The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-04-03

CIV Of thiugs-ifa defence Of the rights
Of men, as sincere az il is fearless, a
gainst every effort to plunder and ops
press them-if a deep and a generous
sympathy with my coun,rymen IN Gil
their suferirgs and in all their joys,-ii
a desire TO zee ell happy no mortal mis-
cradle, and it firm determination TO do
The duty of a good citizen 10 effect these
ends~ -if these things constitute level
Ter, tAen LEVELLER AM /.
Sir, every law Of nature is law OF
equality. Upon that basis was this Gov
ernment formed. By its fundamental
law each citizen stands upon q political
lsveL From that level he starts, alike
unaided and unrestrainsd by Governs
msnt, to rise and 10 sink in the socia
scale, to whatever point his virtues, his
abilities, his industry, his economy. OF
the want Of these qualities, may fix as
the mark Of his merit. Protected in all
the rights he possesses, restricted only
by the rights Of others, he is left 10 de-
termine for himself his own SOCIAL rank
and fortune in life, but whatever this rank
or fortune may be, politically, he mover
leaves that level. Aud, sir, it is be-
cause, in the nature Of things, law cans
not discriminate in favor Of one man,
without, by the same act, discriminating
to the prejudice Of another, that free in
stitutions refuse to discriminate at all.
Thus tits, that political equality. by ma
king the qualification Of each mans
hopes depend alone upon himself, slim
ulatss every faculty, diecourages every
vice, and produces, in the end, great
or aggregate Of virtue and Of happiness,
than any other form Of Government al
lows. These sir, are the reasons Of
those who founded our institutions; and
these are the sentiments which the Sen
ator from Kentucky denounces as au
insult upon property; as tending to Leo-
ell Society. Yes; LEVEL, LEVEL
LER-thsse were his words; and now,
cir, ! demand TO know by what author
ity in this Government that Senator
presumes to LIFT him'eE above the
common lsuel of his countrymen! LEV,
ELLERl What friend Of liberty
what man Of justice and magnanimii}
desires to be otherwise. Sir, It be-
comes not me 10 speak Of myself; bu.
since the Senator from Kentucky ROSE.
&c he said. "to mark the Senator from
Ohio ], 10 my turn, rise to tell ,ha,
Senator that would utterly disdain to
accept any political discrimination in my
favor, over tho humblest, tho poorest
citizen, who lives by my side. No;
would spurn it, if for no other reason,
because the pride Of my soul would new
or acknowledge natural inferiority, re-
quiring such discrimination to render
me tho equal Of any man.
But again. These statements. as
sault private right--tend TO public dis
traction. For this argument, the Sem
ator merits not the glory of originality.
No, It is as old as the world. 1t was
the first, il is the last, the only argu.
ment of despotIsm against popular gov
ernment, Every defence of the rights
of man, every effort for civil liberty has
ever been, and ever will be, denounced
as tending to the insecurity ofproperty,
and by consequence, to public anarchy.
The jurs diu,nO right of kings to rule
absolute jeepotism, over mankind, is
claimed Os resulting necessity from
the Danger 10 which, it Is alleged, pr.
vste rights and public order are expo
sed by free institutions. This principle
Of absolute. irresponsible power, SO re-
solling az it is 10 human reason, 50 o.
dious to human justice, has long been
secuted out from tho southwestern por-
ton of Europe. 1t flOurishes in full ma
turity only in the oriental world, whilst
in the North, and in part Of central
Europe. it lives in form now 40 mod
fled as TO indicate its approaching total
ueChN OuL WUctSNot " ~ louuuy nuu
10 whatever form, it stands upon the
same inveterate argument And, cir,
if Prince Metternich, it's ables! defender
in Europe, at this day, were now asked
the question, "Csn popular institutions
permanently exist 7" his answer would
be-, No. ln support Of this answer, he
could but repeat the reasoning Of The
Senator from Kentucky. He would tell
you property is insecure; the unbridlsd
will Of an unbridled people, tends 10 res
duce men and things to an uniform level,
and must, therefore, result in anarchy
and ruin.
Such ever has been, ever will be, the
argument Of it's enemies, against civil
liberty Sir, the sentiments we have
hoard, the efforts we have seen this
session. in the Senate, portend to this
country gloomy fd'ure, if these senti.
mania and efTnrie nTevAiI. Puhlie 1riav