102 Extracts from the Journals. [Jan., 



OUR SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND EDUCATIONAL 

 SYSTEM. 



[Communicated ror the Qu.irterly Journal and Review, Cincinnati, by 

 H. A. Kidd, Esq.] 



Since the achievement of our independence, America has ad- 

 vanced more rapidly to prosperity and powder than any nation of 

 people of which history furnishes us information. Within half 

 a century our population exhibits the astonishing increase of 

 upwards of thirteen millions. This may be attributed partly to the 

 inviting character of our climate and soil, and the numberless 

 natural advantages which the country affords; but it is to be 

 attributed chiefly, no doubt, to our wise system of government, 

 our humane laws, and to the energy and enterprise of the people 

 themselves. 



In no government that exists, or that has ever existed, has there 

 been, in its constitutional provisions, such a regard for the natural 

 and inalienable rights of man; and inasmuch as no nation of 

 people have prospered as ours, it may be fairly argued, that no 

 government has been framed upon principles so well adapted to 

 that development of the energies of a people which results in the 

 greatest amount of social and political happiness. 



Here w^e have no regal prerogatives, no ducal privileges, no 

 baronial dignities; but our constitution, framed by the wise and 

 patriotic Fathers of the Revolution, and subscribed to by the great 

 and virtuous Washington, provides for equal liberty to all; — not 

 the licentious liberty of the Roman empire in its decline, nor the 

 unrestrained liberty of the Arabic and Indian tribes of the present 

 day, but a liberty regulated by law, and just sufficiently restrained 

 to answer the purposes of beneficent government. 



Unlike the monarchies of Europe, here we enjoy that distinguish- 

 ing attribute of freedom — the untrammeled expression of opinion; 

 for ours is a government, the first, perhaps, the world has wit- 

 nessed, built upon the immutable law of human nature — equal 

 rights and privileges to all. 



Both in a social and political point of view, there are no grades 

 among our citizens. Whatever may be their individual circum- 

 stances, whatever may be their possessions, material or mental, 

 they occupy the same general level. The dignified senator and 

 the common laborer, aye, the president himself and the lowest of 

 his eighteen millions of constituents, are, in the construction of 

 our humane and equitable laws, compeers in all the privileges and 

 immunities of men and citizens — each contributing, by his suffra- 



