The Weekly register. (Ponola [sic] Panola, Miss.) 1843-1844, 1844-07-27

| party and IS not administered for the
interest of the pc ople, and the whole
people, but to advance the purposes and
selfish aims of itself, or rather of its
leaders, then is such party, whatever
may be the popular name it may as
sumo, highly detrimental and danger
Gus. am Wing, warmly attached to
the party which bears that respected
name, from thorough persuasion that
lis principles and policy are best calcu-
lated to secure the happiness and pros
perity ofour common country; but if |
believed otherwise, if | were convinced
that it sought party or individual ag-
grandzement, and not the public good,
would instantly and forever abandon
it, whatever might be the consequent
ces to myself, or whatever the regrets
which | might feel in separating from
veteran friends. My opinions upon
great and leading measures of public
policy have become settled convictions,
and am a Wing because that party
seeks the establishment Of those meas
ures. In determining with which Of
the two great parties of the country |
ought TO be connected, | have been gov
erned B, full consideration, and fair
comparison, of the tendency oftheir re-
spective principles, measures, conduct
and views. There is one prominent
aud characteristic difference between
the two parties, which eminentIy dis
tinguishes them, and which, if there
were no other, would be sufficient to de,
eide my Judgment. And that is, the
respect and Difference uniformly dis
played by the one, and the disregard
and contempt exhibited by the other TO
the constitution, to the laws and the
public authority. In country where a
free and selfgoyernment is established,
it should be the pleasure, as it is the
bounden duty, of every citizen to stand
by and uphold the constitution and law,
and support the public authority; be-
cause they are his constituencies
laws, and the public authority cmanatc
from his will. Having concurred, by
the exercise Of his privileges, in the
adoption ofthe constitution, and in the
passage Of the laws, any outrage or Vi
olation attempted Of either ought to be
regarded as an offence against himself,
an offence against the majesty CT the
people.
In an arbitrary and absolute govern
nnent, The subject may have some seX-
cuse for evading the edicts and ukasas
of the monarch, because they are not
only promulgated, without consulting
his will, bnt sometimes against the
wishes and the interests of the people.
In that species Of government, the pow
er the bayonet onforces d reluctant
obedience to the law. With a free peo-
pie, the fact that the laws are their
laws, ought 10 supply, in prompt and
voluntary rally to the support Of the
public authority, a force more peaceful,
more powerful, and more reasonable
than any dcrivab!e from a mercenary
sodiery.
1t is far from my intention or desire
to dot the least injustice to the party to
which | am opposed; bat think that in
asserting the Characteristic difference
between the two parties which have
done, am fully borne out by facts, to
some Of which, only, on this occasion,
can refer, aud these shall all be Of a
recent nature.
The first to which shall call your
attention. has occurred during the pres
ntsession Of Congress. The variety
in the mode Of electlng members 10 the
House Of Representatives OF the United
States, some being chosen by whole
States, and others by separate districts,
was long a subject Of deep and general
1t gave to the states une-
quail power in the councils Of the nation.
Mississippi or New Hampshire for ex-
ample, by a general ticket, securing th.e
election Of its members to the House Of
Representatives;ail ofone political par
ty, might acquire more power, in that
House, thar the State of New York
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