This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836 edition. Excerpt: ...other shore of the Atlantic---thus characterized it by one of its most renowned citizens and highest oflicers. All this does serious injury to the cause of freedom throughout the world. Out of our own mouths are we condemned. Let an American go to Europe, and if he come back, and does not say, that this is not the worst Government on earth--nay, if he does not say it is the best--let his countrymen distrust him. His head or heart is wrong---probably both. Another word, and I abandon this topic. Mr. President, I am going to give one proofone irrefragible proof, that will not be contradicted, and which, indeed, admits of no contradictionthat this, instead of being the most despotic, is the freest, Government in the world. I ask every one in the Senate chamber, actor or auditor, whether, under any other Government now in existencebe it a constitutional monarchy, an aristocracy, a. democracy, ora despotism--it' such a speech as that we heard from the Senator from South Carolina, could be delivered with impunity? That is the question I ask. Go to Europe, to Asia, to Africa, for an answer, if you need one. He who should make such an experiment in St. Petersburg, would find himself on the road to Siberia in half an hour; and in Constantinople, he would find the bow-string around his neck in the same time; and in Vienna he would soon be immured in one of those dungeons, deep, dark, and damp, where the fires of life and liberty have been so often extinguished together. In England, it would send him to Australia, where many it good man has been transported for language less significant. There is not another country on the face of the earth, where a man could make such a speech with impunity. I thank God, that this is so, and that a man may...