Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-11-22
From Alexander's Messenger.
LIBERTY.

The spirit Of genuine liberty is the no.
blest principle that can animate the heart
Of man. Being the very converse of OPP
preston it is opposed to all that is partial
and selfish, and recognizes, in all men, ma
tural, political, and religious equality. But,
like the best of Heavens gifts to the hu-
man race, this idol of mankind is greatly
Observation-Disclosures shameiuIy out
ragged. Though declamatiOns and eIo-
quence, in all ages, have exhausted their
stores upon this Iavorite thPmc--yet. there
were always multtudes, without a clear
and consistent notion Of its character
History records not the time when Liberiy
ceased to furnish a popular theme for the
orator and the writer. In all times, there
fore, it has been the camor of men of pro-
hgate lives and desperate fortunes, as well
as uue-hearted patriots. Thousands wor
ship it, and every day are ready to offer
their blood as sacrifice to it, under the
form of a cap, a cocknde, or pole. A
thousand unmeaning symbols and watch
words become the articles Of designing
men, and inhame the passions of the crowd
for time. The voice Of reason and So
briefly, may even be suppressed in this
manner. But these consequences are too
terrible to last long. Anarchy must re-
form itself for, in a country where neith-
er life, person, nor property is spcure-in
such a war Of all against aIl--each indivi-
dual, for his own sake, will soon demand a
truce and offer capitulaton.
What is genuine civil liberty? Is it the
liberty of unrestricted will and action!-
Is it the liberty of doing every thing which
mans passions urge him to attempt, or his
strength enables him 10 effect! No! this is
the liberty ola tiger, and not the liberty OF
a man. And yet one might very ration
ally conclude, from reading some Of the
journals of the day, that such are the genu-
inc characteristics Of true republican liber-
ty. Civil liberty is natural liberty so far
restrained by human laws as is necessary
and eXpedient for the general advantage
of the public We borrow the definition
Of an English author, because Of the
strength and concseness Of the language.
Liberty, then, is the right Of doing what
ever Il moderate and righteous system OF
laws permits, and if a citizen could do
what they forbid, he would he no longer
possessed ofiberty-becausc all his fellow
citizens would have the same power
Where there is no law there is no liberty,
and equally so when the supremacy OF
laws are suspended.
"The world is governed too much
is familiar and iavorte addage, though
comparatively impIicable where the people
are their own rulers, and themselves es-
tablish the measures Of their government.
That the world is governed too much by
licentousness Of principle that liberty is
outraged by the devices Of wicked men,
who would lead the people who adorn a
specious shadow in the name of liberty, to
further their own ends, are truths too pal.
pabe to admit of controversy. The pre-
sent age is particularly characterized by
the RIGHTEOUSNESS Of principle, and by the
efforts Of prohigate men to obtain political
power through the influence over the po-
puIar mind, Old doctrines of qualification
such as the patriotic founders of our in.
stitutions were wont to admire and incul.
cate--are now countenanced as "out O
fasnion;" and their place is supplied by
saturnala. But thanks to Providence, il
will MOTT cannot last long; the dark
clouLs u la..a..c.sm and delusion will soon