Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-07-28

some ofthe other examples of spirit Of dis
organization which have enumerated but
the misfortune is, in time Of high party excite
ment, that the leaders commit, themselves, and
finally commit the body Of their party, who
perceive that unless they stand by aud sustain
their leaders, adivision and perhaps destruction
Of the party would be the consequence. or
all the springs OF human action, party ties are
perhaps the most powerful. Interest has been
supposed to be more so; but party ties are
more influential, unless they are regarded as
modification of imaginary interest. Under
their sway, we have seen not only individuals
but whole communities abandon their long
cherished interests and principles, and turn
round and oppose them with violence.
Did not the Rebellion in Rhode island find
| for ITS support precedent established by the
majority in Congress, in the irregular adunis-
sion OF Territories, as States into the Union, to
which have heretofore alluded? Is there
not reason to fear that the example which Con-
gress had previously presented, encouraged the
Rho'le Island rebellion
1t has been attempted to defend that Rebel
lion upon the doctrines of the American De-
claration of independence but no countenance
to it can be fairly derived from them. That
Declaration asserts, it is true, that whenever n
|
OF life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
for the security of which it was Instituted, il
is the right of the People to alter Or abolish it,
and institute new government and so un-
! doubleday 1t is. But this is right only to be
! exercised in grave aud extreme cases. "Pru-
dence indeed will dictate" says that venerated
instrument, "that Governments long establish
Ell should not be changed for light and trans
tent causes" "But when a long train of "a
buses and unsurpations, pursuing invariably
the same object, cvinces n design to reduce
tlen under absolute despotsn,, it is their right,
their duty, to throw off such Government
VIII 1t be pretended that the actual Govern
ment of Rhode Island is destructive of life. lib
erty, or the pursuit of happiness' That it
has pcrpctuatcd long train of abuses and IL
surpa!ions, pursuing the same invariabe OBJ
Ject. to reduce the people under absolute des-
potlsm Or that any other canse of com
plant existed, but such as might be peacefully
remedled, without violence and without blood!
Such, as in point of fact, the legitimate Gov
eminent had regularly summoned Conven-
ton to redress, but for the results of whose
dellberatlons the restless spirit of disorder
and rebellion had not the patience to wait p
why, ieilow-ctizens, little Rhody God bless
and preserve her, is one of the most prosper
Gus, enterprising and enlightened States in this
whole Union. No where is life, liberty and
property more perfectly secure
How Is this right of the People TO abolish
an eHisling Government, and TO set upa new
one to be practically exercised' Our Revolu-
tionary ancestors did not tell MS by word. but
they proclaimed it by gallant and noble deeds.
Who are the People that are to tear up the
whole fabric of hrman society, whenever and
as often as caprice or passion may prompt
them =! When all the arrangements and ordir,-
ances OF exisling and organized society are pros
trated and subverted, as must be supposed in
such lawless and irregular movement as that
IN Rhode island, the established privileges and
distinctions between the sexes, between the
coiors, between the ages, between the natives
and foreigners, between the sane an(. insane.
ana between the innocent and the guilty con-
Wei, all the offspring Of positive institutions
are cast down and abolished, and society is
thrown into one heterogeneous and unreguIa-
ted mass-And is ii commended that the major
part OF this Babel congregation is invested with
the right to build up, at its pleasure. new
Government /? That as often, and whenever
society can be drumed up and down into such
shapeless mass, the major part of it NAV es-
tablish another, and another new Government
IN endless succession? Why this would over
turn all social organization, make revolutions
the extreme and last resort of an oppressed
people-the commonest occurrences of human
lie, and the standing order of the day. How
such principle would operate in a certain
section of this Union, witt, peculiar popula-
ton, you will readily conceive No commu-
NIFTY could endure such an intolerable state Of
things anywhere, and all would, sooner or la
ter, take refuge, from such ceaseless agitation.
IN the calm repose of absolute despotIsm.
know Of no mode by which an existing
Government can be overthrown and nut aside.
and new one erected in It's place, but by the
consent or authority of that Government. ex-
press or implied, or by forcible resistance.
that is Revolution.
Fellow-Citizens have enumerated these
examples of a dangerous spirit of disorganiza-
ton, and disregard oflaw, with no purpose of
giving offence or exciting bitter and unkind
feelings, here or elsewhere; but TO illustrate
The principles, character and tendency of the
two great parties into which the country is
divided. in all of these examples the Demo
cratic party, as it calls itself, Ga denomination
to which ] respectfully think it has not the
least just pretension,) or large portions of that
party, extending to whole States, united with
apparent cordially. TO all of them the Wbjp
party was constantly and firmly opposed.
And now let me ask you, in all candor and
sincerity, to say truly and impartially to which
oil these two parties can the interests, the hap
Plness and the destlnies of this grea, people be