The hornet., 1843-08-08
A LOVER OF LAW.


NosgbIeGt Is possessed OF more importance
than that Of rcpudnton 1t is n matter oI
personal, as well rs political iu.nrcst to every
man in the broad limits Of our State Unlike
! General que tons Of public policy, which eff
few, u remotely and Indirectly, dhs innucn-
ces our characu" individual, for veal or woe.
1t comes home to our ifr,A IA : 17 es..,Ye can
not then reason, and agtatc and dwell upon
it too much. The words repUdiaii9n is ais-
hoaoaJle, should be blazonod forth in rlarinq
Icapita5 upon every hill top and market place
ia the State, as a warning to the people against
its fearful prevalence It's in the moral, what
the pestiIence is in the physical world: it de-
stroys what IS far preferable to life, the honor
and character Of the people. Reputation is
Il republics worst enemy. 1t wars against its
nature and existence; it unsettes its founda-
ton stones, and toreshadows the reign of evil.
As the bird whose flight harbngers the ap.
proach OF the tempest, SO repuniation ioreto-
tokens something dangerous to our institutions.
1t is the demagogue'S lever by which society
is to be overthrown and new moddelled.-
France Chat country to which we go for com
PARSONS in vice. with all the ultraism of its
school of philosophy, from the days of Voltaire
to the present, has propagated no theory so
dangerous and dshonorable as reputation.
To cast around it the character of respecta-
bility, and make it look plausible in the public
eye, the name of Jefferson is called up in its
defence. Are great men infaIhblei are their
rambling spcculatons, and half waking theo-
ries to be received as the cardinal principles of
any faith. In republics men are governed by
principle, and not high sounding names. To
follow the latter through their devious wind
lngs, would be "to make confusion worse con-
founded" If we follow precedent, of what
use are constitutions; which are intended TO
be interpreted according to their intrinsic me- /
rt, independent OfeXtraneous opinion. Great
names may rule in the absence OF constitutions, |
but not where fundamental, established writ
ten laws prevail This is a government of
law and not precedent, we give no authority +
to opinions, when they conflict with constitu- /
tionS.
Admitting though that Jefferson did favor
this doctrine, bis opinion can be negatived by I
those of men equally learned, aud far more /
wise and practicable. 1t argues badly for
cause that out of such number of luStrous
worthless it can find but one friend to its mon
;trous wickedness. Among all our best states
men and writer's on government, Jefferson is +
he only one who considered plighted faith a
lumbug Reputation so full OF democracy /
ustice and they not see it! at is strange, /
passing strange" But it is not true that JEFF
erson advocated the Reputation of honest
public debts. Throughout his writings there
'reathes spirit Of lofty patriotism, and true
onor.
All his aims were lis Counry's, Gods and Truths
He believed that government was constitu-
ed to advance happiness and protect the in
etests Of each citizen. The same code of
thcs which regulated the conduct of indyid-
al man, applied with equal force TO States.
icing moral persons, equal responsibility at
lched TO them.
Founded in contract, confidence is a States t