Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-08-27

The following letter from BehJ haZaru,
Esq. we copy from the Newport Mercury Of
Saturday last.
To the People Oftlle I own Of
Newport.
| You have, for so many years in succession,
chosen me one of your representatives TO The
General Assembly, that having now made up
my mind not to be again candidate Tor That
place, it seems to be proper that should IN,
! form you of that intention. do not boast Oi
having served you faithfully for It wouldbe
10 my shame ii | bad not.
| j am afraid that cannot say have always
served you to the best of my ab'llles, such
as they were; but you have indulgenlly over
looked my deficiencies, and for whatever SER
vices have performed, the steady confi,
dence with which you have so long honored
me, is my ample reward. OF this, may and
do boast, and shall always be more proud,
than | should ofthe highest titles OF honor.
had intended to have asked your further
indLl lgence, and TO have communicated to
you some of the results, and settled concln-
/ slons. which have been impressed upon my
mind, by long and close observation OF the
practical operation, progress and tendencies
of eur political institutions, for nearly fifty
years ;-of the radical changes, in principles
and character, which during all that period,
they have been constantly undergoing at
first gradual and ipperce ptible-at last, rap
id and undisguiscd until, ut length, there
arc scarcely any two governments, by what.
ever names called, that are more dissmllar
than The one we are now living under, anu
that which was first organised under the u.
=. Constitution. OF the inherent ca uses Of
all such changes and of the successive g0n-
erations Of innumerable, and like bots, con.
staWy multiplying and devouring operatives
in the mines Of politics, and upon the whole
surface of the body polite, by which oil
these changes arc wrought out while the
people, so long as they arc not lrodden mon,
nor made to feel physically, go on as if they
had nothing TO do with government, nor
governments with them unconsciously ac-
commodating their political opinions and
principles TO all changes as those unfortu.
nate persons, who constantly living in Oil in.
fcctious atmosphere, are .insensIblc to its I'M
puritles while the poison instis itself into
their veins and systems corrupting the
whole mass, and preparing it for dissolution.
These things arc worthy Of your attention,
and whenever we shall allow them to occupy
n portion Of our thoughts, they must lead us
|
to serious. reflections upon the remedy by
which we may cffectually free ourselves from
all the political evil that can assail rs.
Having for several years contemplated the
step now take, had long since reduced my
observations and reflections upon these sub
ects to narrow compass, in writing, with
view TO the communication above alluded to.
But upon looking over them again now, ! nm
apprchensive that they might be thought ill
timed at the present crisis, when the public
mind is engrossed by political struggle, by
far more important in its Consequences
which ever way it may terminate, than any
IN which the people have been engaged since
the adoption Of the Constitution. ! have
concluded therefore, TO forego my purpose,
for the present, at least, if not altogether.
/ must, however, be permitted to say here,
that it will be in vain to rely upon Constitu-
tions or amendments to them. These, none
Of them, contain, or ever can contain, within
them, the self preserving cause. On the
contrary, the principle Of decay aud disson-
ton is planted in them all, at their birth, and
decay and dissolve they all inevitably must.
The only genuine and effective Const tuition
is that winch resides IN the will OF the people
and there also resides the only sovereign
remedy for every political evil. And that
requires nothing but the will OF the people to
apply with a certain and instan, nneons effect
and success Nor would the nppLca,ion Of
it require n single effort on the part of the
people, nor produce.1i single struggle from
their foes. For IL people can never be
harmed without Their own consent nay,
never without their own aid.
Whenever the people shall resolve that they
will no longer suffer themselves to be divid
ed off into hostile factions, and trained, and
led TO war upon each other that moment
will all corrupt politicians, that is oil polili
clans, cease to exist.
Il Whenever the people, while they protect
their rulers from the unjust assaults Of envy
and greedy ambition, shall, at the same time,
instead Of frowning upon each other, keep
their eyes steadily fixed upon those rulers ;
and shall Immediately discard every set oi
them, whoever they may bo, the moment they
shall manifest the slightest symptoms of u
| disposition To aspire after more power than
| the duties of their stations absolutely require
then will the people no longer be troubled
with usurping rulers. For their rulers will
/ find their only interest, as well as their only
safety, in studying and pursuing faithfully,
the true interests Of the people. Why should
VIC not hope for this happy state OF things P
II is our only hope. For II, after all, this
hope should prove chimerica, then indeed
mus, wo sec, with despair, that our Republi-
| can Institutions and Government are but
neeting shadows, as all those which have
gone before them have long since proved to
have been. Nay, far worse than shadows,
for their overthrow invariably terminates in
the opposite extreme of arbitrary government.
H Your friend.
Il BENJAMIN HAZARD.