New-York daily tribune., 1843-10-26
Does this look like being beaten ?
Democracy-O. A. Bro,vnson.

Democracy-0. a. BroxnsOn.
Mr. Brownson has concluded in the current
number of the Democratic Review a series Of
lucid and powerful essays on The Origin anc
Ground of Government which we are inclined
to consider his ablest contributions to our Litcra-
ture. They are characterized by his peculiar
fearlessness and force-by his brave disregard of
ruling opinion or of the dicta of the Past, even
when they happen to be his own. The doctrines
set forth in these essays by Mr.. B. may be con-
cisely summed up as follows:
/. That Government necessarily implies the
existence of power which governs and COM
munty which is governed, the former of course
superior to the latter. Absolute SeliGovernment
is contradictions no government at all.
2. Government has not its origin in mere con-
yenience or compact, but in Right, or the Will OF
God-thereforc, is not to be overturned or abol-
ished at the mere pleasure of majority Until
legitimately modified, it rightiully exerts an au-
thonty over the acts and the consciences of those
within the sphere of its jurisdiction.
3. That the end of Government is Justice and
the securing to each individual! the highest moral
Freedom-the opportunity rightly to deveope in
his acts and his life whatever Of energy of char
acter is his--an opportunity which is secured to
him only through the existence of Government.
Anarchy is incompatible with genuine Freedom.
A. That Justice, or the VIII of God, being the
fundamental law of Government, the Constitu-
lion, or existing frame OF Government, is to be re-
garded as the expression of that will, the earthly
sovereign towhch loyalty and obedience are due
from all good citizens, and that there exists, and
can exist no nghtful power in a majority. how
ever decided, to destroy or transform the Constl-
tuition except in obedience toits own provisions
in which case the Constitution is not overruled
but obeved as truly in the amendment as in any
any other act.
5. That the doctrine Of the absolute Sovereign.
ty Of a popular majority, no matter whether act
ing through the Constitution or in defiance Of the
Constitution, in effect negatives the idea of any
Constitution or any other Government whatever :;
for if the majority may change or abrogatc the
Constitution at any time and in any manner, the
will of that majority is the Constitution, and there
is really no other. In the purview of this doc
trne, no act can be unconstitutional which the
majority may be induced to sanction. Under
such asystem all rights, all guarantees all rcser-
vations of power, are waste paper popular pas
sion masters and devours them ALL
6. That the proper name Of the party of Purity
and Progress in this Country is not DEMOCRATS
but CONSTITUTIONAL. REPUBLICANS
Z. That should Government become so op
pressivc as to fail altogether to promote the well
fare of the People, and should the Constitution ai-
ford no means of redress, the ultimate appeal lies,
not to the right of rebellion, but to the Christian
Church or spiritual power, which, being in n
sense the representative Of God on earth, is the
proper authority to decide that the governing
power by usurpation or injustice, has forfeited its
right to rule, and that the allegiance of the Peo-
pie is therefore at an end. From that moment
It's rghtful authority ceases and to obey it is re-
heliion.
Such is very hasty and imperfect statement
OF Mr. Brownson's main positions, as gathered by
us from cursory reading of his essays as they
have from time to time appeared. The whole
would form fair volume and we hope they will
be so published. They ought TO be more gene
rally considered than they otherwise will be. We
do not agree with him fully, and they are disfg-
ared by the bitterest Loco. .Focoism-indeed, Mr..
B. states that the fact of the popular will being
invoked to confirm the Constitutionality and
rghtfulness OF the Wing measures Of ls4O-il
first aroused hun to inquire into the soundness of
the elemental doctrines with regard to the nature
andlimitationsof Government currently PROFOUND
cd as Democratic. Still, the ideas on so momen-
tous subject OF 50 vigorous thinker, SO bold q
writer, as Mr.. Brownson are deserving of general
attention, and we hope they will receive it.
But what has been the treatment of these ESSAYS
by Mr.. Brownsons Political brethren-those Tor
whose cause he has so powerfully labored Tor
years. They win not heed, they viii no, hear
him. Like the jews of old, they stop their ears
and cry out, Away with him and they not on,