five years !
I iere is a conservative run mad for you. And
yet he comes directly from the Elysf e National.
M l'onaparte lets fiy the shaft without showing
his hand. The weapon will wouud his own
friends, no matter where it may fall.
The Government pursues unremittingly its
war on the poor teachers of primary schools
More than four thousand hive already been
turned out of employ on account of their politi
cal opinions, and theory is still, " Lay on, Macduff!"
A committee of representatives has been
formed for the purpose of receiving contributions
for the temporary maintenance of these poor
wretches; hut this committee is treated by the
Government as factious and disposed to foment
conspiracies. The persecution now raging in
France for opinion's sake would not discredit the
happy days of Louis XIV. Fortunately, there
are now no Uttrrt dr. cachrt or Mast ile
The rtewspaper called La I 'on du Prujde is to be
killed off as soon as possible by fines, and the irn )
prisonment of its publishers and editors. It has
iieeu aeixed, at the l'ost Ottioe, three times during
the last two weeks?once for a philosophical article
on Latholictsm, once iur nu n.m.i, ?? .u,
budget, nnd once for a review of the foreigu politics
of the day. 1 have read the objectionable
articles, und cannot see what plausible pretext
they afford to this ticklish and sensitive Govern
meut. Mut the remark of some I'rocureur Gen
eral, "Give me four lines written on politics by
nnv man. and I emraiie to han* him." is solid
morality for the present administration The
French indictments arc loose enough, leaving ev
erything to the cuprioe of the jury. The fabulous
Mississippi indictment for " kickiug up
a d?d fuss generally," is no fable here Ouo
count in the indictment of Li Voir du Pmpte is
for " publishing an article tending to excite the
people to dislike the Government."
One of these articles was in relation to the
budget of 1951 just presented by M. Fould, the
Jewish banker and present Minister of Finance
This promptness is very praiseworthy in M
Fould, his predecessors baring set him the example
of waiting until the commencement of the
year before presenting the budget. That of 1850
is not jenroled. M Fould professes, in this great
financial, to restore the equilibrium between the
receipts and expenses, lesving, indeed, a balance
in favorof the former of more than eight milliona ,
to diminish the tax on landed property ; to lessen
the stamp tax on mortgages, and to restrain
within proper limits the Hosting debt. The
budget of 1*50 amounts to fourteen hundred and
twenty-seven millions, that of 1851 to twelve
hundred and eighty-four millions, being a reduction
of one hundred and forty-three millions
This is sn advance toward the proper standard,
but still the plan of the budgets of Louis Phil
ippe is kept up To make up the receipts, it is
proposed to sell most of the forests and landed
property belonging to the (State, which would
yield more than fifty millions The comments
on this part of the budget by />/ loir du Peupif
were the immediate pretext of one of the seizures
The discussion of the budget of 1850 has occupied
much of the time of the Assembly Kach
Minister defended the abuses of his own department
from the attacks of the committee of retrenchment.
The occupants of the tribunes had
a good opportunity to scrutinize the personal appearance
of the great men who govern France,
from M. Parien, who, with his black eyes and hair,
and swarthy complexion, looks ns if he had just
sprung from noma wall-sooted stovepipe, to Gen
IVilitutpoiil, who in an white mi if he hud the I
hahit of living >t> 11 nieal barrel. Kvfrybody
said many good thing* about reform and economy.
but no serious change ha* yet ben effected
in thin sense?a great many whittling* here and
there, no outting at the very heart of the evil
The bill proponed by the Government, providing
for the transportation of political convict* to
the Marquesas inlands, was the Oceanian of one of
the most eloquent disenurso* ever uttered Victor
Hugo waa the orator. Ilia speech has been
struck off in an edition of 100,000 copies, snd
will he distributed through all Prance. It ia an
eloquent protest of a humane man, against the
lingering death reserved, in a distant island, in
priaon, for the writer* and politicians who may
fall under the displeasure of the Government
For some days past, the Chamber ha* been discus*ing
the bill for conferring on a private company
certain monopolies and privileges, and
guarantying it an interest of five per cent, for it*
money, provided it will undertake to build the
railroad from Paris to Avignon. Tbla hill revIvom
the corruption nnil speculation in Govern
mcnt favors which *o disgraced the last years of
the reign of Louis Philippe. Kverybody was surprised
to see M. I.nuartiue come forward hh ii?
sdvoeate Itnppmrs that oertnin conversations
with M Rothschild hate altogether converted M
Lainartine in regard to M. Lamar tine, one i*
always inclined to Mk the question or the sailor
blown up by an eiploelon at a conjurors exhibition,
" What will he do next 7" lie is a political
didapper, that Is always coining up to the surface
in the most unexpected places. Nobody expected
him to appear on the Atignon railroad,
bat M. Cremieax was ready for him, and gate
him a shot which ruffled hie feathers
The Assembly has bad time to annul seteral
socialist elections, and ratify all of the majority
party. This is done with a cool disregard of
principle which would make tho fortune of an
American Congressman. A new election Is to
take place on the Rhine on the ?Ntb, although
the socialists had e majority at the last of more
than 16,000 The cleotion in the department of
the I taut Rhine baa been confirmed, although
the conservative majority was hut 1H8, and
proof waa offered that more than U,000 illegal
votes had been given.
The eity of Rouen has been thrown into disorder
by mb arbitrary act of the prefeot, who took
the responsibility of forbidding, at a late hour,
the representation of the WiwTrrisj,' Jtte, a dre~
~ - r .