A Source-Book of English Social HistoryJones, M. E. Monckton (Mary Evelyn Monckton)
History
A Source-Book of English Social History
Jones, M. E. Monckton (Mary Evelyn Monckton)
Great Britain -- Economic conditions; Great Britain -- Social conditions
All Europe is for us. Our Articles of Confederation, being by our means
translated and published here, have given an appearance of consistence
and firmness to the American States and Government that begins to make
them considerable. The separate constitutions of the several States
are also translating and publishing here, which afford abundance of
speculation to the politicians of Europe, and it is a very general
opinion that if we succeed in establishing our liberties, we shall, as
soon as peace is restored, receive an immense addition of numbers and
wealth from Europe, by the families who will come over to participate
in our privileges, and bring their estates with them. Tyranny is so
generally established in the rest of the world, that the prospect of
an asylum in America, for those who love liberty, gives general joy,
and our cause is esteemed the cause of all mankind. Slaves naturally
become base, as well as wretched. We are fighting for the dignity and
happiness of human nature. Glorious is it for the Americans to be
called by Providence to this post of honour. Cursed and detested be
everyone that deserts or betrays it.
POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS RESULTING, 1788
(Callender, _Economic History of U.S._, pp. 176-67. B. de Warville,
_The Commerce of America with Europe_, p. 8)
... this war has occasioned discussions important to public
happiness--the discussion of the social compact--of civil liberty, of
the means which can render a people independent, of the circumstances
which give sanction to its insurrection, and make it legal, and which
give this people a place among the powers of the earth.
What good has not resulted from the repeated description of the English
constitution, and of its effects? What good has not resulted from the
codes of Massachusetts and New York, published and spread everywhere?
And what benefits will they still produce? They will not be wholly
taken for a model; but despotism will pay a greater respect, either
from necessity or reason, to the rights of men, which are so well known
and established.... This revolution, favourable to the people, which is
preparing in the cabinets of Europe, will be undoubtedly accelerated,
by that which its commerce will experience, and which we owe to the
enfranchisement of America. The war which procured it for her, has
made known the influence of commerce on power, the necessity of public
credit, and consequently of public virtue, without which it cannot long
subsist....
These are the advantages which France, the world and humanity, owe to
the American Revolution....
INVENTORS OF MACHINERY
(Macpherson, _Annals of Commerce_, Vol. IV, p. 77)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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