Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-14


Does the above passage read like It was
written by a cool, collected, observer Of men
and things; calmn and dispassionate reasoner
who can come to correct conclusions, and i'm
part those conclusions to the people: or like 1T
was written by one who is mad it'll zeal,rot for
the success of his political principles, but for
the replenishng of his pocket; like one who
has Just lost the gloves and fishes, (the Public
Printing, )and is striving might and main to get
them back again; like one who has become
desperate, and thinks that nothing but desper-
ate measures viii succeed. Does any man of
common sense suppose, that the wings have
ever acted upon any such principles as are
here ascrlbed to them.
1.-THE leaders and organs profess sovereign
contempt, not only for the morals, but for the
reason and intelligence ofthe great mass OF the
people, The patent of nobility, the claim to
honor and distinction with them comes, not
from heaven but from earth. 1t has nothing
to do with the exertions ofgenius, or the prac-
tice of virtue; but depends altogether on the
accident of birth, or the caprices of fortune,
which supply the place of all other personal
and intrinsic claims to distinction"
VIII our Democrat friends do US the favor
to look around them, and enquire of them
selves, which of their neighbors processes a
sovereign contempt, not only for the morals,
out for the reason and intelligence of the great
mass of the people" Will they do us the ia
for to see, how many there are among the lea
ding wings, (of their immediate personal ac-
quantancc,) who have no regard for'the "prac-
tice Of virtue;" will they then compare them
with their own party, and learn whether there
is so great difference in the moral character
of the individuals composing the two parties;
and, having done so, will they consider wheth-
er the "Globe" has spoken truly, or falsely in
this natter
federalism which is but another name for
arstocIacy, assumes that the mass of mankind,
who contribute, by their labors and exertions,
the sole means for the support and defence of
the State have neither the right nor the facul-
ties tojustify their agency or interference in
the fumation or conduct of the Government
under which they live. Like the OK, they are
to draw the plough, but must have no will or
ness is TO ply the oar, and look the other way,
while the chosen few sit iolling on the stern
directing the helm and giving orders, which.
are to be obeyed without hesitation or inquiry
Il is not for them to know whether they are
running on rock, or steering for whirlpool
They must trust implicitly to the pilot, shut
their eyes, and row away against the current,
and the wind Il ough convinced by observation
experience, and suffering, that they are going
the wrong way"
Will our Democratic friends again look
around them, and see whether their exper;.
ence justifies the assertions contained in the
above paragraph; is there any thing in that ex.
perience which teaches them to believe, that
the wings entertain any such doctrine as;-that
the mass of mankind shave neither the right
nor the facilities justify their; agency or in.
reference in the formation or conduct of the
government IN which we liye.":-
federalism believes, or effects to believe
that intrinsic and accidental advantages consti.
tute the sole claim to superiority; An ac-
quaintaace with certain artificial modes ofhfe
the fashion and material of the garment; the
art of managing the silver fork, and going
| through, with credit, all the unmeaning cere
monies of what is called fashionable life, togeth
er with the possession of money or credit suffi-
| cient to command these high requisites for dis
tinction, constitute, in their estimation, the
great claims to the privilege Of governing mar.
kind. Manners, not morals, with them, are
| the test"
Does any thing in your daily experience
teach you that the wings believe, or effect tC
believe, ''that intrinsic anda occidental advanta
ges constitute the sole claim to superiority
any thing which teaches you, that tie wing.
believe that a mere apeing after fas hion quail
lfies man TO rule; any thing which teaches
you that, "manners and morals, with them are
the test of merit"
Artificial graces supersede natural gifts
and an expert fiddler, or a dancing Girl, Isl il
their view, a far greater object of admiration
than the man who has a civilized nation by hi
wisdom, or saved state by his yalor. They
would 60 further, and give more to hear Pag
amin, or see Fanny Flsler, than to pay tbeil
| devotions at the shrine of Washington Wit
them the useful classes of society, who suppl,
the essential wants of life, are objects of con
Tempt and scorn, while they run Wild after thos
who can contribute to the qualification of thei
vanity, or help them to murder few hours il
vapid amusements, equally destructive to the
energies of the mind aud vigor ofthe body"
| Do the wings think more of dancing wo
man, than they do a Harrison, Scot Gaines
a Jackson, or any Of the heroes. who hav,
fought for their countryside they look upon
the useful classes. as objects of contempt; an,
now having seen all that tie Globe says ftht
wings, Qor we have in.detached pieces given
all which the article contains about them, are
not the people compelled to come to two con
conclusions;-fiirst, that the "Globe has FOUL,
mIsrepresented its political opponents, by as.
crlbmg to them opinions which they do no
entertain;-secondly, that the wings do no
answer the description here given of federalists
consequently, they cannot be of that party
Little (as the "Globe'' would have, it, as W,
think ofthe people, we think that they hay.
minds enough 10 answer all of these question.
correctly.
THE PROCLAMATION.