Mississippi Democrat., 1845-10-22


basis, they seem destined to endure. 1t
will be sufficient to advert only to the ma
tional structure. 1t has become an axiom
that no man, or particular family, or caste,
or cabal, is born by Divine appointment
to a sceptre, nor can rightfully claim it on
any Fictitious cause; and that therefore,
all men, in regard to absolute civil and po-
litical rights, must ever be, upon natures
ordination, equal one TO another, and each
one as much a sovereign as any other. 1t
is also self-evident, that since the peopIe
bear all the burdens of political association,
all government, to be legitimate, must have
for its end the utmost attainable good of
the people. American experience has de-
monstrated another grand and consolatory
truth, that the people, whilst they are the
only fountain of authority, have the intel
ligence and the virtue not only to frame
the best government, but to conduct it in
the best manner. Hence it follows, that
in government, originating in the popu.
lar will, such as that of United America,
the repres entative must obey the instruc-
tons of his constituents, unless obedience
may involve an infraction of the const-
tutive code, which, whilst it remains, must
regulate and restrain, as we'll the people
themselves, as the government. Hence,
likewise, it plainly follows, that all who
DEM the right of popular instruction, do
thereby deny the right and the compelen-
cp Of the people to govern; and whatever
may be their name or profession, they are
essentially monarchists, or what is no bet
ter, opposed to constitutional representa-
tive government. We have been success.
sively called agrarians, iacobins, demo
Gratis, and constantly denounced as disor.
ganizers and demagogues for our continu.
ed and consistent assertion of popular su-
premacy. Yet the practical efficacy OF
this doctrine has been manifested; nor
can it be abandoned without a subversion
of the whole system. a direct or ulti-
mate responsibility to the people, must ev-
er be essential to a faithful administration
of the government, and the rebuke offraud,
monopoly and peculation, which are ever
reaching into the public crib. But if the
representative be bound to obey the in.
struclons of his constituents, when duly
expressed, the people are bound to under
stand the subjects with which they thus
interfere, and to give only such instructions
as are compatible with the national com
pact, and the rights of the States. Lei
US then not allow any delinquent to protect
himself under the cloak of democracy,
when he is apostate to its very first prin-
cIple: but let US see to it that the honor oil
our race is supported, and that with in.
creasing knowledge public probity shall
advance. For the extension of inteIli
gence among the masses, as we'll as the
preservation and increase of all the private
and social virtues, we must depend upon
the mothers of our countryside schools
and colleges-a free but reformed and re-
forming press-the ministers at the sacred
altar-a the voice and example of such
men in the national councils as Macon anC
Calhoun, Jackson and Polk, in contrast tc
the costly, criminal and degrading fashion;
and customs of European courts. Oul
large cities may already be too much vi
tiated; but American fashions and custom:
and morals are to be found displayed or
the plains and among the hills and the
mountains!
The next doctrine is a result from The
preceding, and is of inestimable conse
quence, because of the great variety o
subjects of immense interest which i
brings into consideration. 1t is this th
necessity of the national Constitution, ant
the paramount obligation, incumbent upol
eUery good citizen of the Union, to conform
to its letter and spirit. That constitution
is at once compact between the States
and the constitutive and conservative cod
of the people of America. 1t defines tn
nature and the branches of the nationa
government; the powers granted, to b
exercised by each branch, and by the lie
gislature and executive conformity; and at
Ter declaring the absolute rights of the CT
tizen, that are to be forever inviolate,
provides that the powers and rights, no
so granted or declared, shall be reserves
to the States, and to the people. 1t orig
mated in a convention of the origina
States, and was finally adopted in the Sc
parate conventions of those States. Henc
it's compact between the States, as wei
as a covenant of union between the peo
pie of all tile States that concurred IN it
adoption, as well as of those States whicl
have come and shall come beneath its pa
noplv. II was, moreover, compromis
of all conflicting interests which had ari
sen from differences and variety of local.
ty. circumstances and condition. 1t wa
the work of wisdom, patriotism and fore
cast, which the world had not essayed, an
the wisest and.grealest patriot had not an
ticipated, but which the Almighty, in hi
inscru;ible providence permitted! In il
self L contained the mode in which