On this page
- Departments (4)
-
Text (15)
-
Ohio affirms that the of of February 17,...
-
¦Bocttg.
-
FREEDOM'S LYRE. BT 3£BS. HART H. SIAXWXI...
-
mbitm
-
AMERICA COMPARED WITH ENG I*A25D. London...
-
The Ethnological Journal February. Edite...
-
TheReasoner. Part XXXHI. London: J. Wats...
-
The National Guardsman. London : J. Wats...
-
LAND REFORM. AMERICA t,^ ENGLAND, THE AD...
-
pttiifa ftmttaemettte.
-
OLYMPIC. An English version of the well-...
-
STANDARD. A new domestic drama has been ...
-
Horrible Tragedt.—It was near Lizon that...
-
V&xittit*.
-
Thk Wat to Wix a Kiss.—The late Mr. Jarv...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Ohio Affirms That The Of Of February 17,...
of _February 17 , 1840 . THE NORTHERN STAR , 3
¦Bocttg.
¦ _Bocttg .
Freedom's Lyre. Bt 3£Bs. Hart H. Siaxwxi...
FREEDOM'S LYRE . BT 3 £ BS . HART H . _SIAXWXIi . Attune the chords of Freedom ' s lyre , To boundless notes of glee ; And swell upon each burning -wire , The anthems of the free ! Strike ! strike again the notes of old , That swept these hills along ! "Where Freedom's sons her flag nnrolled _, And shouted Freedom ' s song ! "Wake ! wake the tones of victor ?• npw-For Freedom ' s heart heats high ! And triumph sits on manhood ' s brow , And speaks from woman ' s eye . Tho sun that rose in cloud smd gloom , Now beams in radiance bright ; And in meridian splendour soon Shall blaze with Freedom s light .
-When slavery ' s night shaU pass away And wide o ' er land and sea Again on every breeze shall play The banner ofthe free * . Then tune the lyre—let music sweep Our _billa and vales along I While ocean's waves in gladness leap , And dance to Freedom ' s song .
Mbitm
_mbitm
America Compared With Eng I*A25d. London...
AMERICA COMPARED WITH ENG I _* A _25 D . London ; E . _Tfilson , Hoyal Ex
change . The author of this work , apparently holding ¦ with Helvetius , that " the - _** irtnes , and the "vices of States arc the effects of their legislar tion , " has -written a well-filled volume of nearly three hundred pages , for the purpose of contrasting " the social effects of the Ameri-< 5 anandEngKsh g ystemsof € foTernment . ' * Our readers "will not he surprised to learn that the palm is awarded to the trans-Atlantic system .
The work is published hecause the author is " anxious to assist in bringing about a reform at home , hy removing errors and prejudices , and instilling into the English people that knowledge of free institutions which must he attended by their approval and gradual adoption . " In the present struggle of the nations on tiie Continent for freedom , "the desire to contribute something to facilitate the choice of political institutions in Europe , hy presenting the experience of two great ana dissiinilar systems , has stimulated the author , in addition to his anxiety for his own country . " The work opens with , an account of " The Constitutions and Governments of the several States" ofthe American Union . There are
now thirty States or Republics in the Union , and the number is constantly increasing , in consequence ofthe formation of new States in the "Western and Southern territories . In a new territory , "the Confederation assumes the Government of it until the population hecomes sufficiently numerous to form a State , and then the people elect delegates to frame a Constitution . It must he a Republican Constitution , and no aristocracy is permitted , "When the population of a territory Humbers sixty thousand , it may obtain the rights of a State . The people of anew territory [ not yet formed into a State ] are represented hy agents in Congress , who have a right to speak , hut not to vote . "
The different States have different constitutions , governments , and laws ; although all must he Republican , at least so far as the absence of royalty and aristocracy make a Republic To enable the reader to _xmderstand the general character ofthe State institutions , as distmgmshed from those of the general confederation—the author of this work takes the State of Ohio as an example , the constitution , government , & c ., of which he describes at considerable length . In Ohio the suffrage "is practically universal ; every white male adult
citizen , who has readedin the State one year , and has been charged , or is chargeable with a tax , is entitled to a vote . All are chargeable with a road-tax offour shillings a year , except aliens and negroes , who are not permitted to vote . " The voting is hy "ballot . The electoral districts are equal according to populalation , [ to secure that equality there is a census taken of the male adult population every four years . ] Elections are annual ; there is no property qualification for representatives , who are paid eight shillings a day for their services during thc legislative sittings .
One half ofthe members of the Senate ( or second Chamber ) are chosen every year , so that there is a new election ofthe whole _^ every two years . The only qualification required is , that the Senator shall be thirty years of age , a citizen ofthe United States , and a resident of the district . The Governor of Ohio is elected directly by the people , every two years . He has a salary of _£ 200 a year . [ Think of that , Master Bull !]
Justices of the Peace are elected , o _ the people every three years . The Judges of the Supreme Court , and County Courts , are elected by the Legislature , every seven years . The people of each county elect a Public Prosecutor every two years . He manages all prosecutions , and the party aggrieved is put to no expense . On the whole , the judiciary system of Ohio has immense advantages over that of England ; still it is not perfect , and the author of this work points out evils which popular intelligence , working through popular suflrage , will doubtless remove ere long .
The people of each county elect a sheriff and a coroner every two years , and a recorder of deeds every three years . The township officers are elected annually . All officers are paid for their services . In the militia the privates elect their captains . Majors are elected b y the captains and subalterns of their battalions . Colonels are elected hy the majors , captains , and subalterns of the regiment . Brigadiers-general are elected hy tiie commisaoned officers of their respective brigades . Majors-general and quartermasters-general , are appointed hy a joint vote of both houses ofthe Legislature , & c & c .
, There is no church-establishment in any of the States ; and in all , the people are generally well educated . In many of the States a large part ofthe public lands has been appropriated to education , and the balance of tiie money required for that purpose is raised hy taxation . The children of tiie poorer classes receive an excellent education unmixed with religion . A classical education is bestowed gratuitously in some of the States . The American labourer ' s son is usually better educated than the son of an English master
tradesman . All classes read books and newspapers , and hear speeches , debates , and lectures . Public libraries and reading rooms abound in the large towns . In some of the States a public library for adults is provided , at the expense of the Commonwealth in each district . The people are thoroughly acquainted with all the important news of the world , and take the deepest interest in whatever concerns the progress ofthe human race . We hluih to own that there is too much of troth in the closing portion of the following
extract *——* _rOUTIClL K 50 WIEDGE Df AMEKCA _VCrtUS _VOUXICKL IOXORAXCE IX ENGLAXD . The late continental revolutions-the faU of mo narchy in France-tie rise of democracy there and in Germany and Italy , excited the greatest _enthusiasms America-tne great _eitiesj _™* _- _****™^ and the inhabitants ofthe remotest vdlages shouted _T-ith joy . The electric telegraph extends over tiie _pnon from Maine to Louisiana ,, < - < -- _^^ S ins tantaneous intelligence to the important towns these Eu
• _md villages ; so that the news of great - ropean events was made known throughout a circoitof many thousands of miles with the speed oi li ghtning itself . How was this news received in ? gW ? We saw more people collected together _*•* ¦ tendon to learn the result ofthe races at tnes-«* than we saw at any time assembled to _ascer-«» the results ofthe conflicts in Pari * , Vienna , or _f-d-n ! And as tothe Eng lish country people , it _ **¦ too much to say that a majority are to this _^ _-Snoi-ant of these mig hty struggles and
America Compared With Eng I*A25d. London...
The constitution of Ohio affirms that the people have , at all times , a complete power to alter , reform , or abolish their government . "So that in Ohio itis no offence to excite disaffection to the existing order of things ; whereas , in England , it is highly criminal to do so ; for it has often been held to be sedition , and in ' serious cases it has been declared to be treason . " In all the States of the Union the people are the recognised source of all power . " The principal difference will he found between the constitutions of the free and slave States . In the latter , for example , laws exist to prevent discussion on the subject of slavery . Slaveholding needs sedition laws for its support like those of England . "
Within _thelast twenty years the constitutions of several of the States have been remodelled . The tendency of the new constitutions is to deprive the executive of power . The various officers , formerly appointed hy governors , are now elected directly by the people or their representatives . We quote the following notice ofthe
SB . W TORK CONSTITUTION . By the constitution of Xew York ( the most important state in the Union ) adopted in November , 1846 , all the judge *! , superior and inferior , the sheriffs , prosecuting attorneys , ic ., are to he elected directly hy the people in their several districts . They are elected for short periods only . The same constitution provides that every male citizen of the age of twenty-one years who has resided five months in the county where he may offer his vote , shall be entitled to vote . Formerly the elector -was required to bo a tax-payer , and thb governor and senators were -required to possess a small property
qualification . This restriction is also removed . Men of colour are allowed to vote if possessed of a freehold estate worth 250 dollars ( about £ 501 . This is the same as the old law .- In some of the free States negroes are allowed to vote ; in others they are excluded ; in most of them they are allowed to hold land , but are subject to various disqualifications , the object of which is to prevent coloured people from being attracted to those States . The enactments imposing these disqualifications are all bad in principle as well as impolitic , and calculated to keep the free coloured race in a state of comparative ignorance and viciousness , besides fostering barbarous prejudices and antipathies .
The legislative power ofthe State ol flew xorK is vested in a senate and assembly ; the former consists of thirty-two members chosen for two years . The house of assembly consists of 128 members , annually elected . All the members are paid for their services so much per day out of the funds of the Republic . There are equal electoral districts , and the voting is by ballot . So that the six points of the Charter , which are in England the subject of so many ignorant remarks in the daily press , are the law of this great republic , as well as of most of the others ; and under the Charter thus reduced to practice we have the sublimest specimens of free government . The governor of New York exercises the pardoning power , and has a suspensive veto , which may be overruled by two-thirds of both
houses . The constitution of the United States was formed on the 17 th of March , 1787 , by delegates from a large majority of the original thirteen States , and was afterwards adopted hy the whole of them . It went into operation on the first Wednesday in March , 1789 ; and certain amendments were effected in the years 1789 , 17 & 3 , and 1803 . The constitution
has provided a federal executive , a federallegis lature , and a federal judiciary . The limits of each department are defined , and there is as little interference as possible with the sovereignty ofthe several Republics . The legislative power is vested in the President , Senate , and House of Representatives . The Executive power is in tiie hands ofthe President and Senate .
The constitution of the House of Representatives is tiie same in principle as the constitution ofthe representative assemblies of New Tork , Ohio , & c . The Senate is composed of two members from each State , chosen by the State Legislature . There is no property qualification required of the members of either Assembly . The representatives are elected every two years ; the senators every six years , but an election of one-third of tiie number takes place every two years . The President is chosen for four years . He is not elected bythe direct vote of the people , hut by electors chosen hy the people . The number of electors to the as
which each State is entitled _^ same its number of senators aud representatives in Congress . No property or relig ious qualifications are required ofthe President . He must be an American citizen by birth , and , at least , thirty-five years of age . His salary is well known , its amount being in this country often contrasted with that of the sum paid to that exceedingl y useful personage Prince Albert . The dignified simplicit y of the American Executive forms a glorious contrast to the " barbaric splendours" which—all things taken into account—a million of pounds sterling scarcely suffices to pay f or . Oh ' . wise John Bull ! Oh ! matchless Jack Ass !
After pointing out the peculiar excellencies and defects of the federal constitution , the author of this work gives it ais his opinion that the constitution will be , ere long , amended , so as to place it on a more popular basis . He anticipates the time when the slave States will be shorn of their preponderance , and the disproportionate power of the smallEastern States he amended in favour of the great Western States . The chapters comparing the administration of justice in America and England will repay perusaL
The author of this work insists that the general prosperity of the people of the United States is to he attributed entirel y to their democratic institutions , and not to the abundance of land . "Russia has an abundance of land , so has Lower Canada ; and yet , in consequence of the want of democratic institutions , the people of those countries are poor and ignorant . '' The superior morality of the people , he attributes to the same cause . " The women of America are fer more chaste
than those of England , taking the whole mass ofthe people of both countries into account . " " If there were a titled aristocracy , and a privileged class in America , but little respect would he shown to females in the lower ranks of life . They would be seduced by the glitter of titles , wealth , and power ; a had example would be set hy the most prominent men in the country ; this example would be generally followed , and the morals ofthe people would be sapped anddestroyed . "
We are not told in this work , that America is in all things an Elysium , when compared with England ; on the contrary , the author states that : " The climate is not so temperate , nor so healthy as that of England : nor is the country so beautiful . " " Many ofthe large towns are not well drained , cleansed , lighted , paved , and watched . Parks and puhlic walks are generally wanting . The roads are almost everywhere had . " " Food is abundant and cheaD , hut inequality ofthe meat , poultry , & c ,
is inferior to the English . " We mayadd , that in many an Englishman ' s home , the meat and poultry is worse than inferior , seeing that thereis none of either ! Better lean beef than none at all . The evilB of competition abound in America , as well as in this country ; employment in the cities and sea-board towns is uncertain , and wages in many departments of industry are hut little ( if any ) better than m England . Needlework is bo badly remunerated _^ that the " Song of the Shirt" might find a wide application on the other , as wl as on this side ofthe Atlantic .
Still , on the whole , the Americans seem to be well o _$ compared with the masses w this country . And this feet cannot he disputedthat the people have the power to revolutionise society , without pulling a trigger or shouldering a p ike . They possess political power amply sufficient to enable them to establish the reign of Social Justice whenever they please . Experience will yet instruct them how to properly employ the almig hty power of Universal
Suffrage . , The chap ters on the " Social Influence ot the Aristocratic System iu England ; " and
America Compared With Eng I*A25d. London...
_^ Restrictions the Liberties of Englishmen , " are admirable exposures of the working of that " glorious constitution" so often extolled by designing knaves , for the purpose of humbugging gullible fools . The illustrations , taken from the reports of the recent Chartist trials , will come home to our readers , many of whom number relatives amongst the victims , and all may he said to number friends—sacrificed at the blood-reeking altars of Privilege . From these admirable chapters we quote the following : —
INFAMOUS OPPRESSION—THK VILE PRESS-GANG . Within the last few weeks , the laws prohibiting the people from learning thc use of arms , have been put in force in England and in Ireland ; one man has been transported for saying " right shoulder forward , " and several have been tried and convicted for similar offences . The laws against public meetings have also been rigidly enforced , so as to prevent assemblies of persons complaining of the House of Commons . And public opinion , so far from being outraged by these exhibitions , has looked on with complacency . The newspaper press made no complaints against the very objectionable doctrines propounded by the Attorney-General , or laid down hy the bench on trials for political offences , but treated aUsuch doctrines as undoubtedly sound , just , and proper , and requiring no legislative correction .
We feel no hesitation in saying , that ifthe government had arrested every popular advocate of the -working classes in Eng land , had seized and _destroyetl all the Chartist presses , had suppressed every radical association directly , and prohibited every Chartist meeting , had instituted a search for arms and put in force all the existing laws , the Parliament would have passed a bill of indemnity , sanctioning any overstepping ofthe bounds ofthe law ; " public opinion , " i . e . the opinion of the wealthy classes , would have assented to all this , and clamoured for more coercion , and the leading newspapers would have applauded the entire performance . What may he termed the second part of the work is devoted to a consideration of " The
Mission of Democracy , " in which the author points out the various social reforms which he believes would follow the establishment of Universal Sunrage in this country . Hs evidentl y looks forward to Communism as the grand , though distant , remedy for all social evils open to human improvement . His account of the co-operative Communities in America is interesting , and , altogether , the second part of this volume is not the least valuable portion of thc work .
We observe that the Times , in reviewing this work , assailed tho author for his "fanatic attacks upon religion , and his licentious assaults upon the sanctit y of Marriage . " The author replied , denying the charge , and challenging the Times to produce proof ofthe " attacks " and •¦ assaults . " The Times published the letter , hut added a rejoinder , commencing after this fashion : — '' We acquit the author of attacks upon Christianity in the abstract , whatever may be our convictions of the really anti-Christian tendency of his views of human nature and society ; what he does attack , and that in the most bitter and fanatical spirit , is the Church of England and certain portions of her teachings which stand in opposition to his views for revolutionising this country . "
The rest maybe imagined . So to attack the Church of England is to attack religion What will the Dissenters say to that doctrine ? But this is the way ofthe Times , and the " respectable" Press generally . Let a man write a book in the spirit of honest independence , and for the purpose of enlightening—instead of misleading the people , forthwith the Press-gang raise the yell "infidel and anarchist . " If the author has the spirit to reply , and convicts his accusers of falsehood , he only
gets himself assailed in terms of increased abuse . The liar assumes the bold front of the bully , " and takes credit with not a few brutes and fools for defending (!) " property , " " family , " " religion , " "law , " and " order , " against the attacks of ¦ ' anarchists , " " infidels , " and the rest of the terrible phantoms usually paraded by the Press-gang to convince the " intelligent classes" how much they owe to their "bestpossible instructors . " One word to the author of this work . We
notice at page 21 a slur cast upon the members of the late Chartist Convention . Amongst other things he says , " Some may be said to have appointed themselves delegates . " We beg to assure him he has been misinformed , for we take it fer granted he has not made thisunfounded assertion on his own knowledge of that body . If there were some men who from lack of education , discretion , or general political knowledge should not have sat in that Assembl y , it should be remembered that the choice of the people was limited in the
extreme . The " respectable" and " intellectual" Eeformers will not associate with the proletarians , who are therefore , thrown upon their own class for representatives of their wrongs , sentiments , and desires . Amongst those representatives are men who , for sound political knowledge , and devotedness to principle , are second to no men on this earth . We admit , however , that those men are too few ; not sufficient to stock a popular Assembl y , without the alloy of less competent tribunes of the masses .
In addition to the extracts already given , we have copied into another column a lengthy extract from this work , on the important subject ofthe laws affecting the transfer of Land in England and America . Were we inclined to be critical , we might take exception to some of the views set forth , in "America compared with England j" but viewing the work as a whole , we regard it as a valuable contribution to the literature of Democracy . As such we heartily recommend it tb those who , in the words of Robert Nicol , are resolved to " mak the warld better yet 1 "
Our Great Military and Naval Parliaments . London : ' No . 353 , Strand . The substance of this pamphlet , now published in a cheap form , originally appeared in the Standard of Freedom . A list is given of three hundred and forty-six " individuals" in the House of Peers , and another list of three hundred and fifty-six in the House , of Commons , who are themselves military or naval officers , or are immediately connected with the war establishments by their brothers , sons ,
nephews , and other relations . Small chance has Mr . Cobden of compelling retrenchment to any considerable amount in the naval and military departments , when—independent of office - holders and office - seekers , and the hangers-on of the aristocracy—such a host of " men of war" stand ready marshalled in both Houses to oppose all reform . __ There is but one adequate remedy for this state of things : —The Charter ! We cordially recommend this pamphlet to our readers , and wiBh it a large circulation .
America Compared With Eng I*A25d. London...
_^ 4 _™^ - ™ _M _- _tijatMts enterprising and telefifea proprietor may succeed * in weathering the adverse gales which at present menace his progress .
The Ethnological Journal February. Edite...
The Ethnological Journal February . Edited by Ltoe _Bvbke , Esq . London * . 14 , Clement ' s-lane , Strand . Until the present number wo hare not seen this magazine for three or four months past . In the number before us we are sorry to observe indications of failure—that is , failure on the part ofthe public . It appears that unless prompt assistance is rendered to Mr . Burke , the next number must terminate the career of the Ethnological Journal , Such an untunely conclusion to that gentleman ' s labours -wonld be a public misfortune , and , we trust , mU be averted by those "who , feeling an interest in nis researches , possess also Se means to furnish him with the necessary aid . The Ethnological Journal deserves well of the votaries of science and they _-wifl be unfaithful to themselves if they allow it to
P One of a series of Mr . _Gliddon's Lectures on Egyptian _Archoeology ; and a paper on the "Im portance of Mythology in the study of PrimW History , " & Uy wan-ant _¦« _, _«*«* L the commendations we have before _he-SLd on this publication , and adding thereto
Thereasoner. Part Xxxhi. London: J. Wats...
TheReasoner . Part XXXHI . London : J . Watson , 3 , _Queeu ' s-head Passage , Patcrnoster-row . This part commences the sixth volume ofthe Reasoner . The Editor , in thanking his friends and supporters , announces himself master of an improved position , and full of hope as regards future progress .
The National Guardsman. London : J. Wats...
The National Guardsman . London : J . Watson , 3 , Queen ' s-head Passage , Patevnpster-row , London . A new Radical penny paper , containing some very good , and some rather curious articles . Amongst thelatter weobserve one headed "Our friends of the Press , " in which the assertion is made , certainly most erroneously , that " the majority ofthe weekly press works for the people !! " The writer goes on to recommend to popular support the Standard of Freedom , _JmoWs Weekly News , WeeUy Dispatch (!) and Sunday Times (!!) And these a _^ e all the " people ' s (?) papers" the "National Guardsman" affects to be acquainted with !!! *
Land Reform. America T,^ England, The Ad...
LAND REFORM . AMERICA t , _^ ENGLAND , THE ADVANTAGES OP DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS SHOWN IN THE LAWS RBI , ATI NO TO THE TRANSFER OP UND IN _AMBHICA , CONTRASTED WITH THK ENGLISH SYSTEM OJ ? GORGING HUNGR . T _iAYTXERS AT THE EXPENSE OF nONEST INDUSTRY .
( From America compared with England . ) The laws for the simplification of the transfer of land are of vast importance . In all the States there are registers kept of all the deeds relating to tho land , whether conveyances , mortgages , or leases . The importance of this system is not known in . England , or a popular demand would be raised for its introduction into this country . An explanation of the system of transferring land in Ohio will serve by way of illustration of the system prevailing throughout all the States , for the principle is tho same in all of them . In each county there is a register kept of all the deeds affecting the title to the lands within the limits of that county . An officer , called a recorder .
is elected by the people every three years : it is his duty to cause the deeds brought to his office te be copied at lull length into the books kept for that purpose . The fees for making these conies are about three shillings . The recorder ' s certificate appended to the copy ofa deed , makes the copy good evidence wherever the original deed would be received . AH wills , judgments , and decrees affecting the lands in tho county , are also recorded in the office of the clerk ofthe court of common pleas or supreme court . The whole legal title , therefore , is on record , and open to the examination of anybody without charge . Generally speaking , the title to land is , in consequence of this publicity , notorious , and the purchaser does not find it necessary to
fully examine it . Ho may easily look at the recorded title-deed ofthe man from whom he intends to purchase , and ascertain whether he has charged or encumbered the property . This will cost the purchaser nothing—there are no fees to pay for the search ; and if hobo a man ol ordinary intelligence he is quite able to make those inquiries himself ; nor can he have far to travel , for the recorder ' s office is in tho centre of the county , which is only twenty miles square . In some cases , however , where the title is obscure or complicated , it may be expedient to employ an attorney to examine the records , for which , and preparing the conveyance , the fee of one or two guineas is ample remuneration . All proceedings relating to the sale , mortgage ,
partition , or other disposition of land , are simple and inexpensive under the American system . A voluntary partition ef land owned by two or more in common is _eifected in Ohio at the expense of os . A compulsory partition , costing about £ 5 , ia effected as follows : —A petition , on huff a sheet of foolscap , is presented to the Court of Common Pleas : three freeholders are appointed to make the division , and the proceedings are recorded . If no division is practicable , the property is appraised . Any one of the parties interested may elect to take the property at the appraised value . If no such election is made , a public sale takes place . The sheriff conducts the sale , and makes the deed to the purchaser ; but , before doing so , report * " his proceedings to the court ,
where any party interested may raise objections , and a new sale may be ordered for good reasons . The proceedings occupy about three months . In this way , thc interests of minors , idiots , and lunatics arc sufficiently protected , and afc the same time prevented from injuriously interfering with the rights of the other owners , and property is not locked up and kept out of the market . Guardians for minors are empowered , by order of the court , to be obtained , on a proper showing , to sell the lands of their wards . Executors and administrators may obtain orders in like manner to sell land for the payment of debts or legacies , which are the first charges upon it . All these proceedings arc simple , brief , and inexpensive . Contrast them with English law and practice . The compulsory partition of land is so
expensive in England that ifc is very seldom resorted to . "Where minors are interested , tho property is practicably unsaleable , and the adult owners must wait till their co-tenants' majority . The lands of minors can seldom be sold tor their benefit , and where any judicial proceeding are necessary for that purpose , the costs arc ruinous , unless thc property is very large . A chancery suit , to subject lands to the payment of debts , can only be resorted to in certain cases , and then the expenses are overwhelming . It would not be easy to overrate the importance ofthe advantages possessed by the Americans in these respects . It is then' policy to facilitate the transfer of land on all occasions in every possible way , and to simplify the instrument of transfer : t he consequence is , that there is a vast body of freeholders .
In England , on the contrary , the legislature has never had such an object in view , but has constantly inclined to the preservation ofthe present system , as part ofa glorious whole , the ultimate result of which is the monopoly of the land by a privileged few . The more we examine this subject , the plainer will it appear that the difference in the social _condition-of tne American and English people is chiefly caused by the difference between their laws and political institutions . In America , the labourer or mechanic can , with great easo , become the owner of a house and lot , _although the price of thc property may be as high as in England . He makes the purchase without the intervention of a lawyer , pays down say
onetenth part of tlie purchase-money , and executes a mortgage for the balance , payable in , perhaps , from three to eight annual instalments . He may thus become the owner in a few years , by paying a little more annuallv than he would pay as a tenant for rent . If he fails to make a payment , according to the terms ofthe mortgage , the mortgagee may foreclose and sell , but the expenses are insignificant ; and in most of the States the mortgagor is protected from sacrifice byjudicious regulations , providing for an appraisement , and publio sale of the property , after due notice , and forbidding a sale at less than two-thirds of the appraised value . hi England , if the mechanic desires to purchase a dwelling-house , there are various difficulties in his
way : the expense ol the conveyance and ot a mortgage to secure a portion of the purchase-money , may be estimated at £ 30 or £ 40 , and he cannot transfer his interest to another person without great expense . If a foreclosure is resorted to , the costs will entirely eat up the property . In this state of things , it has been impossible for the practice of purchasing small properties on credit to become common ; tho cost of a few transfers would soon exceed the entire value of a small tenement or lot of land . Whenever , then , aman is willing to encounter the expense of a transfer , and seeks for a small piece of property , he soon discovers thathe is asking for a thing which not being in common demand can hardly he fonndat all . The owner of a row of small cottages never thinks of selling one of them
smgly ; and if the purchase of one of them is sought for , the purchaser must be content to dispense with an examination of the title , and must , in addition to enormous law charges , pay a fancy price , as all people must do who wish to purchase that which is not oifered for sale . The desire to own land is a strong natural desire , which is gratified in America and suppressed in England . Ifthe English mechanic could , like the American , purchase his dwelling-house , he would soon acquire provident habits ; tlie anxiety to own the dwelling occupied by him wouldlead to economy , care , and industry , and the ownership of land would
elevate his character . Political equality , a good system of education , and tho introduction ofthe American system of conveying land , would in the course of a few years , effect a complete reform in the character of the English nation . But many other important measures may be added to those just named . One of the consequences of an inexpensive system of conveying and mortgaging land would be the discontinuance of the grants of building leases for ninety-nine years , or other long terms , not renewable . These leases are now preferred to purchases oftt . eland , because the builder bas not sufficient capital to pay the purchase-money , and the beneficial system of purchasing on credit , andgi _y ing
Land Reform. America T,^ England, The Ad...
mortgage for part of the money is , owing to tho expensiveness ofconveyanoing _, almost unknown . There are no such leases in America , and yet thc Erice of building-ground in cities and largo towns is igher than in England . In Cincinnati , the largest city of Ohio , land in the principal streets is worth from £ 100 to £ 200 per foot front , running back 100 feet . In this city of 100 , 000 inhabitants , 2 , 000 houses will bo built this year ; three-fourths of which will be built by the owners of the lots , principally mechanics . In America , a mortgage is given for the principal part of the purchase-money , to be . paid by five or ten yearly instalments . The seller of the land is assured the payment of the purchase-money , because the erection of buildings upon the land sold will _srcatlv enhance the
security . So , under a similar system of conveyancing in England , the obnoxious leasehold tenure would be superseded by freehold titles . Thc builder would purchase tno land , and give a mortgage for the whole , or greater part , of the purchase-money , payable with interest , in ten or fifteen years , by instalments . The leasehold tenure is very obnoxious , the covenants in tho leases with respect to repairs , insurance , and other matters , aro rigid , and there is always a liability to forfeit the lease . The creation of long leases with these conditions ought to be prohibited altogether . The adoption of the American system of land titles and conveyancing would lead to the discontinuance of building societies ' on their present basis , because those persons desirous of purchasing houses could readily obtain credit from the vendor for thc greater part of the purchase-money , securing him by a mortgage , according to thc American custom . But the greatest result of all would
bo the division of great estates , and the establishment of small farms . To effect this consumniation so _devoutehr to be wished , the aristocracy must be prevented from enjoying the spoils of government and monopolising the various _officcB ; the necessities of their families will then force them to soil large tracts of land , and these will be sold in small parcels , if the expense of conveyancing be reduced to a mere nothing . Better prices will be realised by selling in small rather than large parcels , under such circumstances . These changes can only be effected through Parliamentary reform . Until that is obtained , the aristocracy will quarter their sons and relatives on the public , and retain their vast estates entire . Tho utmost resistance would be offered by any House of Commons elected under the present system to the abolition of entails , and to the introduction of a complete registry of deeds , without which there can be no cheap conveyancing .
Pttiifa Ftmttaemettte.
_pttiifa _ftmttaemettte .
Olympic. An English Version Of The Well-...
OLYMPIC . An English version of the well-known French drama Un Secret was produced on Monday under the title of the Lost Diamonds . -The plot turns on the conscientiousness of a banker's wife , who , finding that her husband has in early life ruined an unfortunate man by surreptitiously taking a sum of money , endeavours to repair the injury by protecting the son of the victim , and making him her husband's cashier . The interest she takes in the young man awakens the suspicions of the banker , who loads her with reproaches , and the crisis of the
drama is produced when she retaliates _up-m him , by repeating the story of his early dishonesty . The anxiety of the suspected wife , and her triumphant repulse of the aspersions heaped upon ber , gave scope for some excellent and powerful acting by Mrs . Stirling ; and the agonies of the jealous husband were depicted with much feeling by Mr , Stuart . A comic gentleman , wbo is a keen investigator into the affairs of his neighbours , but absolutely blind as to what concerns himself , is quaintly _rcpretented by Mr . Compton . The piece has been repeated with success .
Standard. A New Domestic Drama Has Been ...
STANDARD . A new domestic drama has been produced from a tale by Mr . E . Roberts , entitled * Punishment , or the Victim ofa vitiated Society . ' This piece should be seen by all who value the well-being of the community , and especially by those who take a lively interest in our prison discipline . " It Bhow hows the once innocent victim of poverty is dragged to a dungeon , and treated as a criminal by the harpies of the law , and how , in every stage of his career , the law
pursues its victim to the death . Snch scenes are , however , unfortunately of daily occurrence in ' the streets of the metropolis , and we almost fancied we were witnessing the reality instead of the ideal , while following the ' Victim of Society' in his doomed career . The piece ( which has been played a fortnight ) , is eminently successful , and great praise is due , not only to the author , but to the excellent acting of Mr , Freer , and Mrs . Honnor who personates the hero . It is well put upon the stage , and will no doubt reward the enterprising manager as he deserves .
Horrible Tragedt.—It Was Near Lizon That...
Horrible _Tragedt . —It was near _Lizon that occurred one of the most horrible incidents of the massacre of 1843 , caused by the invasion of Beder Khan Bey , the chief of tho adjacent Kurds . Ten thousand men , women , and children were slaughtered in cold blood on this occasion , and a large number of girls , besides , were carried into a slavery which is worse than death . An active mountaineer offering to lead me tothe spot , I followed him up the mountain . Emerging from the gardens , we found ourselves at the foot of an almost perpendicular detritus of loose stones , terminated about one thousand feet above us , by a wall of lofty rocks . We soon saw evidences of the slaughter . At first a solitary skull rolling down with the rubbish ,
then heaps of blanched bones , further up fragments of rotten garments . As we advanced those remains became more frequent—skeletons almost entire still hung to the dwarf shrubs . I was soon compelled to renounce an attempt to count them . As we approached the walls of the rock , the declivity became covered with bones , mingled with the long plaited tresses of tho women , shreds of discoloured linen , and well-worn shoes . There were skulls of all ages , from the child unborn to the toothless old man . We could not avoid treading upon the bones as we advanced , and rolling them with thc loose stones into the valley below . " This is nothing , " exclaimed my guide , who observed me gazing with wonder on theso miserable heaps ; "they are but the remains of those who were thrown from above , or sought to escape the sword by jumping from the rock . " When thc fugitives who had escaped from Asheeta spread the news of the massacre through the valley
of Lizan , the inhabitants of the villages around collected snch parts of their property as they could carry , and took refuge on a platform at the summit ofthe rock in question , hoping to escape the notice ofthe Kurds , or to be able to defend against any numbers a place almost inaccessible . Beder Khan Bey was not long in discovering their retreat ; but being unable to force it , he surrounded the place with his men , and waited until its occupants should be compelled to yield . The weather was hot and sultry ; the Christians had brought but small supplies of water and provisions . After three days the first began to fail them , and they offered to capitulate . The terms proposed by Beder Khan Bey , and ratified by an oath on the Koran , were accepted , and the Kurds were admitted to the platform . But after they had disarmed their prisoners thoy commenced an indiscriminate slaughter , until weary of using their weapous , they hurled the tew survivors into the river below . —Nineveh and its Remains .
A Spiteful Woman . —A few days ago , a forei gn ambassador , on his way to the Court of Sardinia , took up his quarters at one of the first hotels ofthe Rue Richelieu in company with his mistress , a very beautiful woman . Some dispute having taken place between thelatter and the mistress of thc hotel , an offensive epithet was applied to the ambassador ' s lady . This so galled her that , on the day on which she and the ambassador went away , she cut , hacked , and destroyed the furniture , carpets , pictures , curtains , looking-glasses , in a word , everything in the apartments . The work of destruction was not discovered until some time after sho had left , but complaint was immediately laid before the Commissary of Police , who communicated it to the Embassy of the nation to which the ambassador belongs .
Encroachment on >** _w-hoad , Islington . —From the corner of _Osnaburgh-street to the top ofthe hill at Pentonvilie , says a correspondent ofthe Builder , the ground in front ofthe houses , originally appropriated as gardens or open courts , has , in numerous instances , been built upon , to form shops and placeB of business , close out to the footpath , particularly between the first-mentioned point and the Hampstead-road ; and a large group of shops has very recently been erected near the corner of Osnaburghstreet . Thus , the view and free air are obstructed , and the openness which characterised this leading thoroughfare is becoming gradually extinguished ! For many years past I have observed the increase of
this evil , and lamented it as ono that could not bo remedied or prevented , conceiving that the parties had a rig ht so to deal with the premises , and that the public view of the matter , if it ever occurred to them , wasnot for a moment wei ghed against the commercial or pecuniary advantages to be gained by this mode of occupying their frontage ground . Under these circumstances I was agreeably surprised to learn that these erections are actually illegal , and in contravention ofa law specially framed for the prevention of all such obstructions ; it is , therefore , not a little astonishing that tho law should not have been enforced , and that it should so long have remained inoperative ,
V&Xittit*.
V & xittit _* .
Thk Wat To Wix A Kiss.—The Late Mr. Jarv...
Thk Wat to Wix a Kiss . —The late Mr . Jarvy Hush amused us once with a story told of a brother barrister on the Leicester circuit . As thc coach wag about starting after breakfast , the modest limb of the lawapproached tho landlady , _apretty Q uakeress who was seated behind . the bar , ant Lid he could not think of going without giving her a kiss . " Friend , " said she , " thee must not do it . " « oh by heavens I will ! " replied the barrister . " Well ' friend , as thou hast sworn , thee may do it ; but thou must not make a practice of it . "
Time . —Time is like a creditor who allows an amp le space to make up accounts , but is inexorable afc last . Time is like a verb , that can only be of use in the present tense . Time , well employed , give **? that health and vigour to the soul which rest a nd retirement afford to the body . Time never sits heavily on us but when it is badly employed . Timeis a grateful friend ; use it well , and it never fails to make a suitable requital . Juvenile _Conclusions . — " Mamma , " said a girl , " . Solomon must have beon very poor . " " AVhy ?" said her mamma . — " Because it says in the Bible Solomon slept with his fathers , and if he had been _, rich , he would have had a bed to himself . " Forms op _Intempehanck . —There is the
intemperance of mirth , and then its victim is a silly buffoon ; tho intemperance of seriousness , and then he is a gloomy ascetic ; thc intemperance of ambition , and then he is the laureled hero ofa hundred fights , a madcap poet , or a mountebank statesman ; tlie intemperance of love , and then he is a good-for-nothing driveller ; the intemperance of anger , and then ho ia a frothing madman : tho intemperance of dross and manners , and then he is a glittering fop ; tho intemperance ofthe purse , and then ho is a sordid miser ; the intemperance of the palate , and tben he is a filthy glutton ; the intemperance of the bowl , and then he is a reeling drunkard ; therefore , let " reason hi all things" he your constant guide . Cunious if TnuE . —Frederick Dickens , brother of " Boz , " has married a lady of the name of " Wellor . "
J _*** " * -v Lind . — -Nothwithstanding all the rumoura of retirement , marriage , & c , Jenny Lind is engaged , for tho coining season at her Majesty ' s theatre .
THE LAND . A people among whom equality reigned would possess everything they wanted where they possessed the means of subsistence . Why should they pursuo additional wealth or territory ? No man can cultivato more than a certain portion of land . —Godwin . No onc is able to produce a charter from heaven , or has any better title to a particular possession than his neighbour . —Paley . One Towx _' s Newspapers . — Eighty-one newspapers are published in Boston ( U . S . ) , of which fourteen arc daily , nine semi-weekly , and fifty-eight ; weekly . Tub _ScnooLMASTKK _Abhoad . —Thc following notice may now be seen in a window in the Crescent , near tho Gas Works , Bury : — " Number Ellis to Mend Hero . "
Jot oo with Him . — The Roman Catholics of New York are about to hold a public meeting to request the Pope to take us his permanent residence in America . Dalmatian Proverbs . — " He that is prodigal of thanks is avaricious of gratitude . "— " When tha wolf is fatigued , oven his tail is heavy . "— " He that seeks to act gloriously must not act dexterously . " — " When you steal another man's hen , tie your own by the leg . "—" Every one praises the rose
while it gives a pleasant odour . "—" When misfortunes come , pause not to weep , but hasten to change . "— " The heads fullest of brains are often the most liable to extravagance . "— " Chooso your wife by your ears rather than your eyes . " A Trifle . —At a student ' s farewell visit to a professor , on leaving one of tho German Universities , hesaid , among other complimentary speeches ) , "I am indebted to yon for . all that I know . ' "Ah" returned the professor with equal politeness , " don't mention such a trine I "
To Smokers . —Tho Plough recommends . smoker **! to try hops , instead of tobacco , observing tliat the fragrance isbalsamic , and , diffused in a bed chamber , will bring calm refreshing sleep . A Very proper Club . —We find from the American papers that " the bachelors of Philadelphia have formed an association called tho - Want-to-be-Married Club . '" Cheap _Breah . —It is curious that the termination of all but a nominal duty on corn was iishered in by a small improvement of prices in all the English markets last week .
Reabing . — The amusement of reading is one amongst the greatest consolations of life ; it is the nurse of virtue—the proof of independence—the support of a just pride—the _strengthenoi * of elevated opinions ; it is a shield against the tyranny of all tho petty passions ; it is tho repcller ofthe fool ' s scoff and the knave ' s poison . —Sir Egerton Brydges . A Good Heart . —There is no nobility like to that of a good heart , for it nover stoops to avtifieo , nor is wanting in good offices where they are seasonable . ExTR _\ _ORnis . u * . \* _Swvse . — At _Vaughiui ' _s form , O ' Connorville , nearRickmansworth , maybe seen
two extraordinary specimens ofthe " swinish multi " tude , " each possessing six feet . Onc of them , a sow , is little more than a year old , and has two feet on each ofthe fore legs . About a month since the sow had a litter of seven pigs , one of whom also was born with _tivo feet on each of the fore logs . The animals are ofa fine quality , no doubt , too , mentally as well as physically , seeing that six-footod pigg must necessarily possess a good _understanditu / . Of course , they aro " whole- % " advocates of the " six points . " They are , however , strictly for " moral force , " holding in abhorrence the - ' point" ofa knife .
Rather Snobbish . — In the Barliwjton Times we read tho following : — "Tho weather is warm , and the sun peeps blythcly into our editorial room as we indite this paragraph . " Sterne ' s Retort . —On Sterne ' s entering a coffee room at York , a Mr . A ., staring him full in the face , said , he hated a parson . Upon which Sterne rejoined " And so , Sir , does my dog , for as soon as I put on my gown and cassock , he falls a barking . " "Indeed , " replied A ., "how long as he done so ? " "Ever since he was a puppy , Sir !" answered Sterne , " and I still look upon him as onc ! --Capital Punishment . —Being kissed to death by a pretty girl . _DTINO SPEECH OP AS OLD PHILOSOPHER . I strove with none , for none was worth my strife : Nature I lov'd , and , next to Nature , Art : I warm'd both hands before the firo of Life ; It sinks ; and I am ready to depart . W . S . L ., in thc Examiner
, A _KnotttRequest . — "I wish you to make for the church , " said an Episcopal vestryman , one morning , to a carpenter in a neighbouring village , " two new commandment boards . Wc want them of free sound timber with no knots in it . "—• " You'd better take some ofthe ' nots' out of the commandments , then , " replied the carpenter , " I never suw a commandment board yet that wasn ' t full of 'em : " The First Step . —Chateaubriand says— " In new colonies thc Spaniards begin by _building a church ; the French a ball-room ; and the English a tavern . " There is nothing the absoluto ground of which is not a mystery . —Coleridge . The Womkx of _Monteseoro . —Though able , tho
men aro seldom inclined to carry any thing , or take any trouble they can transfer to the women , who are the beasts of burthen in Montenegro ; and I _haye seen women toiling up the steepest hills , under loads which mon seldom carry in other countries . They are , therefore , very muscular and strong ; and the beauty thoy frequently possess is soon lost by tho hard and coarso complexions thoy acquire ; their youth being generall y exhausted by laborious and unfeminine occupations . Thc sheaves of Indian corn , the bundles of wood , and everything required for the house or tho granary are carried by women ; and tho men are supposed to bo too much ' interested about the nobler pursuits of war or pillage to have time to attend to meaner labours .
Insovation , —Of all the old things ever seen or heard of , there is not one that was not once new . Whatever is now establishment was once innovation . —Bentham . _Womak ' s Privilege . —You may meet with twenty men in a day who stutter , but you never heard of a woman who had an impediment in her speech . An Amorous Poet . —A young man sent his sweetheart a present on New Year ' s day , with the following lines . It is hard to tell whether tho fire of the poet or the skill of tho grammarian is most to be admired : — " Madam , myself and all the muses , Begs your acceptance ofa pair of shoeses . " New Fashioned Weddings . —At a wedding the other day , one of the guests , who is often a little absent , observed gravely , I havo remarked that there have been more women than men married this year !"
'• _Widdbrs . —A young Tipperary widow , Nelly M'Phce , I think he called her , was courted , and actually had an offer from Tooley O'SIiane , on her way to her husband ' s funeral . " She accepted , of course , " said Grossman . " No , she didn ' t , " said Smith . " Tooley , dear , " says she , " y ' re too late : four waaks ago it was , I shook hands wi' Pat Sweeney upon it , that I would have him in a dacent time arterpoorM'Phee went underboard . " " Well , " said Grossman , " widows of all nations are much alike . There was a Dutchwoman , wkose husband _.
Diedrick Yan Pronk , died and left her inconsolable . He was buried on Copp ' s Hill . Folks said grief would kill that widow . She had a figure of wood carved that looked very like her late husband , and constantly kept it in her bed for several months . In about half-a-year she became interested in a young shoemaker , who took the length of her foot , and finally married her . He had visited the widow not more than a fortnight , when the servants told htr they were out of kindling , stuff , and asked what should be done . After a pause , the widow replied ina very quiet way : — " Maype it ish well enough now , to shplit up old Yan _PronVrat ia up stair .
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 17, 1849, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_17021849/page/3/
-