Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-03-24

therefore, POSITIVELY precluded from any lIltefs
farenee with the reserved poWers of any State
but that of which be is, for The time beng
citizen. lie may indeed .oflerto the citizens
ofosher s.tates his advice as to their manage
uient, and form in which it is rendered Is leit
10 his own discretion and sense OF propfieiy
It may be observed, however, that organized
associations Of citizens requiring compliance
withheld wishes, too much resembles the re-
c0,u,neudations of Athens to her allies-sDp-
ported BY an armed and powerful fleet. II
was indeed, TO the ambition of the leading
states of Greece to control The domestic con-
Germs ofthe others, that the destruction OF that
celebrated confedeIacy, and subsequently, OF
all It's members, is to be attributed. And II
is owing to the absence ogthat Esprit that the
Helvetic coufederacy has for so many years
been preserved.-Neyer has there been seen
in the institutions Of Ithe separate members
of any confoderaey, more enerds Of discord.
In the principles and forms of government and
religion, as wellas in the circumstances ofthe
several cantons, so marked discrepance was
observ able. as to promise any thing but har-
mony in their intercourse, or permauency IL
their alliance and yet for ages neither has
been interrupted. Content with the positive
benefits which their union produced, with the
independence and safety from foreign agrees
sion which If secured, these sagacious people
respected the institutions of each other, how
ever Tepugnant TO their own principles and
prejudices.
Our Confedcracy, fellow citizens, can only
be preserved by the same forbearance. Our
citizens, must be content with the exercise
ofthe powers with which the Constitution
clothes them. The attempt ofthose of one
- IL. :. 4
another can only result in feelings Of dstrust
and jealousy, the certain harbingers fdsunion,
violence, civil war, ard the ultimate destruc-
ton Of our free institutions. Our Confedera-
cy is perfectly illustrated by the terms and
principle governing common co-partnership
There is fund of power TO be exercised I'M
der The direction of the joint councils of the
allied members, but that which has been re-
served by the individual members is intanpi-
bic by the common government, or the indi.
vldual members composing il. To attempt II,
It finds no support in the principles of our Con.
stitution.
1t should be our constant endeavor mutual
ly to cultivate spirit Of concord and harmony
among the various parts of our Confederacg.
experience has abundanty taught US, that the
agitation by citizens of one part of the Union.
OF subject not coniided to the General Gov
eminent, but exclusively under the guardian
ship OF the local authorities is productive Of
other consequences than bitterness, alienation.
discord, and injury 10 the very cause which
IS intended to be advanced. OF all the GREAT
interests which appertain to our country, that
OF unon-eordial, conliding, fraternal union
which 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, some of the states
may meet with difficulty in their financial con-
Germs However deeply we may regret any
lhing lmprudent or excessive, IN the enoage.
ments INTO Which states have entered for pur-
poses OF Their own, it does not become us TO
diSparage the State Governments, nor to dis
courage them from making proper efforts for
Iheir own rehet On the contrary, it Is our
DUTY 10 encourage them, to the extent of our
constitutional authority, TO apply their best
means, and cheerfully TO make all necessary
sacriilces and submit to all necessary bur- |
dens TO fulfil their engagements and maintain
their credit; for the character and credit oftbe
several States form part of the character and
credit of the whole country. The resources
Of the country are abundant the enterprise /
and activity Of our people proverbial; and we
may well hope that wise legislation and pru- /
dent administration, by the respective Govern
ments, each acting within its own sphere, will |
restore former prosperity.
Unpleasant and even dangerous as collisions
may sometimes be between the constituted au- |
thorities or the citizens OF our country, in rea-
ton TO the lines which separate their resnec- |
tive jurisdictions, the results can be of no vital
injury to our institutions, If that ardent patriot
ism, that devoted attachment TO liberty, that
spirit OF moderation and forbearance for which
or countrymen were once distinguished, con-
tlnue TO be cherished this continues u I've
the ruling passion of our souls, the weaker
feeling Of the mistaken enthusiast win be cor
rected, the Btopian dreams ofthe scheming pol.
lllcian dissipated, and the complicated intrgEes
of the demagogGe 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 division of
powers, no distribution of checks in its several
departments, viii prove effectual 10 keep US a
free people ifthis spirit is suffered to decay, and
decay IT viii without constant nurture. To
the neglect of this duty the best historians
agree in attributing the ruin of all the Repub-
lies with whose existence and fall their writings
have made us acquainted.
The same causes viii ever produce the same
effects; and as long as the love of mower is a
dominant passion of the human bosom. and as
long as the understandings of men can be
warped and their affections changed by opera-
tons upon their passions and prejudices, so long
VIII the liberties of people depend on their
own constant attention TO its preservation
The danger to all well established free gov
ernments arises from the unwiIsngness of the
people to believe in Its existence, or from the
influence Of the designing men, diyerting their
attention. from the quarter whence it approach
es, to source from which it can never come.
This is the old trick of those who would usurp
the government of their country. Tn the
name OF democracy they speak, warning the
people against the influence of wealth, and the
danger OF arlstocracy. History, ancient and
modern, is full OF such examples. Cesar be-
came the master of the Roman people and the
senate, under the pTetence of supporting the
democratic claims of the former against the
aristocracy of the latter. Cromwell. IL the
character of Protector OF the liberties of the
people, became the dictator of ENGLAND and
Bolivar possessed himself of unlimited mower
wlththe title his country's Liberator. There
is, on the contrary, no single instance on re.
cord, OF an extensive and well established Re.
public beng changed into an arstocracy. The
tendencies of all such governments, In their
decline, IS to Monarchy and the ANTAGONIST
principle to liberty there is the spirit of faction.
a spirit winch assumes the character. and IN
tiines OF great excitement imposes itself upon
the People as the genuine spirit of freedom
ana IKE the false Christ, whose coninsr was
loretold by the Saviour, seeks, and wore i
possible, would impose upon the true and most
faithful disciples of liberty It is in nnr;o;ls
like this that it behooves the naonla - s.aous