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ON

SELF-GOVERNMENT.

1. THE word, Self-government, is of American origin. Its meaning is,-Rational, candid and manly conduct and independence in our concerns, which does not admit the interference of others. It is the fruit of Liberty in America, and is but very little known in Europe and Asia.

Men are generally governed either by the sword, or by hereditary rulers; sometimes by ecclesiastical power, and again by landed, or feudal, or moneyed aristocracies;-and finally, by a skilful combination of these different material forces. We have had republics in Greece, Italy, Germany, Holland, France, &c.; there are a few left in Europe. If, however, we examine their policy, we shall find that it differs so much from that form of state government which we call self-government, that, to avoid mistake, we hesitate to apply the word Republic to our self-governments. The instability of all these fabrics proves that they were ill adapted to the nature and laws of human society. As human society is everlasting, states will be perpetual too, if their organization and policy are in harmony with the laws which are at the bottom of human society. We are satisfied that the Americans approached nearer to that end than any people before, when they based their States and Confederation upon the principle of self-government.

We intend to examine the present condition of the American States, to ascertain how far they really are in harmony with the principle of self-government, and if we should find this not to be the case, to show how they might be brought back into the right way. It is, therefore, perhaps superfluous to remark, that we consider a self-government, as it has been started in North America, as the only true form of government. Still, we cannot conceal, that, in the beginning, some faults were committed, and that in the course of time we have fallen back in many in

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ON

SELF-GOVERNMENT;

TOGETHER WITH GENERAL PLANS OF A

STATE CONSTITUTION,

AND A CONSTITUTION FOR A

CONFEDERATION OF STATES,

FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT;

ALSO,

TWO EXTRACTS, ONE FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA. THE OTHER FROM THAT OF THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF

THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

EXAMINED ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT.

By M a Richter, of Vantulkot

"For he who values liberty, confines
His zeal for her predominance within
No narrow bounds; her cause engages him
Wherever pleaded."-CowPER.

“We have no strength except upon great principles."-ELIHU Burritt.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY CROSBY & NICHOLS, 111 WASHINGTON STREET, AND OTIS CLAPP, 12 SCHOOL STREET.

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