Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-01-09
SOUND VIEWS.

SOUND VIEWS.
The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, quoting soms
observations which were made not long since on
the new Constitution Of Iowa and the process of
"democra''z'ng" all tho forms and functions Of
Government, SO prominently recognized in Athdt
instrument, goes on TO say:
But notwithstanding the apparent effort made
by the people flowa TO secure sound government
by "democratisng'' their Consti,utien. shaSA +.
more than an equal citauce that il Min. from mi.
very cause, be the worst governed State ia the
Union. This is emphatically the day OF dsma.
goguisln-and where this prevails, true States
manship must, ofc0urse, be at discount. Tho
grand effort, indeed, in every section Of our co6ar
try, seems TO be 70 run into uhraism-and espe.
cially the ultraism Of Democracy. There must
be no bounds set to popular within or popular caA
price, Anything that savors Of conservatism, OF
rational liberty and government, is pronounced to
be "onarehisns, and the people fly off in tangent
to the opposite extreme. But the Ultima Thule
OF democracy must be arrived at in this republic
as well as in all others; and until this is the case,
u Is only lost time 10 argue against the impolicy
OF cutting loose, with too much eagerness. from
o.9 anu wei established usages and principles
we are fairly cast into .the largest liberty" cur.
rent and must float, as contentedly as NAV be-.
Win ua' whicn' under existing circumstances,'
On this the Baltimore American remarks:
When once governing principle becomes az.
cendan, its tendency is always to greater and still
greater degrees of supremacy. II seeks to absorb
a!i other principles, powers and influences, or IL
that cannot be done, to destroy them. Thus the
sovereignty OF the people tends towards absolu.
'sm In manner analogous 10 tina, in which the
monarchicai principle, when left TO tie own in.
stincts, strives TO become despotc.
Charters Of incorpo on-ves,ed rights Of anv
kind-are easily made odious to democracy, be.
cause Institutions and bodies are thus put for a
Time, out OF the immediate control of the popula2r'
power Of the day. 1t is true they are as much
subject to laws and to The terms of their organI.
cation as individuals and il is equally true that
the objects for which they were created, reouir-
my associated means and efforts, could not be at
'a'ned oy the mere means and efforts of individu-
ais acting separately and without combined
In like manner all obligations bindiug the body
polite for future period are BY some rec arded az
encroachments upon the sovereignty of the people.
There are demagogues who tell the people that
a pledge Of the public fath made by one Legis.
,a'ure' ID not obligatory upon succeeding Legis-
iatnres. So in the State Of New York the valid
NY OF land titles is now questioned either because
'hey date some generations back, or because they .
vest too much property in particular persons. OF
lot some other reason equally strong. The next
step may be to deny the hereditary succession of
property, upon the principle advanced by New
Hampshire Democratic Convention, .'that the
EARN ana me fruits thereof belong TO the living
and not to the dead"
The idea that law founded on right and Justice
should govern, and not the will Of man, is getting
10 De hard OF comprehension. The people arc
'oid that as they make the laws they are of course
superior to the laws-the creator being greater
man the creature. The maxim, too, tina, the maa
lority ought to rule is understood by many to imA
ply that the arbitrary will of the majority is the
ming mat should rule--whereas the theory of
mat maxim Is that in community where all
men are equal the chances are in favor of the ma.
lority's being right. How often that occurs is in
fact another matter.
governing principle, once established in su.
lremacy. Is not likely to be displaced except by
ITS own hnal demonstration of its incompetency
10 govern. In other words, the evils resulting
from It's action must become so great and so op.
pfessive as to call imperatively for change. A
government which falls tc give security 10 lie,
inerty, and property must fall before the up-ris.
ing impulses of elfpreservation-provided the
people subject 20 such government have any
qualities of energy. If they have not, it makes
no great difference what sort Of government is
over them.
Our admirable system provides for The deyel.
'pment and due application of all those infuen.
ces winch may enable men to govern themselves
nationally and in freedom. There are established
organs through which the present popular feel
nss and Impulses may be made known and
here are conservative institutions by means Of
Which time is given for mature deliberation both
n n. making laws and in the execution of them.
ne tendency OF the times, however, is now I'M
luestionaoly towards the weakening of the con-
'ervatlve, and the undue predominance of tho
more popular forms Of our Institutions. The pop.
'iar sovereignty seems to be verging more and
more into observation-disclosures its will can be had
II once and In the most immediate and speedy
manner without regard to existing laws, the cry
8 raised against Inc 'enemies of the people,"
'arlslocrats," "foes to popular rights, &c." The
AGILITY moreover, with which demagogues can
md excite antipaihies between different portions
If the COMMUNICATIVE readiness with which
alsehoods may be passed off for truths, and the
,nblic mind be misIed thereby,--would give but
little room for hope that any permanent change
or the better can be made for some time yet-if
were not for the belief that intelligence is on
lie increase also, and that the articles of dema-
'ogues must soon recoil upon themselves.
FROM TEXAS.