The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-08-26

pie reward. Ofihis, may and do boast, and
shall always be more proud, Than | should OF
the highest titles Of honor.
had intended 10 have asked your further in
diligence, and tn have communicated 10 YOU
some of the results, and settled conclusions
which have been impressed upon my mind, Dy
long and close observation Of the practical OPP
GRAFTON, progress and tendencies Of our political
institutions, for nearly fifty years of the rad
ical changes, 10 principles and character, which
during all that period, they have been constant
~ undergoing at first gradual and linpereep-
tible--at last, rapid and undisguised until, al
length, there are scarcely any two governments
By whatever names called, that are more dissim-
liar than the one we are now living under, ard
that which was first organized under the U. S.
Constitution. or the inherent causes Of all
such changes, and of the successive generations
Of innumerable, and like bots, constantly mul-
plying and deyouring operatives in the mines Of
politics, and upon he whole surface of the body
poliiic, by which all these changes are wrought
out: while the people, so long as they are cot
lrojden upon, nor made to feel physically, 90
on as if they had nothing 10 do with govern
ment nor governments with them; unoon-
sciously accommodating their political opinions
and principles 10 all changes; as those unlor-
tuuate persons, who, constantly living III an IN
fectous atmosphere, are insenslble TO lis impu-
rites while the poison inslls itself into their
veins ard systems; connpting the whole mass,
and preparing it for dissoarion.
Tkcse things are worthy Of yOur attention,
and whenever We shall allow them TO occupy Il
I portion Of our thoughts, they mas, lead us Ia
anxious antIcipalions Of the future and TO- Sc
rous reflections upon the remedy Ly which va
may elfectnally free ourselves from all the Pc
| liica evil that can asSai us.
Having for several years contemplated the
step / now take, had long since reduced my
Observations aud reflections upon these subjects
TO narrow compass, in writing, with view 10
the communication above alluded TO. But
upon looking over them again now, am mp
prchens.ve that they might be thought III
timed at the present crisis, when the public
mind is cngrOsSed by political struggle, by
FAR more important IN lis onsequences-"hich
ever way 1t may terminate, than any m whIrh
the people have beeo engaged, since the adop-
ton of the Constitution. have concluded
therefore, TO luregO my purpose, for the pres
rnt, at least, Il not altogether.
must, however, be permitted to say here,
| that il will be IN vain TO rely upon COnstltu'
/ tons, or amendments to them. These, none
Of them, contain, or ever can oontaln within
them, the self preserving cause. On the con-
trary, the principles Of decay and dissolution IS
! planted in them all, AZ their blh; aud decay
aud dissolve they all inevitably must. The
only genuine and effective Constitution is that
which resides in the will of the people and
there also resides the only sovereign remedy
for every political evil. And that remedy re-
quires nothing but The will of the people TO APP
ply with a certain and instantaneous effect aud
success. Nor would The application of il re-
quire a single effort on the part Of the people,
nor produce single Struggle from their foes.
For the people can never he 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 divided
of into hostile factions, and trained and led to
war upon each other that moment will all cor
rupt politicians, that is all politicians, cause
TO exist.
Whenever the people, while they protect
their rulers iroD the un just assaults of envy
and greedy ambition, shall, at the same time,
instead OF irowning upon each other, keep THEN
eyes steadily fixed upon those rulers: and
shall Immediately discard every set OF them,
whoever they may be, the moment they shall
manifest the slightest symptoms of a dspoSt-
! ion 10 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 Gud their only in.
rcrest as well as their only safety, in studying
aud pursuing faithfully, the true interests OF
the people. Why should we not hope for this
happy state Of things Ii is our only hope
For #, after all, this hope should prove chimer-
zeal, then indeed must we see, with despair, that
our Republican Institutions and Government
are bat heeting shadows, rs all those which
have gone before them have long since proved
to have been. Nay far worse than shad ows.
for their overthrow invariably terminates in The
opposite extreme of arbitrary government.
Your friend
BENJAMIN HAZARD.
Aug. Of, 1870.