The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-11-16
FROM THE NATIONAL rNTrLLIGENcrR.
REPUBLICAN LIBERTY.

REPUBLICAN LIBERTY.
Some of the subordmates OF the New
York custom. house being suspected either
of party unfaithiulness or OF a lack OF zeal
in the cause OF their masters att approach
ine election, the Administration paper ;here
has thought, proper TO sharpen their allegI.
ance, BY addressing TO them the following
admontory hlnt:
We tcOuld Just remark 10 these gsntlemsn' thst
a ririlant eye IS upon them, aud that their pro-
Gee 3ings on iAs three days Of hOremtsr neIi gill
not escape serstiny."
This is a specimen Of the freedom OF
opinion allowed under Republican Go.
yeramenl-Republlcan at least IN It's forms
and under an Administration claiming to
be exclusively Democratic. We read q
great deal about Turkish oppression, and
one Of our patent Democrats will declalm
by the hour on the horrors OF Russian des
potlsm but when did any one hear OF the
exactlon OF such ablect ser,ll,y either III
Turkey or Russia In any OF the other
countries Of Europe, possessing ireer iotsbs
of government, We are couhdent that no
Ministry burst venture on 50 indecent
menace TO their petty officers. We should
like to see how So insulting a procedure
would DO borne IN London or Paris. We
question whether even the ordinance which
cost Charles \ his crown vas more essen
TALLY arbitrary or more odlous IN IFS spirit
than tins bulletin Of our Democratic Repub
hcan Government TO the officials OF the
New York custom house; but not a ehim.
per do they or dare they utter. These
poor dependents have first been subjected
to forced levy OF one fourth OF their sala
ries to d party fund, and are nov told that
| IT they dare 10 exercise any opinion Of their
own, or waver IN their allegloace, Their
offices will be iorteiteG-they will be casl
forth to starse, and some more plan, SET
vIors put IN their places. Aud this Is the
liberty enjoyed under a Democratic Go
yernment.
The truth Is, tia, the doctrine OF passive
obedience introduced INTO the Adminlslra
ton b. the Second Jefferson " Is coue 10
be considered an indeieaslbe principle Of
our Republican Government and the kin
dred docinne Of the "spolls, begetiug a
thirst for office, has spread 50 corrupnGg
an irfuence through society, that no srr
witty IS deemed BY The Government ton
gross OF Illuminating TO be e>actcd tfom Ms
followers and rclalners. Rejecting men
look vi sorro" and Apprehension on tins
state OF things. They perceive 10 Il prin.
cipIe tia, must, II not reformed rrudet, the
moral sense OF the Public lncurab.y corrupt,
and prove ultimately fatal to our republican
institutions. Obsersant and uutnleres'ed
uen saw this degr.dtug tendency from tbs
moment OF the asce ndencS Of JaCk-ouistn,
aud the authoritative proclamation through
the official paper Of the punclple d re
wards aud punishmeuts. This principle,
so r-pugnant TO public liberty, aud 50 sub
sersise Of public morals, tas been followed
out, and me natural consequence has been
grad J, bu, progressive, deterioration,
/ both IN the responsibility OF the Goyern,
meni and the tone OF secieiy. THIS deeply
| 10 be regretted condition, both Of the 90.
serunent aud society, IS but loo cleafs
Shown 10 the etiruntery OF the mehsee 10
/ the custom house officers, and 10 the sub
miss,teness With Which II ~ borne. Il i
passed BY as thing Of course, and eNeltes
neither Wonder nor indignation. In the
healthy days Of the Republic, the country
would have rung With the insult and 1t,
the People do DOT arr ST the growing evil.
our own Government may, ere long, BE- al
+ ded TO those Of other days winch bore the
name, and even SOME OF The forms, Of o Re.
pubic, long after they had lost every attn
butte OF freedom. The Roman banners bore
/ tho trio Of the Senate aud People al
Rome after every yestIge Of the authority
/ OF either had been troddeu under foot by
f the Caesars.