Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-01-17
FOR PRESIDENT,
VIM. HENRY HARRISON
VICE PRESIDENT.
JOHN TYLER.

pp1Nc,p1rs AND NOT MEN, is an cX-
pression often used, and sometimes with
out any fixed meaning. 1t is republl-
can boast, and it would be well if it were
always the foundation of republican prac-
tice. But like many other axioms in
politics, having their origin in our pecu-
liar form of government, it is uttered to
be abused, and repeated but to be rcjec-
ted.
An inquiry into its full import is more
grave subject than may at first be ina
gined; and though it can only be touched
upon now, it may not be amiss to dwell
upon it for a moment. 1t leads us back
to the origin of government, the principle
on which it is founded, it use, and its OBJ
Ject.
Government is an ordination of that
being who formed man a creature OF So
ciety, and gave him a nature which can
only be perfected in society, and is the
great instrument for the preservation OF
that society. 1t is as indispensable to So
ciety as society is to the perfection of
mans nature and hence both are means
to an end, aud that end the happiness OF
man, as a rational, moral, and accounta-
BILE being.
That government is best which most
chectualIy calls out the powers of men,
exalts their intellccts, purilies their hearts,
and protects them IN the enjoyment of
the fruits of their labor.
The principle on which republican
government is founded, rests on mans
equality. This is a great truth-a truth
worthy to be engraved upon the heart
1t is a republican truth, and, if honestly
acted upon, would loosen every throne
in Europe. From this truth we dedslce
as corollarics the principles that all
power proceeds from the people, and
is to be exercised for their benefit
that government is means of executing
their will-that the object Of it is their
own advanCemcnt-and that rulers are
but their legal agents, acting by delegated
authority, and responsible for its USE
These principles form the basis of our
government-beautiful in its simplicity,
sublime in the grandeur of its origin, and
eminent above others in the character of
its object.
The importance of these principles will
be apparent, if we reflect that thousands
of years rolled away before they were
discovered, and that even now we
stand alone in the practical illustration
of them. In the freest government cX-
cept our own. the principle is reversed,
all power is considered as cmanating
from the throne, and that honors, privi-
legcs, and cm0luments, are in the nature
of grants, nay, that the protection Of nat
ural rights is matter of clomency. There
is something sickcning in all this. We
cannot help seeing that it dcgrades man
from that sturdy independence which is
the essence and glory of rcpublicanism
1t is a Christian truth that all men arc
brethren. 1t is a republican truth tina
they are equal; and poorly has he learned
the first lesson of his horn book who ha.
yet to learn that the admission of these
principles is a pledge for his political con.
duct. In this consists the superiority o
of our government, that while power j,
considered as emanating from the people
it brings the duty home to every individ,
ual to sec that it is properly exercised
In the perfect discharge of this duty i,
to be found the demonstration of the
great problem of mans capacity fol
self-government. Whoever discharges
this duty faithfully, gives the most effect
ual aid to the cause of human improve
ment, while he who omits it is guilty o
great neglect, and he who acts in oppo
sition to it commits species of treason
against the allegiance to himself.
In this mode of viewing the subject
the maxim of "principles and not men
;,nl;oc e., duty the dutV Of nerSOnal cXer