THE TABLET.
NUMBER 111.
" Debate and Dijfention not only flow froi/i civil liber
ty, but contribute to preserve it."
TN my last No. I mentioned having pafled anevcir
-t ing with two foreigners. The remarks, made
by one of them, have been communicated. The
reply of the other equally deserves notice. It is
,to the following effect.
" I confefs that your observations appear to be
founded in fact. No inference, however, to the
discredit of this country, can be drawn from such
circumltances. There maybe assigned two reasons
why the cicizens of the United States are prone to
Jpeculative controversy. One of them proceeds
from the nature of their government, and adts as
a permanent cause. The other results from par
ticular incidents, which may be considered adven
titious; but which unites its influence in producing
the general effecft.
" In a delpotick government, where the subject
, has no voice in making the laws, or in eitabliihing
modes of religion, he has little occasion to be a dil
putant. His whole attention is employed, in per
forming the duties that are laid upon him. The
cafe is totally the revcrfe in a country of freedom.
Every man knows that he may be eligible to legi-
Every man feels' a pride and independence
of spirit, that he can clioofe his own religion. This
operates as 6n eflabliihcd' cause of speculative en
quiry and investigation. No reflraint can fafely be
put upon an indulgence, which is in itfelf so falu
tary. 1 here is leis danger from excels than from
reliricflion.
" Ihe peculiar situation of this country has af
forded great scope for the difcuflionsof theoretick
men. It has infufed a spirit of altercation into all
ranks of people. Time and experience will corretfl
those extremes of such a temper, which have been
excited by special cau£s. It must have its own
course, and work its own remedy. The love and
the pratftife of difputo, fh ike out light upon the
various fubjefts, relative to government. It habi
tuates men to reflection. I acknowledge it has
been carried so far, as to militate with ufeful oper
ations, and prevented a&s of real utility being in
troduced. Many of the States have totally "new
modelled their governments. This could Tiot be
produced without great deliberation. The fervour
has hardly yet subsided.
" The entire tolerarion of religion has given a
large range to persons prone to controversy. Each
fetft naturally wiflies to extend its influence. The
forms of government and religion will be better
ascertained, and men will have determined what
fide to take, in both. When this happens, the
evil yqu complain of, will in part be removed.
But while the spirit of liberty exists, controversy
is unavoidable."
Thus spoke my two companions. The one point
ed out errors, and the other accounted for them.
Their observations, whether they are new or not,
appear to be just. Such hints ainufe fame people,
while they do injury to none.
A HINT7~
ONE finding feature in tliepolitical complexion
of the Dutch Republick is, that the children
of both sexes are, from the moment of the earliest
capability, initiated in some line of indullrious avo
cation among them. Solon and Lycurgus coidd
not have chalked out a wiser line for the service
of the Grecian States. It was an opinion with
Alexander the Great, that boys nurtured and bro't
up in the camp, were ever after fond ofarms—and
practice gave fantftion to the theory. It holds e
qually good, that children, early trained up to in
dustry, ever incline to it in maturity—for, in the
language of the poet, "it grows -with their growti,
and Jfrengthens, vi:th their flrength." To our coun
trymen, we hope the application is evident. If
they accustom their little ones to honest employ
ments (such as will suit their years, constitutions
and choices) they will thereby render them virtu
ous andindeqendent citizens,a credit to tliemfelves,
and an ornament to society. The consequences of
a different conduct are evident.
ANECDOTE OF LORD MANSFIELD.
THIS J udge being in one of the counties, on the
circuit, a poor woman was indicted for witch
craft. The inhabitants of the place were exafpera
ted against her. Some witnefles deposed, that th.2_>
had fecn her walk in the ai;-, with her feet upward
Lord Mansfield heard the evidence with great tran
quility, and perceiving the temper of the people,
whom it wouJ d not have been prudent to irritate,
he thus addrefled them. lC Ido not doubt that thh
woman lias walked in the air, with her feet up
wards, since you have all seen it; but she has the
hono ir to be born in England, as well as you and I,
and confeqaently, cannot be judged but by the laws
of the country, nor puniflied but in proportion as
ha< violated them. Now I know not cne law
that forbids walking in the air with the feet up
wards. We have all aright to do it with impuni
tv. I fc! noreafon, therefore, fqr prosecution ; ant
ilus poor woman may return home when she plcaf'es.
•
PLAN
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AMERICA, from this period, begins a new Era
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high Water.
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as itisbutjuft toiay, that every project, which has
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