Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-10-08

y
Doubtless they should, by frequent rccur
renee of popular election, be continual,
subjected TO that ordeal, But when in
cumbents OF elective posts, like Macon
are faithful, they are not often supplantet
without detriment to the constituency
When one party vonqushes another, il il
but just that the principal places should
be filled by tho victorious. But abuse o
this unqucstionable principle to others, de
moralizes communities by pampering NOR
bid thirst and Unsuitable yearning for emo
lument, substitutes avarice for ambition
Does not Macon's success demonstrate thai
no American statesman can be successful
~ both ambitious and avaricious? That
he can no more prefer himself before the
people, than serve Mammon before God
To be of the aristocracy of the democra.
cy, is common ambition; but Macon's de-.
sire was TO be of the democracy of the
arlstocracy.
Whatever (says Burke, writing of the
French National Assembly, the dstin-
guished few may have been, men Of known
rank or shining talents, it is the substance
or mass OF the body which constitutes its
character, and must finally determine its
direction. In all bodies, those who will
lead must also in considerable degree,
follow. Macon was a leading follower
not summit, but part of the mass of Con
gress; not commanding actor or writer,
no demagogue, hardly communing with
his constituents but by the monosyllabIes
Of votes, always before them 10 print, but
taking no undue means for soliciting their
good will. Yet his popularity never fail.
ed, his success was transcendan;, and the
influence Of his example is still enduring
and increasing. The ceniralism of lIa-
milton has almost disappeared, The fed.
erallsm of Washington and the constiiu.
tionalism Of Madison have been, in mea-
sure, superseded by the republicanism Of
Jefferson, which may be swallowed up in
the radicalism of Macon, Will that be
declining or advaucing2
The most frequent dsparagcment cast
by Europeans on American republicanism,
is its alledged tendency to degenerale--a
downward tendency, which is to swallow
up learning, wealth, liberty and refine.
ment, and establish despotism OF mere
yplgarity; that public lie is less sought
by respeclability than elsewhere or former
ly, and that talents avoid it. Whether
this be so in America, Is it more so than
elsewhere2 Great talents are tho crea-
tons OF great coniunclures; and the tran.
qullliiy of the United States has been al.
most stognant under the present forms Of |
government In such circumstances com.
merclal, professional, and other lucrative
pursuits, are more attractive than politics;
and with the growth Of luxury, which has
been prodigious since the Introduction of
paper money, there will always be large
class preierrlng fashionable ideness TO Pc.
lllcal noiorety. Nine. de Stael says, in
her considerations on the French reyolu-
ion, that many Of the old nobility Of Eu-
rope desplsed the Emperor Alexander as
an upstari, not to be received into good
society. Social and ancestral distinction,
strong desire, more prevalent ia Europe,
s not without acknowledgment in Anne
lea. Descendants of celebrated Ameii.
;ans are often chosen into political life, for
hat reason. Congress and the State 10.
5lslatures abound with members Boosting
ome family merit, such as kindred with
oldlers Of the revolution and il is com
non TO meet with Americans who preserve
heir ancestors certificates Of service in
he revolutionary army ms il they were
of nobility. Besides tho merits
It personal pedigree, Burke eloquonlly /
indicates those oil honorable national IL |
cage. etthc country attorneys, village
lwyers, notaries, brokers, traders, and
Towns, whom he enumerates as The mao.
liy of the third estate Of the French Ma I
onal Assembly, inferior, in his judgment, q
the nobemen and gentlemen whom he O
xtols as hereditary Legislators, enacted s
lws which reformed the crumbing basis y
society, and reconstructed France 20
s TO render that declining kingdom moi
My freer, but incomparably happier, rich .
T and greater, than il was before the days !
I what Burke calls It's downfall. If De !
'ocquevlle's idea be true, that American '
emocracy is irresislbly swallowing up I
very thing else American, and such be
ne decline which Europe mpu,cs to this 9
ountry, at all events Great Britain, France
nd all the freer kingdoms of Europe, are
assing down the same decliyiiy with more u
ioIence and precipitation than this coun- I
y, one Of whose consultations is JcfTcr. {
'ns maxim, thai government, at best, is d
Ut relative good, and that, with all the !
'ults Of which il is accused, democracy is /
least less injurious and more durable J
aie than royalty, since one Of the unques-
enable consequences Of the American
evolution is, that revolutionary move '
tents, with equality aud liberty, have be. Q