Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-03-23


dit; for the several states form part Of
the character and crt dit Of the whols coun-
try. The resources of the country are
abundant; the enterprise and activity OF
our people proverbiaI: and we may well
hope that wise legislation and prudent ad-
miRlstralon, bv the respective Govern
ments, each acting within It's owo sphere,
will restore former prosperity.
Unpleasant and even dangerous rs COLI
sens may sometimes be between the con-
stituted authorities or the citizens of our
country, in relation 10 the limits which Sc
Perate their respective Jurisdictions, the re-
suit can be of no vital injury to oar insti-
tutions, if that ardent patriotism, that de-
voted attachment 10 liberty, that spirit of
moderation and forbearance for which our
countrymen were once distinguished, con-
tinue to be cherished. If this continues
to be the ruling passion Of our souls, the
weaker feeling Of the mistaken enthusiast
will be corrected the utopian dreams Of the
schcming politician, dissipated and the
complicated intrigucs of the demagogue
rendered harmless. The spirit Of liberty
is the sovereign balm for every injury
which our institutions may receive. On
the contrary, no care that can be used in
the construction of our government, no d.
vision Of powers, no distribution Of checks
in its several departments, will provo eff
lectual to keep US q free people, if this sp-
it is suffered to decay; and decay it will
without constant nurture. To the neglect
Of the Ct,tx, tho hog h;ato Of
tributing the ruin Of all republics with
whose existence and fall. their writings
have made us acquainted. The same eau
scs will ever produce the same effects: and
as long rs the love of power is dominant
passion of the human bosom, and as long
as the understanding Of men can be warped
and their affections changed, by operations
upon their passions and prciudices, so long
will the liberties Of a people depend on
their own constant attention to its preser-
walton. The danger to all well established
free governments arises from the unwill.
ingness Of the people to believe in its eX-
istence, or from the influence Of designing
men, diverting their attention from the
quarter whence ii approaches, to a source
from which 1t can never come. This is
the old trick of those who would usurp the
government Of their country. la the name
Of Democracy they speak warning the peo-
pie against the influence Of wealth, and
the danger Of aristocracy. History, an
cient and modern, is full Of such examples
Caesar became the master of the Roman
people and the Senate, under the pretence
OF supporting the democratic claims Of the
former against The aristocracy OF the lat
ter. Cromwell, in the character Of Protec-
Tor OF the liberties Of tie people, became
the Dictator Of England, and Bolivar pos
sesscd himself Of unlimited power with the
title OF his country's Libcretor. There is
on the contrary, no single instance on re-
cord ct an extensive and well established
Republic being changed into an Aristocra-
cy. The tendencies Of all such govern
mcnts, in their decline, is to monarchy;
and the antagonist principle 10 liberty,
there, is the splritof faction, a spirit which
assumes the character, and in times of
great excitement imposes itself upon the
people as the genuine spirit Of freedom,
and, like the false Christs, whose coming
was forctold bp the Savior, seeks and
were it possible would impose upon The
true and most faithful disci pies Of liberty.
It is in periods like this that it behooves
the people to he most watchful Of those To
whom they have entrusted power.
And although there is at times much diff
ficulty in distinguishing the false from the
true spirit, calm and dispasssionate in
vestlgaton wall detect the counterfeit, as
we'll as the character Of It's operations as
the results that are produced. The trae
spirit OF liberty, although devoted, pcrse-
verlng, bold, and uncompromising in prn-
ciple-that sccured-is mild, and tolerant
aud scrupulous as to the means it employs;
whilst the spirit Of party, assuming TO be
that of liberty, IS harsh, vindictive and in
tolerant, and totally reckless as to the
character Of the allies which it brings to
the aid of its cause. When the genuine
spirit of liberty anima;cs the body Of peo-
pie 10 thorough examination Of their af-
fairs, il leads to the cxcison of every en-
crcsccncc which may have fastened itself
upon any OF the departments of the gov
eminent and restores the system to its
pristine health aud beauty. But the reign
OF an lntoIcrant spirit Of party. amongst a
free people, seldom fails to result in dam
gerous accession TO the executive power
introduced and established amidst unusual
professions Of devotion to Democracy.
The foregoing remarks relate, almost exclns, ely to
matters connected with our domestic concerns II
may be proper however that should give some indi-
cations TO my ieaw citizens of my proposed course of
conduct IN the cement of our foreign relations
assure them therefore, that II my intention to use
every means IN my power to preserve the friendly in
terconrSe winch now so happily subsiss with every
foreign nation And although, Of course not we'll in
formed as To The state Of the pending negotiations with
any OF them, see, in the personal characters Of the