The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-20

customed to the exercise of political functions and
has been thoroughly seasoned to political excite
ment In most other countries there is no middle
conrse between absolute submission and open re-
belon. 10 England there has always been for
centuries constitutional opposition. Thus our
institutions had been good that they had edu-
Gated us into capacity for better institutions
There is not large town in the kingdom which
does not contain better materials for a legislature
than all France could furnish in 1889 There is
no, spou'ing club at any pot house in London,
in which the rules of debate not better under
stood, and more strictly observed, than in the
Constituent Assembly. There is scarcely Poll
tcal Union which could not frame in half an hour
superior declaration of rights than that which
occupied the collective wisdom of France for sew
eral months"
To the same cause NAV be ascribed the limited
use OF trial nv jury among the various nations of
The earth. The ahlest statesmen on the continent
of Europe have progressed their admiration of the
institution. hut have found it impossible to intro
duce 1t to any considerable extent among any of
those nations which have not practically enjoyed
Tor long period the benefits of liberal represen-
tative system.
All these differences arise from the superior ac-
qnantance ofou people with the habits and duties
OF self'government. They gradually come TO feel
responsibility attaching 10 every political move
ment which begets deliberation and discretioa.-
We know OF no limit to the advantages which be-
long To the habit of self government and if there
be none. may we not originate new Improvements
IN like manner, which shall be as substantial as
those which have already distinguished ours from
the Governments of the Old World?
Agan-when we shall have entered into and
possessed all the vast territory over which, under
Providence, our institutions seem destined to pre-
vail, the evil of executive patronage must become
proportionately excessive. Unless the proper
remedy be provided, the fate of our republic may
he anticipated by the records of the Roman or
Venetian republics. We hope to avail ourselves
of some early opportunity to consider this subject
by itself.
1t is worthy of statesman's consideration like
wise to devise some remedy for the universal pro-
clivity of people to official life To reduce
the number and value of these distinctions. in a
step which should not be overlooked in such spec
nlatiOns.
There might be some difficulty in defining the
exact district to which the duties of many APP
pointed officers are limited That they have
limits somewhere is certain. If they had not, it
would be The duty of the legislature to fix them
without delay. Their range once defined, it is
very simple thing to add few more names to the
electoral ticket at the time the usual elective
officers chosen and with no additional ex-
pense, the people might enjoy the satisfaction at
least OF having the laws executed by men of their
own choice, even though they shonld have mis-
taken their qualification. re the latter be the
case, they will he more cautious another time, and
will better understand what defects to provide
against thereafter.
We are constrained To terminate this article
with some abruptness, both from the space it has
already occupied, and from the difficulty of reliev-
ing our reflections from even more than the usual
tedlousness incident to such discussions.
We have dwelt at some length, and with con-
siderable earnesness, npon this subject of official
patronage, because we look upon it as the great
disturbing force in our political system. 1t seems
to us to be the chief depravng agency from which
everything originates-that brings the theory of
popular sovereignty practically into disrepute.-
Two opposite principles will work harmo-
nlonsIy together from the very nature of things.
Neither will the system of political representation
co exist for any long period, subject the iusn-
uatlng and corroding abuses Of large executive
patronage. They are in principle at war with
each other. One must consume the other sooner
or later
Whatever strength voice can add to the
cause of the people is theirs, and we can make no
peace or reconciliation with policy which tends
to centralize the power of Government or to dis
arm the popular sovereignty.