Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-03-20

II should be our constant and earnest en-
deavor mutually TO cultivate n spirit Of
concord and harmony among the varioss
parts of our Conederscy. Experience has
abundOntly taught us, that the agitation, by
citizens of one part Of the Union, Of q sub
ject not conlided to the General Govern
ment, but exclusively under tho guardian.
ship of the local authorities, is productive
IF no other consequences than bitterness,
alienation, discord, and injury to the very
cause which is intended 10 be advanced.
Of all the great interests which appertain
to our country, that of union cordial, con-
idig. flaternaI union--is by far the most
important, since il is the only true and sure
guaranty OF all others.
In consequence of the embarrassed state
of business and the currency, SEINE of tho
States may meet with difficulty in their
financial concerns. However deeply we
may regret any thing imPrudent or exces-
Sive. in The engagements into which States
have entered for purposes Of their own, it
does not become us to diSparage the State
Governments, nor to discourage them from
making proper efforts for their own relief.
Ga the contrary it is our duty to encour-
age them, to the extent OF our constitution
al authority, to apply their best means, and
cheeriully to make all necessary sacrifices,
and submit to all necessary burdens, to full
fiji their engagements and maintsin their
credit; for the character and credit of the
several States form part of the character
and credit of the whole country. The re-
sources Of the country are abundant, the
enterprise and activity OF our people pro-
verbal; and we may well hope that wise
legislation and prudent administration, by
the respective Governments, each acting
within its own sphere, will restore former
prosperity.
Unpleasant and even dangerous as cslli.
sions may sometimes be between the con-
stitutcd authorities or the citizeus OF our
county, in relation to the lines which sep
aratc their respective Jurisdictions, the re-
suits can be OF no vital injury to our insti-
tu.ions, if that ardent patriotism, that devo-
ted attachment to liberty, that spirit Of
moderator and lorbearance for which our
countrymen were once distinguished, con.
tinue to be cherished. If this continues 10
be the ruling passion of our souls, the wea-
ker feeling OF the mistaken enthusiast will
be corrected, the utopian dreams of the
schemng politician dlssipated, and the com.
pIicated intrigues of the demagogue rem.
dcred harmless. The spirit oflIberty is tho
sovereign balm lor every injury which our
institutions may receive. On the contrary;
no care that can be used in the construc.
ton of our Government, no division Of pow
ers, no distribution of checks in its seve-
raj departments, will prove effectual to keep
US free people, ii this spirit is suffered to
decay; aid decay it will without constant
nurture To the neglect Of this duty the
best historians agree in attributing the ruin
of all the Republics with whose existence
and fall their writings have made US acuan-
ted. The same causes vii. ever produce
The same effects; and as long as the love of
power is Il dominant passion Of the human
bosom, and as long as the understandings
of men can be warped, and their affections
changed by operations upon their passions
and preiud!ceS, so long will the liberties of
Il people depend on their own constant at
tention to its preservation, The danger 10
all well-estabshed free Goveynmants arises
from the unwillmgness of the people to be-
le9e in is existence. or from the influence
OF designing men, diverting their attention
from the quarter Whence it approaches, to
a source from which 1t can never come.
This is the Old trick of those who would IL
surp the government OF their country. In
the name OF Democracy they speak, warn
ing the people agains, the influence of
wealth, and the danger of aristocracy. His
tory, ancient and modern, Is full of such ex.
amp!es. Caesar became the master Of tho
Roman people and the Senate, under tho
pretence OF supporting the democratic
claims Of the former against the aristocracy
Of the latter. Cromwell, in the character
OF Protector OF the liberties OF the people,
became the Dictator of England, and Boil.
var possessed himself of unlimited power
with the title of his country's Liberator.
There is, on the contrary, no single in
stance on record, of an extensive and we'll
established Republic being changed into an
Aristocracy. The tendencies of all such
governments, in their decline, is 10 Monar-
chy:-and the Antagonist. principle TO liber-
ty, there, is the spirit OF saction-a spirit
which assumes the character, and in times
OF great eXCltc.nen! imposes itself upon the
people as The genuine spirit o! freedom, and,
like the false Chrsts, whose coming was
!oretoid by the Saviour, seeks aad were il
possible would impose upon the true and
most faithful dlsc pies Of liberty. It is in
periods like this that il behooyes the people
TO be most watchiul of those to whom they
have entrusted power. And although
there is at times much difficulty in distin-
gushing The false from the true spirit. a
calm and dispassionate investigation will
detect the conn erteit &c wpIl n tho char.