Ponola [sic] weekly register., 1843-07-29
NUMBER 20.

and regulates. Besides, American con-
servatism is not absolute or hereditary,
but is only an indirect way prescribed
ior the action Of Democracy. Every
thing proceeds from, and must ultimate
y be referred to the will of the people.
The people elect their Executive-and
elect the electors of their Senate and Ju-
| dietary. The people can impeach and
remove each one Of them from Office
Is this the conservatism of Europe?
Thus we see, fellow-citizens, that the
Just, proper and stable laws, essential to
wealthi are the far more legitimate re-
suits of Democratic than conservative
instiiutions. But there IS one circum-
stance that is more efficient in the pro-
duction of wealth than even just, proper
and stable laws; and that is the indivld-
rcl charactefof the people. The ener-
gies and capacities of the. individual
man fthe people; does far more than
the general Influences of any laws. In
dividuality is sStdom developed in con-
servative countries: and the more pure
the conservatism, the greater the nfu-
ences that operate against developement.
Where the people have no voice in the
political councils of their country
where their rulers are independent of
their will and sentiments, they have few
inducements to intellectual and morale ex-
ertion and feel little more interest in
political movements than the slaves feel
in the regulations of their masters
Like slaves they are habituated to SER
vile dependence upont their rulers. Their
rulers think forthem, feel for them, and
act for them. The, philosophic De Toe
quiviIle remember, remarks, that he
observed in conservative countries such
4 an apathy among the people, that a mag
nifcent work Of public architecture
might fail to the ground for the wan! of
pillar TO support it; that a criminal
!, might fly through them in safety for
want of an apprehender; that nuisance
might endanger the health Of a awhole
, community for want of little Industry
in its removal. The people wait for,
and expect the officers Of government TO
! do what they could SO much more east
", Quickly and cheaply do, SO abject
is their dependence. This is not the
case in democratic countries, every in
dividual is freeman; and as such, thinks
himselfo q part of the government. He
would suffer the reproaches OF his coz
science and patriotism to allow the de-
cay Of a public work, the escape Of a
criminal, or the sufTerance of nuisance
nnder his eye, without an attempt 10 re-
rnedy the injury. Every individual
freeman Of the nation regards himself as
one Of officers of government, and
bound in conscience to fulfil his duties.
he would strip his shirt and go 10 work.
when the meniaI of conservatism would
/ fold his arms, and drawl cut wait for the
government. Can there then be those
t capacities--those productive powers of
: wealth in the conservatist whose depen-
dence is SO servile, that are in the DEM
ocra. whose selfdependence is so abso-
; Lutte? The question carries its answer
with it. Conservative institutions are
blasting in their influence on commerce
for they foster monopolies and exclu-
; sive priviledges. The advantages of
commerce are confined TO the few--the
: mass seldom feel their Influences
| Equality, which is the soal of democratic
5 institutions, frowns Upon oil exclusiv !
privileges. TIE privileges allowed
| to one are allo@ed to all. This is emi-
nently favorable to the production of
wealth.
! Adrnit that conservatism is equally
{ favorable to the promotion of wealth as
, democracy, of what advantage is that
: wealth to the people. 1t is confined to
: the priyiledged few-the mass pine a
r way in penury and want, and their suf.
: ferings are rendered more acute from
the consciousness that they are starving
e in the midst OF plenty-that they are
: wearing out the energies of their bodies
S and minds to feed few puffed up lux