ment. dern times that she awoke, never more to slumber. The Tuscan Republics, though infinitely superior to that of ancient Rome, as regards civilization, had made but little progress in the science of govern"Viewed as Republics," says Mr. Forsyth, "the Tuscans and the Greeks were equally turbu lent within their walls, and equally vain of figuring among foreign sovereigns; always jealous of their political independence, but often negligent of their civil freedom; for ever shifting their alliances abroad, or undulating between ill-balanced factions at home. In such alternations of power the Patricians became imperious, the Commons bloodthirsty, and both so opposite, that nothing but an enemy at the gates could unite them." Mr. Forsyth then mentions the frivolity and the cruel ef fects of their wars; but it is impossible for me to enter into any detail on these subjects, which I regret the less, as the Italian, like the Grecian Republics, were too small and weak to retain their independence for any length of time. The State of New York would have comprised them all, and Long Island by itself would have been considered a most influential power. With regard to the other Italian Republics, it is enough to remark that Venice was in the hands of a most tyrannical aristocracy, and that Genoa was often almost as much oppressed. Crossing over to the other side of Europe, we find an hereditary Stadtholder lording it over their high mightinesses the Dutch, whose Republic the omnipotent congress of Verona has, so much against their will, transformed into a Monarchy." 1 We again meet with a domineering aristocracy in the Swiss Cantons, the only European Republic now existing. I have heard one of the self-styled nobles of Switzerland talk of the common people, in a manner I should have expected only from a Spanish Grandee. But shall we call that state a Republic, in which the liberty of the press has been annihilated, and from whence the mere wish of the despot of Austria has driven away the foreign refugees? We may well exclaim in the language of Lord Byron, "The name of Commonwealth is past and gone, O'er the three fractions of the groaning globe." ཨིཏི ནྟི But let us also recollect the lines that follow: Whose vigorous offspring by dividing ocean! This great clime is indeed a Republic. Let us hear the words of the famous declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident that 2 all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and hap piness. Until Representative government was discovered and acknowledged, civil liberty did not, and could not, rest upon any firm basis. Even this great discovery was some time in arriving at any thing like perfection: for man is so prone to usurp authority, and to lord it over his fellows, that the liberties of the people were found to be endangered if even freely elected representatives and governors, were not often changed, and always held accountable for their actions. This principle, now so well understood, forms the basis of the government of the United States. ས The Confederation consists at present of twentyfour States; each of which is sovereign and inde pendent, enacting laws, regulating taxes, making improvements, &c. &c., as far as regards its own individual welfare. These States have, by the con stitution, given certain powers to what is termed the General Government, for the purpose of regu lating their commerce and their transactions with foreign powers, and of enacting laws in all cases where the interest of the whole Union is concerned. The General Government only requires that what ever alterations the inhabitants of each State may think proper to make in their own constitution, it must always remain Republican. The General Government consists of two councils, composed of the deputies of the different States. One of these councils is called the Senate, the other the House of Representatives; and both together form what is commonly termed the Congress. The executive part of the government is administered by a President, Vice-President, and four Secretaries. The President must be thirty-five years of age, fourteen years a resident in the United States, and a natural born citizen. In case of his death, removal, resignation, or inability, the duties of his office devolve upon the Vice-President; and by an act of 1st March, 1792, in case of the removal, death, resignation, or inability of both President and Vice-President, or of the President of the Senate pro tempore; and in case there shall be no President of the Senate, then the Speaker of the House godam vul publ .4 * Vide National Calendar and the Constitution of the United States. 7 of Representatives for the time being, shall act as President.".. 1 "The legal title of this officer, is the President of the United States; and he is by the constitu tion commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States, when called into the service of the United States. He receives ambassadors and other public ministers; and it is his duty to take care that the laws are properly executed. He is empowered, by the advice and with the consent of two-thirds of the Senators present, to make treaties; and, by and with the advice and majority of the Senate, he appoints ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers established by law, whose appointments are not otherwise provided for by the constitution. He commissions all officers of the United States; and may grant reprieves and pardons, except in cases of impeachment. His salary is 25,000 dollars per annum, which cannot be increased or diminished during the term for which he is elected." i The President is chosen by Electors from the different States. Each State appoints, in the manner laid down by its own particular laws, as many Electors as equals the sum total of the Senators and Representatives which it sends to Congress. Thus the State of New York sends two Senators and twenty-one Representatives, and therefore ap |