New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-07-29
"Loco- Focoism Displsyed."


"Loco- Focoism DispIsy ed.'
Focoisw DfsPLAYED, Government for the People
In a dis ogue between Why and Loco-f"c'; IL
which the Legitimate ObJ-c's and Powers Of Govern
ueat considered and defined; the Reasons Of ne
Ineci~Doy Of the Church fr The Suppression Of immo
r-y and IT, Agency In the increase Of Crime e1pv--1
The Destructive Character Of Partial Legislation exh
bed and is Violation Of the Principles Of Christianity
proven. 1870. pp o.. For sale at lSl Nsssau-stb
We have thus copied the title page Of pampble
which however worthless in itself has significance
a. On index TO the mode in which Loco FocOism j.
uropagated and the considerations which win ner
TO i,s support. There is inwoven in the texture o
this pamphle, good deal Of crude Radcalism wit
regard to the Church the Clergy, the Sabbath, &c
which is well calculated TO toll in loose thinkers 10
the party !; but If any shall take up the pamphle
who dernurs TO such doctrines they at once exclam
"Oh this isn't Loco Focoism az IRE understand II
and all the anti Church portion Of the pamphlet goes
for nothing.
The leading idea Of the writer is that poPuariy
expressed By the current Loco Foco axioms, The
world il governed too much The best Government
I. tho, which GOVERNS least. SC There is nothing
new in these doctrines and we have found them
more ably set forth by Beniham' haz"''' aho 7on''
nj the modern Political Economists than by our
Loco Foco' who does nearly all the talking IN tie
sbam dialogue keeping the straw Wing only to SET
m his pins for him. and say yes, that is true
well confess never thought OF that before
"That is to me rather new view OF the subject
&c. &c Our Loco Foco Of course contends that
Governments have rights and duties beyond the
prevention and punishment of palpsble invasons
of one mans rights by another-that, consequently
oil laws against Gambling Grogselling, Debauch
cry Bigamy Bookkeeping, &c. &c. are gross
usurpations Let us copy specimen Of his logic :;
w. Am / to infer then. that you would not punish
man and woman for living in a state OF adultery
T.. Yes.
~ why this has been held in all civilized countries
and by all writers upon law and morals proper subject
for uunisbment ! should like therefore 10 hear whM
reasons you can urge against H.
MANY In the first place and that s enough, becdusf
fbsv iayS nobody bit Mernselres In the next place
make: thai AN offence which ia not criminal in the sight
of God or man II Furnishes them for the exercise oi
their rights while II leaves crime unpunlsned us
tyrannca exercise Of power IN the hypocruca disPhl
at a regard for morals, &c. &c.
The fallacy here, as in all similar arguments against
the punishment of Seduction and Liccntiousness in
general lies in the assumption that the perpetrators
'injure nobody bit Memselrcs.' They do injur,
others; they bring scandal and reproach on then
relatives they are morally certain to prove unfati
full to their duties parents. children &c and they
corrupt and demoraze those around them No
for stealing a horse. but that horses may not Il
stolen in all old reason for iniieting punishment;
and it applies as forcbly to Bigamy or Adultery a
to Horse-st Ealing.
The general doctrine of this Loco Foco is more
precisely set forth in another passage:
w Then suppose, of course, you think that all leg
lslatlOn for morality alone i useless.
Not only that but that all legislation haring any Ot
object but The protection Of rRhs's not only Injurious 70
morally, bui Is IN use!f immoral and 'cicked'
This i, must be confessed il genuine Loco Foco
doctrine but II is not sound. wholesome. common.
sense doctrine 1t assumes that all our Legislation
in favor of and public provision Tor Common School
snd other Institutes OF Learning perncious
pations. Yet we do knotc, 10y a comparison Of the
States which have legally encouraged Education
with those which have left it to individual manage
ment, tina, any thing approaching General Eduoa
ton is not atiainabc except by Legislative PROV
sion Unless then, we are to fall back on the old
Tory hypothesis that the Poor are only cursed by
Education the Loco Foco theory of Government
must be unsound. Just of Roads Bridges Sc
&c. which could never be generally good If left
tirely to individual care A bridge or a costly cause
ants would prefer not to have any as would brnr
in competitors for the markets they would prefer To
nonopolizc Our noble canals all gross blum.
ders according TO this Loco Foco' and to Loco
Focoism generally. No Railroad could be
bull, according 10 his theory, as he deems any
legal appropriation of private property to such
purpose at an impartial valuation gross nva
sion Of personal right aud a fragrant example
Of special Legislation Ii is remarkable that
while he considers this special Legislation tie
fountain of all the want vice. misery and degrade.
ton in the land he talks of il though it all
Whig,' when in fact ivc-echths Of this sort of e-
gissiion has been the work of his own party. Why
can't we have one State governed according to the
principles Of Loco Focoisml Messieurs rulers OF
South Carolina Of New Hampshire of Missouri OF
Arkansas why won't one batch of you be consis,
entity Loco Foco at least for single year
1t is allowable always to have one fool in a
play and in this sort of dialogue the WING j.
dressed for tina, characicr-and plays ndierenily
well But when Loco is made to talk like fool
too, the business is overionc See the following
UAiS. How are you going TO carry Government
IL you take from IL all power of restraining its subjects
Loco. Say 'csiien.' If you please the term subject
sounds hsrshly to my ears.
WhiS. 'Citizens, then.
Now the phrase citizen of a Government j.
sheer nonsense we are citizens of the Nation
not of the Government Ii is no, the delicacy bu,
the length of Locos ears that ispels this silly
cavil-Wc shall waste no more room his
pamphlet,
" The Corner and Enquirer Is Justly most
savage in its dcnuncia,ons of every violation of the
sanciy of private life by journalists We, we find in
its columns Of yesterday letter dated " Dclavan
Honse Albany" dis,ins As fellows.