The Litchfield County post., 1828-03-20
State 130IfttrH.
Prem ths Cincinnati (Ohis) Saturday RusninE
 :aIn

SLdlK 49UItlIID.
 Frsm ths Cincinnati (Ohis) Saturday RusninE Chronicle.
 The following extract is taken from ser mon delivered before the Legislature of Con nreticut, in May 1928. by the Rev. Lyman Beecher. We select it not less for justness of sentiment, than for its uncommon energy of thought and diction. The author is dis tinguishpd for fervor of pirty and strength of ability. We regret that there is not more in the land of his influence and capacity, who are willing like Paul the Apostle, to "speak forth the words oftruth and sober nevs."
 "Party Spirit prostrates every thing W hich is venerable and sacred within the sphere of its cOmmotiOn. It directs the attention of the people from their own common interests to the means of gaining ends to which pre- judice and passion may direct them; and the attention ofthe government from the publick good to the means of it's own political ascen- dancy. It renders wise and comprehensive policy impossible; for party spirit has no magnanmity. no consistency to withhold it from resisting as readily what is wise as what is unwise, and its victories are too transient to admit of such prospective wisdom. Ii is em- inentIy hostile to the laws which watch over the welfare Ofth nation ;-fOr who will exc cute them when the partizans on both sides fear that they may feel the consequences of fidelity at the very next election. Two often from the nearly balanced state of parties, the most worthless portion of community actu, ally hold the sway in the elections, even in a state of society comparatively virtuOus,-oc- CasiOning impunity in the violation of law, rIn nf | if nl often surrounding with adulatinn, men whom our fathers rOuld have expelled from society and sent to the work house or the piOry. It tends to destroy in society all distinctions of talent. and learning, and moral character, as qu lifcations for office; while it reconcilps he people on tHe plea of necessity to such prep"sterous sacrifices ofconscience and com mon sense as they would never consent to, nnstmulated by it's madness. Indeed. in all bat the name, it rears beneath the forms of freedom, real and mos. terrific dcspotsm For every party has sou, ul,-sOme master spirit who without crown and scpptre. gov.
 rnswth absolute sway. He is surrounded ny a nohiIi y. each of whom is commissioned {" govern the public opinion within his sphere and bring his retainers to the polls, to sub serve implicitly the interests of the king and the aristocracy. It needs only to kindIe the watch fire. and every clansman isat his post |; and argument might as well avail against huI- let's in the day of battle, as in these deterlnin- rd contests of parties. There is no remedy for this state of things. but that intelligence which qualities the people to understand their | rights. interests. and duties; and that calm ness of feeling towhich the public mind, un. disturbed by partizan rffnt ts. will not fail s come; and that deep con, icton of the i'm portance of moral purity which shall turn the expectations of the people from party men and party measures, to the application of moral power, by the institutions of rel. zion. and the interpretations of the Holy Spi- rit.
 l Muliitudes Of christians and patriots have long since abandoned party politics. and, not knowing what tO do have abandoned almost the exercise of suffrage. This is swrong.-An enlightened and virtnous suffrage may. by system and concentration, become enc of th.' most powerful means of prom"ting national purity and morality: as the suffrage from which the influence of conscience and virtue is withdrawn, cannot fail to he disastrous. While then, as freemen,we remove one temp- tatiOn to hypocrisy by dispensing with pro- fessiOn of religion as qualification for office, and exclude all occasions of jealousy. by be- slowing our votes without reference to chris tiAn denominations; let all christians and pa triOts exercise their rights as electors with an indrxlblr regard to moral character; and lei the dueIlist. the sabbath breaker. the drunk ard. and the lieentiOus. find the doors of hon. or barred. and the heights of ambition deftn- drd against them by hosts of determined free. men; and the moral effect w Ill be great. The discrimination by suffrage will exert upon the youth of our country most salutary restraint and upon dissOllIte, ambitious men power ful reforming influence. Let every freeman, then. wh" would perprtuate the liberty and happiness of his country, and transmit to his descendants of distant generations the prec- ious legacy which our fathers have sent down to us. enquire concerning the candidate for whom he is tOvOte,-is he an enemy t0 the Bible, or the institutions f the Gospel ;-is he dGeIIlisi, or an intrmperate man, or dis sslNtSor disAsnsst !-aHa if iA any s1 these