Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-07-06
CONSTITuTIONAI. POWERS.

B CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS.
!, Powers are either natural or civil, Natural
+ powers are such as are derived from the great
S god of Nature, unrestrained by legal or social
rules. Civil powers are those which arise out
Of the organic relations of political society
Nature constituted man reasonable and
thinking being, endowed with intellectual great
J ness far above all other animals of the EARTH
primitively there were no laws of political soci.
! ETY., or civil rules OF conduct by which the in
tercourse of man were regulated. Every
] member defended and protected his natural
rights, with that physical force with which he
he was possessed or bestowed upon him by the
, God of Heaven. But as with the march of
time they increased in numbers, the immuta-
bic laws OF necessity dictated the production
and adoption Of social obligations, aud their
moral conduct were governed by and received
the sanctiono of political rulers. These were
effected for the protection of the mutual rights
and liberty oithe citizens of the same common
wealth or community.
This leads us TO a reflection upon the egti-
male rights and powers Of the people and
governors, as they are understood in the adj.
minstratiop of legal rights and social obliga
tons.
The people, for the purpose of forming po-
ltical society, yielded into the hands of the
governors, or government, certain natural
rights and powers; we say certain, because at
first they were clearly and definitely under
stood; but in the course of experience, the
elective franchise was overthrown and the
governors usurped to themselves, as right
and perogative, these powers which had been
before bestowed upon them, by their constitu-
ents as favor or badge of distinction, for the
moral worth of the chosen iavore, and hand
ed down to their heirs the tithes Of nobility
winch were bestowed upUu tiIeln by the peo-
pie. This latter rule of civil conduct, was
chiefly confined to governments over which
kings and despots presided. From the CON-
mencement Of political government, however,
there were repeated glmmerings of political
liberty, which showed themselves among ma
ny nations of people,and the elective franchise
was often exercised by the people in its pristine
purity. Such systems of political liberty were
generally of short duration.
The science of our. government has been me-
cessarily muldarious, adapting itself 10 the va
rious notions and feelings of each nation Of
people. For this reason it has ever been diff
fcult of being properly understood, even by
profound politicians.
In most If not all governments, here are a
! few features of political science, simpfed
!. and adapted to the wants and understanding O.
: the governed. 1t is an easy matter for a PEG.
u pie to understand when they enjoy true liberty
= or upon the other hand, labor under despotiC
! oppression, Whilst we hnow that these
e things have an existence, they are especially
p clothed in mystery to those of our fellow cit
zens, who are unlettered, in fact the remark
If may be extended farther, they are scarcely
le Ineligible to many persons who profess to b.
"a fully acquainted with the principles of govern
% ment, considered to be the most simple of am
of that has ever had being among the nations
ne the earth. 1t is true they know the legis
G. lstuFe has been appointed to make laws 70
Il their government, and that the judiciary shall
= enforce them whilst the people are the being
who are to be protected in their rights or pun
ished in their wrongs; but why it is so, few
a. persons have put themselves to the trouble t,
investigate even were they sufficiently com
" petent from education and nature to learn.
Il In the establishment of the American gov
q ernment many Of the metaphysical forms. o
ir political science were dispensed with, and
In form ofpolitical management adopted perfect
n ly iutelligibe TO even ordinary minds.
re Our fathers thought that true philosophy
< consisted in simple propositions, drived from
g, the brightest lights afforded by nature to tn
r human family for their protection and instruc
D. ton. Instinct in company with reason, hav
suggested many Of these propositions to the
> world,a when they GOMEZ supported by bott
= they are doubly correct. Hence the peculia
!. novelty ofour constitution, whilst it had an ex
q istence only in theory, the political phoso
piers OF Europe pronounced it an airy expert
d mentswhich could not stand the test Of expe
N renee. How far their predictions have bee
l. realized, we know, but how far they have bee
D. mistaken, remains yetito be ascertained, time
J. the test of ali things, can alone unfold the aw
ful or glorious truth. Much of our liberty,the
). lasting perpetuation Iof our Republic, and the
~ stability Of our free institutions, depend upo
4 the extent ofpolitical knowledge among til
Il people, and their practice Of yirtuous habits,s'
long as they are virtuous, their Offices viii b
at filed with good and yirtuous men. A cor
a. rupt people viii necessarily have presdin,
y over them corrupt set of public officers
J. 1t is not the name that constitutes tbs repub
i lie, love by any other name you spit the low
- sick swain as well his bear won "a leap wit
&c JOY at the name Of death, were it the cogno
i men Of this tender passion; fair girl woul
I. harm the youthful knights as much by the
er name Of monkey, it is enough for love that
s-'a,s,rao- prstty thing, In name we may chang