Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-09-12
Frbm Kendall's exposition.
GOVERNMENT.

wInG
sriQht divine and the principle is gener.
ally conceded that its proper object is the
ba1pipess OF the people. But it has still
too much Of pageantTy with IL; people
arc in the habit ollOOking up TO its func'
tionaries as superior class, OF treating
them with Difference not shoWp TO mer'
n in any other condition, and oil conce-
dino 10 them an extravaganza OF living
and a liberality Of compensation not aP'
proved or recorded in private lie.
This is all wrong. The officers OF the
Government are but agents OF o'ners 10
Az business which they cannot DO IN pet
son They are entitled to the same re-
Dec, as other agents, but no more. Their
businss. Is but part Of the business OF
soc;e,v more important than that Oi IN
dividusls yet of the same general chsr'
scter. Ii is made up OF TRANSACTIONS for
man and NTH men, for the profit and adj
san,sge of men. The only difference is,
,at = greater number are interested in it,
and more depends on its faithful pertOr'
nance.
The world will not be governed as 1t
ought to be, until government shall be
stripped of the majesty with which the
arts and errors Of ages have clothed it,
aud come 10 be considered as part OF
sthe ordinary business Of society,nor until
those who administer il can travel ABROAD
without other attentions than those be-
slowed on respectable gentlemen ongag-
ed in other concerns. Once, e,prlnces were
made fools by being treated as gods and
demiOods. and the time has not passed
away when Presidents and Secretaries
NAV have their heads turned BY parade
and adulation.
The vanity inspired by such means
would be of little consideration were IL
not for the consequences to whlch II
leads On one side, it makes the ruler
feel as if he were super rior to his fellow
men, and onthe other leads the PeoP .
N conccde to him a superiority tie
ceases 70 feel or be regarded as the more
sgen, Of the people authorised only to
transact certain things which they can
mot do in person, and begins to exercise
independent power, consulting only MS
own will. And the false majesty which
il thrown aronnd him, daZzles the peo-
ple into acuuiesence and thus the agent
Secomes the master. This is the most
prolific source Of misgovernment even IN
our own country.
We do not make these remarks in spe'
cial reference to the present admlnIssra'
tion. They are the expression OF convict
tions long settled, and never have we
formed part Of any Pageantry 10 90 nonor
to man IN Office. When President Monn
roe made his western tour, in town meet
ing at Frankfort KY, we opposed his re-
csption under the triumphal arches, with
parsdes and speeches, and proposed that
he should be welcomed only as we well
come other distinguished strangers be-
inU out. numbered, however. we became
mere spectator of the scene which fol
lowed, declining though strongly presses
10 be introduced 10 the Presidents al
though ne was then accompanied by Gen.
jackson, with whom we were most anx'
ious to become acquainted, TO DO honor
10 him We would have united in any pup
lie demonstration; for this LrePugnance
does not extend TO public benetactors not
forming part ofthe government.
Much haTm also arises from mlsconN
s,ruetion Of the admitted maxim, that the
object Of government is to promote the
baopinees Of the people. This idea,
like many others, is not we'll expressed
The true meaning would be better con.
veved by the following collocatiOn OF
words. viz: "TRet true object Of govern
msnt Is 10 enable the people to promote
THEIR OWN happiness" 1t Is to protect
them from foreign and domestic violence,
10 render them secure in person, IN pro-
per,y. in character and in their respect
i've pursuits, imposing 10 other restraints
tban are Necessary to maintain the rights
Of others, and leaving them, under the
beni0n influence Of such laws only as are
necessary 10. these ends tu tcOrk out their
owR kGPpiness.
The proper functions Of human govern
mept NAV be understood by considering
those actually performed by the govern
ment Of Heaven. That spreads the
same sky over ell. Itpresents the earth
TO the industry Ofman. II fans all with
the same breezes, and 'sendeth the rain
on the evil and the good" Each man
under the protection Of its general laws
10 left TO choose his home and occupa' {
ton, work Orj be idle, 10 accumulate {
wealth OF live in poverty, without any a
special interpOsitiOn to aid or prevent
him. 4
Thus II should be with human govern p
msnt. To man himself Heaven seems to
have left the regulation Of what man d
can manage. His laws should begin
where Heavens end, and be SO formed az Ia
TO carry out the same general principle.
Their sole object should be to enable q,
Ynafi 10 work out their own hann;nass ,,U