The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-04-11
SPEECH OF MR.. DUNCAN
FoHIo.

u
bill Introduced by him to regulate the election ol elsc
stos for President and Vice President and members OF
'sisaSongress throughout the United States. .l.e
M. DUNCAN spoke as follows; 4, ssg
ssrhere is no higher duty owe 70 ourselves 70 each
soheE and to our country in whatever situation we may
aNpaced, or whatever sphere in life we may hl man
10 understand the nature of our and lhe e.
vii institutions BY which our rights are TO be maintained
as clizens, and by which our civil duties and obliga
tions towards each other are to beregulaed This duty
is not binding upon us acvil than1n political
sense 1t is Indispensable faithful discharge Of our
dres as private citizens that we should understand the
duties Of a citizen Those duties invoke knowledge
oft!eiegal and politcaestrains which civil govern
1nent throws upon Us and brings us under These civil
duties ndobligatirns are commonto, and binding up
on ameh in state OF organized society, whatever the
form Of government may be; but We as American ci-
zens in addition 10 these duaes owe some OF ahgher
charace. whichmay more properly be denomnaied po-
lhcal duties, which distinguish from civil du-
Tics for the purpose OF illustration Civildutes, and
knowledge 9th obligations which civil duties impose
apperain to the subjects of monarchy or an arislocra
.cy The same civil duties in proportion 70 the requ
siIions OF law, appe1anto the cinens OF republican
government butowng 10 the fact thai each indN idual
here not only citizen hut also member OF the re-
pssuitc, ard a parrot The aw-makng power, ne owes
come higher dutiesthan aneIe citizen, Those higher
duties can potcadu duties. Obedience is be duty OF
the humble subject oithe monarchcal government while
command, is the prerogalve ofthe monarch; but m
republican government the duties Of obedience and SUD
mission are united with theprerogave 70 command in
nj
ren.s With us no man can be so1ow asto9 shake off
hedhties of legal and constitutional subnission no
man can be so high as to be exempt from them no
man car be so low (u crime excePled) asto excuse
bilselffrom participation in the duesof governing
man can BE- sohi3h asto transcend exemption from
the obligations and duties.othe moShumble citizen or
40 exercise powers nthe,esablshmen rules OF civil
conduct not common teeach and every Citizen onlyas
Latpower is delegated tehm BY The suffrage Of those
htnpcsents, ia whatever official position he may oc-
chpy And ibis leads I'VE to an expose ofthe' character
-ofour gorerament. That do, MOI only in conformity
wliia high duty which owe as a citizen in common
bptasa representative, do notonly because we can
nct oo frequently refer 10 first principles whether in
pryatc Of in an official capacity; bu because the bill
under consideration in its defence and advancement re
uires such an expose in order 10 illustrate tee aosc
lutc necessity Of this hill beogullng law E4T
Sir our government is government ofth people,
,wascreaed by the people tits sustained by the Peo,
p and the people are the government to every polili-
cal purpose and intent And in these consist the great
andfureamental difference between a republican Tor
detnucrac) form Of government andall others \ be-
lierehere are but three distinctfoms re-
uarded as fundamental, viz a monarchcal and arise-
calical and arepubcan fom all others are modiiica-
lions OF mixtures Of these All governments were re
publican in their origin people ever were 50 blind 10
their ownniefests and regardless Of their individual
privileges and natural rights as 10 surrender them into
the hands of any one man or set Of men, to dispense
Them at his or their pleasure or caprice lmake ano-
sr srassertion-hats that man possesses all the reqni-
sites for segoyenment and to deny those requisites is
taslandef 10 the human family, and base impuation
on the Almighty also assert that no government
ever feby the corruptons Of the people Why then
Jithas heen and win be asked have all republics fa
: lenl why haveall governments whichdepended upon
the aggregate wisdom and stability of the people, failed
sltispart Of fmypurpose inny support Of tbe presen
sbAI 10 answer these interrogaofes Atpresent wisl
,ddeue and illustrate the character Of our government
snfort that purpose, TO illustrate theprnciples of ohe
governments and to expose The difference 10 the enc
that ours NAV be the beHerun understood. H
Anonsrchtal government is that which conccptra
aesan power. Legislative, judicial and ministerial i
the hands ofa asnge Individual ADaristocracy is tha
form d goyefnmer1whi places the sains powers ant
i6esatne amount power, nthe hands Of a. few indi
Viduals Such governments are lied absolute mona