Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-01-19
Wsw-

caste, aud 10 maintain oil, mot theoretically only,
but practically, equal before The lao, am, Of
course, democrat The great social end have
always aimed at, in all my publications, and to
which my whole life is consccrated, is the moral,
intellectual, and social aineliornticn ol the less
favored classes, on whom falls the principal part
of the burdens Of society, and who receive very
few OF Its bonors or advantages
am not conscious OF any want OF respect Tor the
real voice OF the people, and my general rrinci-
pies, without rendering me a slave to II, require
ire TO pay it great Difference, and TO dissent from
il only with great modesty, and when forced to do
so ny higher voice than that OF humanity itself.
The great mass Of the people am accustomed to
regard as honest, ard III DESTROYS of making JUS
tics prevail in the State ; and have little fear
that, where they really judge, their judgments of
what IS justice, would moi for the most, 10 sound
aud worthy OF acceptance. But, even where uni
versnl sufinge obtains, the voice OF the great
Of tho people is rarely, if ever heard. What pass
es for their voice is only The voice Of the corrupt
few, who cOntriye to manage them, and to cheat
or wbeedie them out Of their votes.
slight glance at practical politics will suffice
TO satisfy any ordinary observer, that this talk
about the voice Of the people is all moonslne,
and that tho excellence of the democratic theory
consists in It's affurdiog the trnlhcSng politicians
n fine opportunity to talk in favor of liberty and
equality, and thus to satisfy the people with the
seululauco, while they WITHHOLD the reality. The
confidence which these politicians have in the
people is in The facility with which they may be
gulIcd. Little confidence do they, in reality,
place in The people. Would they willingly trust
The people? Would they willingly let the people
into their secret caucuses-ino their councils TO
cynrive ways and means Of plnudering The UNI
spspectiua aud simple? Would the pure pari-
OILS, the democratic suges Of Underwood, Wan
Furenl and elsewhere, let the people know their
various speculntious aud conirivanccs by which
thn indl tla In, uciu
their hard earnings to enrich themselves aud their
associates? No: there is nothing that these men
disrust more Than they DO The people for there
is nothing from which they would have more to
dread, than the popular vengeance which would
oyertuke then', we're the people TO really know
them.
When find men who are stepped in corrup.
lion, gorged with the 'spols' OF tho people, hold.
lug themselves up as'lhe especial friends OF the
IeOpe, aud loud in their advocacy of the demo =
cratic theory, aud in their condemnation of all
who question its soUndness, am irresstiby led
to the belief that there is something in the theory
itself peculiarly favorable TO the prosecution Of
their corrupt Designs and want no better evil
dcnce TO assure Inc oil lis utter hostility TO the c-
gi,lmale ends Of government. What we want is
not windy professions about liberty and equality,
noisy rant and frOthy destinations aboIt democ-
racy, but substantial freedom, however secured
Tor Gael. individual 10 perform, without let or him
drance his especial functions in the social body,
whether it be the junction Of the head of the
hand, OF the foot. THE real enemies Of This sub.
stantiGl freedom are your democratic politicians,
trhO icih TIER lips praise the people, and wiIh their
hdnds pick their pockets, or those who dc asjack aS
10 their dainty Chiefs ,cho too GRATED 10 plumber
except by PROXY. 1t is because democracy affords
an umple field TO these politcaI spoiIsneu that l
chiefly dstrnst it, and demand the preservation Of
our coustutiornlism, some protection against
them, of the mass they fatter and plumber"